#8139 Gallic Chariot

Dated: January 3, 2006, updated January 22, 2008.

Chariots were an important part of Celtic warfare during the centuries before the Roman conquest of Western Europe. They were especially associated with wealthy warriors and tribal elites, since maintaining horses, vehicles and equipment required considerable resources. A chariot could carry an important warrior rapidly around the battlefield while also serving as a highly visible symbol of status.

Box art

The typical Celtic war chariot carried two men: a driver and a warrior. The driver controlled the horses and manoeuvred the vehicle, while the warrior could throw javelins or other missiles from the chariot before dismounting to fight on foot. Once the warrior had left the vehicle, the driver remained nearby and could return quickly when needed.

Test sprue

This gave the chariot considerable tactical flexibility. It could move rapidly along the battlefield, bring a warrior to an important point, withdraw him if necessary and create confusion through speed, noise and missile fire. Against enemy cavalry, chariots could also interfere with mounted formations and force horses to react to unfamiliar movement and sound.

Line drawings.

There is one driver, and the choice of 2 warriors, either a chieftain or an alternate warrior. Either one can be fitted with a base instead to make it a foot figure.

Chariot warfare gradually declined in continental Europe as mounted cavalry became more effective and widespread. By the later centuries BC, true cavalry had largely replaced chariots among the tribes of Gaul. In Britain, however, chariot warfare survived much longer and was still an important feature of native armies when Julius Caesar crossed the Channel in 55 and 54 BC.

Caesar left one of the clearest ancient descriptions of Celtic chariot tactics. He observed British warriors riding rapidly across the battlefield, throwing missiles and then dismounting to fight on foot. The drivers remained ready to recover them, allowing the warriors to combine the mobility of cavalry with the fighting ability of infantry.

The chariot also retained an important ceremonial and social role. High-status warriors could display elaborate helmets, mail armor and decorated weapons, and the vehicle itself helped mark the position of nobles and leaders within a tribal army. Even where chariots were no longer the dominant military arm, they remained closely associated with elite warriors.

This set contains three chariots, six horses and nine figures. Each chariot carries a driver and one warrior, with a choice of two different warrior poses. One is particularly well equipped with mail armor and an elaborate helmet, making him suitable as a noble, champion or tribal leader.

The two-horse chariots have high wicker sides and provide a different style of vehicle from our Gallic Chariot with Warrior Queen. The warriors are armed for close combat, while the open construction of the chariot makes it easy to vary the arrangement of the crew or add extra weapons and equipment.

The set is particularly suitable for Celtic armies of the later Iron Age and for British tribal forces during the invasions of Julius Caesar. It can also be used more broadly for Celtic armies in Western Europe before chariots were replaced by cavalry.

Combined with our Gallic warriors, cavalry, command figures and Roman sets, these chariots can add both movement and a strong visual centrepiece to a Celtic army. Used together with our Gallic Chariot with Warrior Queen, they also provide useful variety in vehicles, crews and high-status characters.