460 
SADDLES. 
gard to their invention, it is extremely probable that they were 
introduced about the middle of the fourteenth century: of this, 
however, we have no certain proof; and we have strong reason 
to believe that the rude coverings of the ancients were gradually 
transformed into saddles. Pancirolus, an eminent Italian civilian, 
who wrote a curious treatise on “ Ancient Inventions,” conjectures 
that the first mention of a saddle is to be found in a work entitled 
Chronicle, or Annals from the Creation,” by Zonaras, a Greek 
historian. 
The literary antiquarian, Montfaucon, above referred to, has 
given a figure of the pillar of Theodosius the Great; and if the 
figure be correct, it must be allowed that the fore part of the co¬ 
vering on which the rider is seated resembles the pommel, and 
the hind part the saddle-tree, at present in use. 
Perhaps the order of the Emperor Theodosius may be regarded 
as the most clear and decisive proof we have of the antiquity of 
saddles. About the year 385, Theodosius issued a decree, for¬ 
bidding those who rode post-horses to use saddles that weighed 
more than sixty pounds. If the saddles were heavier, they were 
to be cut in pieces. 
This passage appears to allude to the proper saddle, and its ex¬ 
treme weight must be attributed to the infancy of the invention, 
as well as to the rude state of its manufacture at that period. 
Vegetius distinguished saddle-horses from others; and the sad¬ 
dle-tree seems to be mentioned by Sidonius Apollinaris. In the 
fifth century saddles were made so extravagantly magnificent, that 
a prohibition was issued by Leo I, in which it was ordered that 
no one should ornament them with pearls or precious stones. In 
the following century the Emperor Mauritius required that the 
saddles of the cavalry should have large coverings of fur. 
It may be regarded as probable, that the invention of saddles 
belongs to the Persians. According to the testimony of Xenophon, 
they first began to render the seat of the rider more convenient 
and easy, by placing more coverings on the backs of their horses 
than was usual in other countries: besides, the horses of Persia 
were first made choice of for saddle-horses, on account, perhaps, 
of their shape, or their being easily trained to carry a saddle. 
An inquiry into the various improvements and alterations which 
have in later ages been made in saddles is deemed unnecessary 
here, the reader, in all probability, being fully acquainted with 
them. 
