Cavalry
Early Imperial Roman Cavalry
To the Romans, the military meant the legions, brigades of Roman citizens commanded by senior senators. They realized that these needed supplementation, but organized the cavalry and light-armed troops they employed as “auxiliaries,” or supplementary troops, in alae and cohorts commanded by prefects of equestrian origin. Cavalry performed such a vital role in scouting that ancient armies would have brought…
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Sipahis
“Horsemen.” Ottoman heavy cavalry drawn mainly from Anatolia and Rumelia. They were granted nonhereditary fiefs by the sultans in return for which they raised, armed, and supplied a given number of horse soldier retainers (Cebelu). Sipahis were known for wearing heavy mail and, along with timariot light cavalry, were the…
destrier
The “magnus equus” or “great horse” of the Middle Ages in Europe that helped give heavy cavalry its battlefield preeminence. The name derived from the Anglo-Norman “destrer,” which in turn came from the rough Latin “dexterius,” or “dexterarius,” meaning “right-handed.” This large breed was best known across Europe by the…
Gottfried Heinrich Graf zu Pappenheim, (1594–1632)
Imperial and mercenary cavalry general. Raised a Lutheran, Pappenheim converted to Catholicism and served the Catholic side in the Thirty Years’ War. Like Gustavus Adolphus Pappenheim was a student of Polish cavalry tactics, preferring their aggressive shock techniques to the overly dainty caracole. He taught Polish skills to his regiment…
Two Charges
The Charge of the Light Brigade at Balaklava by William Simpson (1855), illustrating the Light Brigade’s charge into the “Valley of Death” from the Russian perspective. The Charge of the Heavy Brigade at Balaklava by William Simpson. From Simpson’s The Seat of War in the East, second series. The…
First Cavalry
Cavalry first served in the Assyrian army under Tukulti-Ninurta III. Those illustrated date from the reign of Ashurnasirpal, and show how the cavalry still employed the ‘donkey seat’ when riding the horse. Tactical employment of this period shows how, by riding in pairs, they were envisaged as ‘charioteers without their…
Army of the Levant
1er Régiment Etranger de Cavalerie, 1er REC. The only cavalry regiment in the French Foreign Legion, since the 2nd Foreign Cavalry Regiment (2e REC) has been disbanded. 1er REC has been stationed at Quartier Labouche in Orange, France since it moved from Mers-el-Kébir, Algeria in October 1967. The regiment was…