Heavy cavalry is a class of
cavalry whose primary role was to engage in direct combat with enemy forces (
shock troops). Although their equipment differed greatly depending on the region and historical period, they were generally mounted on large powerful horses, and were often equipped with some form of
scale,
plated,
chainmail or
lamellar armor as well as either
swords,
maces,
lances, or
battle axes.
History of heavy cavalry
Antiquity
Although some form of cavalry had been in use in
Mesopotamia since 3000 BC, the
chariot was the predominant mobile striking force in most armies in the region. By 600 BC armoured cavalry began seeing use, though it was not until the later ancient Greek era that true heavy cavalry emerged.
Assyrian cavalry during the reign of
Ashurbanipal was known to have used metal helmet and breastplate, fought with thrusting spears in conjunction with bows and arrows, and rode on horses covered with textille
barding, however it's unclear how this early heavy cavalry operated and performed.
Persians
Iranian tribes such as the
Massagetae were believed to be the originator of the class of heavy cavalry known as
cataphract. During the time of
Achaemenid Persia cavalry was the elite arm of service (as was the case in most civilizations), and many Persian horsemen such as the bodyguard unit of
Cyrus the younger were rather heavily armored by ancient standard. By the time of Alexander's invasion cataphract units...
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