32 



A HISTORY OF CAVALRY. 



[period I. 



they were too lightly armed to stand the shock. The 

 mounted archers were also reckoned in this class, the 

 Cretans surpassing all the other Greeks in the use of the 

 bow on horseback.^ The term " aKpo^oXiarai " was 

 applied generally to all those who fought in this manner 

 from a distance. 



The position occupied by the cavalry in action was 

 not fixed by any arbitrary rules, but depended some- 

 what upon the nature of the ground. The Tarentine, 

 or light cavalry, intermingled with light infantry, was 

 sometimes placed in front of the " Greek " or medium 

 cavalry, sometimes upon its wings.^ The Cataphracta, 

 who were held in reserve until the battle was fairly 

 joined, then charged the enemy, and opened a road for 

 the others who followed up a success and completed 

 the victory. 



The cavalry of the Greeks used neither saddles nor 

 stirrups, nor were their horses shod. The cavaliers 

 either mounted their horses bare-backed, or placed upon 

 them a light rug, or mat of skin, or cloth upon which 

 they sat. 



The Athenians recruited and maintained their cavalry 

 with much more care than did the Spartans. They 

 kept up a force of 1,200 horse, each of the ten tribes 

 furnishing 120 cavaliers with the phy larch, who being 

 chosen by the tribe commanded the contingent. When 

 united, the whole force was placed under the orders 

 of two hipparchs who were elected annually to the 

 command. 



The Spartans, who did not value cavalry, had a small 

 force only, and even these were chosen from among the 

 least vigorous of their people, and those of the lowest 

 morale. Xenophon says that at the battle of Leuctra 

 " the Lacedaemonian cavalry^was at that time in a very 

 inejfficient condition, for the richest men maintained the 

 horses, and when notice of an expedition was given the 

 men appointed came to ride them, and each taking his 

 horse and whatever arms were given him proceeded at 



* Maizeroy, 68. 



^ Rocquancourt, i., 54. 



