CHAP. II.] 



THE GREEK CAVALRY. 



33 



once to the field, and thus the worst and least spirited of 

 all the men were mounted on horseback."^ 



At this battle the Theban cavalry were only about 500 

 in number, but were veteran troops well organised and 

 drilled, and rapid in their movements. They at once 

 fell upon the Lacedaemonian cavalry, defeated them and 

 drove them in confusion upon the ranks of their infantry, 

 and prepared the way for the heavy Theban phalanx 

 with which Epaminondas hurled his decisive blow upon 

 the right wing of the Spartan army. 



At the battle of Mantinea 363 B.C., the principle upon 

 which Epaminondas ranged his troops was similar to 

 that at Leuctra, the left wing being refused instead of 

 the right. His cavalry on his right wing were formed 

 in a strong wedge-like body, with companies of foot 

 supporting them. To the left of his army, on some high 

 ground, he posted a portion of his cavalry with parties 

 of infantry interspersed among them to hold in check 

 the Athenians who were on the right of the Lacedae- 

 monian army. His plans were crowned with complete 

 success ; the cavalry on his right overthrew the cavalry 

 opposed to them, and drove them from the field. The mass 

 or phalanx with which he made his attack on the left of 

 the enemy broke through the line and won the victory. 

 The Athenian cavalry on the right being held in check 

 by the superiority of the Theban squadrons, took no 

 part in the fight. ^ 



SECTION II. — GREEK CAVALRY UNDER PHILIP AND 



ALEXANDER. 



The squadron of the Scythians, Thracians and the 

 Macedonians had a triangular form, and was called a 

 wedge or spur ; Philip King of Macedon, father of 

 Alexander the Great, is said to have been the inventor of 

 this method of formation.^ He placed the officers on the 

 angles, and the most skilful soldiers in the outside ranks, 



' Xenophon, Hellenics, 496. 

 ^ Mottin de la Balme, 6. 



2 Ibid, book vii., ch. v. 23, 24, 25. 



D 



