70 



A HISTORY OF CAVALRY, 



[period I. 





the strength and instruction of each company, and of 

 each particular soldier." 



Scipio reaped a full reward for the trouble he had 

 taken with his horsemen, in his campaigns in Spain, and 

 afterwards in the crowning achievement of his life, 

 when at Zama, in one battle, he gained for his native 

 land not only security from destruction but the empire 

 of the world. 



The Romans from the earliest times used the bridle 

 and reins, but at this epoch had neither saddles nor 

 stirrups. In place of the saddle, which was not used 

 until about the year 340 a.d.,^ and was not perfected 

 until some fifty years later, under Theodosius the Great,^ 

 the Roman cavalry used a double covering or pad of 

 cloth, hide, or skin ; ^ the lower covering was larger than 

 the upper, and was sometimes plain, sometimes bordered 

 with a fringe. It was held in its place by a girth, a 

 crupper, and a breast-leather or strap. Over it was a 

 smaller pad, the lower edge of which was festooned and 

 sometimes ornamented with tassels.* The breast-strap 

 and crupper were also adorned with tassels, crescents, and 

 other decorations. The two cloths or pads were fastened 

 together by four buttons with straps, or else tied 

 together with ribbons.^ There were no stirrups in use 

 until nearly two hundred years after the invention of 

 the saddle, or about the end of the sixth century. 



Vegetius describes how the young soldiers were 

 trained to vault upon their horses with a naked sword 

 or spear in their hands, and this exercise, he says, was 

 continually required from the oldest veterans as well as 

 from the young recruits. They were taught this exer- 

 cise first upon wooden horses and without arms, until 

 they were somewhat accustomed to it, and then with 

 arms.® These exercises were conducted in winter under 

 cover, and in the summer on the drill ground. They 

 were trained to mount from both the right and left 

 sides. 



» Bardin, 4809. - D'Aldeguier, 32. s Liskenne, ii. 34. 



* Humbert, atlas plan, ii. ' Liskenne, ii. 34. " Vegetius, i. 



ch. 18. 



