CHAP. HI.] 



ROMAN CAVALRY. 



73 



discovered at Tournay in 1653.' Childeric reigned a.d. 

 458 to 481, so this fixes the date of horse-shoes as far back 

 at least as 480. 



The Roman cavalry attained its highest value under 

 Scipio, and for a considerable period after his time it 

 was maintained in a good state of efficiency. The 

 division of the legion into maniples, and its usual 

 formation with intervals between them, gave facilities to 

 the cavalry, drawn up as it was in such small tactical 

 units as the turmoe, to charge through the openings 

 upon the enemy, and so aid their infantry in the crisis 

 of an action. A portion of the cavalry were generally 

 held in reserve in the rear to give this assistance in case 

 of need. 



Scipio and Lentulus in Spain and Africa temporarily 

 orgauised cohorts by simply uniting three maniples into 

 a single body and using that larger corps as the tactical 

 unit.^ This innovation was probably caused by the fact 

 that Scipio was engaged with an enemy possessing a 

 powerful and effective cavalry force, and had discovered 

 that in operating against such a foe it was necessary to 

 consolidate his infantry and reduce the number of in- 

 tervals in his line of battle, at the same time that he 

 increased and strengthened his tactical units. 



The division of the legion into cohorts as a distinct 

 and permanent organisation did not take place until the 

 Consulate of Marius, when they became the regular sub- 

 division, the legion containing 10 cohorts ; and from 

 that time, although differing in strength, the same name 

 was maintained during the Empire.^ 



In the reign of Adrian the first cohort was increased, 

 and was composed of the picked men of the legion, and 

 was given many privileges which the other cohorts did 

 not enjoy. It was generally double the strength of the 

 others, and comprised 800, 1,000, or 1,200 men accor- 

 ding as the legion was of the strength of 4,000, 5,000, 

 or 6,000 men. The standard or eagle was intrusted to 



^ Boutell, 279. « Bardin, 1337. » Roman Antiquities, Exercitus. 

 Bardin. 1337, 1338. 



