CHAP. 111.] 



ROMAN CAVALRY 



97 



early 

 11 the 



nations of anti(]uity) with a lance pointed witli iron, 

 which, while used in the hand to thruHt, was still avail- 

 able to throw as a projectile in case of need.' They 

 also used a good cut-and -thrust sword, and seem to 

 have been the inventors of that particular kind of 

 weapon — for Polybius says that the Roman legions in 

 his time were armed with the Spanish sword.^ They 

 used the poignard also. For defensive armour they 

 wore a species of casque with a visor fixed under the 

 chin, and a crest adorned with red feathers or horsehair, 

 a garment of linen quilted and thick, a leathern 

 cuirass, and a buckler made of sinews and hide. 



There was one species of Spanish cavalry who were 

 accompanied in action, as those of the Germans already 

 mentioned, by an equal number of foot- soldiers, but it 

 was their custom to mount behind the horsemen, and 

 ride double in order that they might move rapidly 

 to any decisive point, and then the infantry alighting, 

 the two arms mutually supported each other.^ 



It was also the custom among them that if the infantry 

 thus carried were closely pressed and required a rein- 

 forcement of foot-soldiers, the cavalry were trained to 

 dismount, to fasten their horses by pickets which were 

 attached to the bridles, and which they drove into the 

 ground, and to form up in line alongside of their 

 comrades.* 



This gave the idea of voltigeurs, which were organised 

 in the French army at Boulogne in 1804, to be drilled 

 and manoeuvred on this principle. The experiment 

 was soon abandoned. 



Hannibal enrolled a number of Spanish cavalry in his 

 army on leaving Spain for Italy, and at the battle of 

 the Ticinus, they fought armed with cuirasses, their 

 horses being supplied with bits.* 



It was customary among the Spaniards to place the 

 cavalry in the rear, as a reserve to be employed as soon 

 as the infantry had gained any success, iu order to fall 



tibbon, 



' Duparcq, 195, 196. 2 Polybius, vi. i. 



* Duparcq, 195. ^ ibid. 197. 



Duparcq, 197. 



H 



