no 



A HISTORY OF CAVALRY. 



[period I. 



SECTION IX. — CAVALRY UNDER THE EMPERORS. 



In the earlier times of the Republic it will be re- 

 membered that the armies were composed of those 

 citizens who had a country to love, property to defend and 

 an interest in maintaining laws which they themselves 

 enacted. In time, as the dominion of Rome became 

 extended and immense numbers of allied troops were 

 brought to her standard, the army was soon composed 

 mainly of mercenaries, instead of being the armed 

 citizens of a free state, whose social and civil institutions 

 were based upon its military organisation.^ 



The cavalr}'', which was at first composed of the 

 wealthiest and best families of the nation, in the time of 

 the Empire consisted entirely of levies from the provinces 

 and from the poorer classes in the community. The 

 equites, no longer used as the cavalry force of the army, 

 not numerous enough to be of any service as a separate 

 corps, and of too distinguished a class to fight in the 

 ranks, when war, degenerated from a patriotic duty, had 

 become degraded into a trade, were generally engaged in 

 the administration of justice and in the care of the 

 revenue.^ Numbers of them did still continue to adopt 

 the profession of arms, but they were always employed 

 on the staff of the generals, or were immediately given 

 the command of a troop of horse or a cohort of foot. 



The cavalry in the time of the early emperors carried 

 the javelin, the long broadsword, and sometimes the 

 lance and iron mace.^ Their defensive armour consisted 

 of a helmet, a shield, light boots, and a coat of mail. 

 They were divided into regiments of 726 horse, composed 

 of nine troops of 66 men each and one of 132 men, 

 which was in connection vith the first cohort. They 

 were naturally connected somewhat with the legion, but 

 were usually placed upon the wings, or in the line of 

 battle, or in reserve. 



The overgrowth and wealth of the Roman Empire, the 

 luxury and extravagance which naturally crept into the 

 ' Gibbon, i. 10. 2 ibiti I 16. ^ Ibid. 17. 



