CHAP. 



III.] 



KOMAN CAVALRY. 



115 



This species of heavy armed cavalry seems to have 

 been copied from those in use by the nations of the East. 

 In 351 Constantius, the son of Constantine, won a signal 

 victory over Magnentius at the battle of Mursa by thf> 

 use of his cavalry/ wh.ch were heavy armed cuirassiers, 

 glittering in scaly aimour, and who with ponderous 

 lances broke the firm array of the Gallic legions by the 

 imi losity of their charge. From the time of Constan- 

 tine the cavalry composed the principal part of the 

 Eoman armies, and in the reign of Justinian the Byzan- 

 tine army in the field consisted almost entirely of heavy 

 armed cavalry. The barbarians being then almost all 

 horsemen, had placed the cavalry service in high honour. 

 The most important portior of the army of Belisarius in 

 this reign was his body of mounted guards, who were 

 picked soldiers, chosen for their strength, courage, and 

 skill, as well as for the good quality of their horses and 

 armour. The infantry occupied a very secondary position 

 in his army, the cavalry being almost entirely relied 

 upon. Many of them were armed with the Scythian 

 bow. Procopius defends the use of the archers,^ which 

 some critics of his time had been inclined to despise : — 



" Such contempt might, perhaps, be due to the naked 

 youths who appeared on foot in the fields of Troy, and 

 lurking behind a tombstone, or the shield of a friend, 

 drew the bowstring to their breast and dismissed a feeble 

 and lifeless arrow. But our arches (says the historian) 

 are mounted on horses, which they manage with admir- 

 able skill. Their head and shoulderb are protected by a 

 casque or buckler, they wear greaves of iron on their 

 legs, and their bodies are guarded by a coat of mail. On 

 their right side hangs a quiver, a sword on their left, and 

 their hand is accustomed to wield a lance or javelin in 

 closer combat. Their bows are strong and weighty, they 

 shoot in every possible direction, advancing, retreating, 

 to the front, to the rear, or to either flank, and as they 

 are taught to draw the bow-string not to the breast, but 

 to the right ear, firm indeed must be the armour that can 

 resist the rapid violence of their shaft." 



• Gibbon, ii. 195. 2 ibid. iv. 120. 



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