126 



A HISTORY OF CAVALRY, 



[period II. 



During the period that these changes were going on in 

 the military and political systems of Europe, the records 

 of the art of war, and the accounts preserved of the 

 different important battles fought, are so obscure and so 

 imperfect that but little can be said conci rning them. It 

 is almost certain however that even were we in possession 

 of authentic details upon the subject, we should find but 

 little of value in connection with the military art. The 

 decline of civilisation and the ascendency of barbarism 

 affected war as it did all other arts and sciences, and it is 

 not likely that the barbarians were much acquainted with 

 either discipline or tactics. Of the battles of Soissons 

 and Tolbiac fought by Clovis we can say but little. We 

 have fortunately some interesting particulars of the Battle 

 of Casilinum fought iu 554, where the Eunuch Narses 

 won a most decisive victory over the Franks under 

 Bucelinus by the tactical use of his cavalry. 



Bucelinus had 30,000 effective infantry in his army, 

 but no cavalry. Narses, who commanded the troops of 

 the Emperor of the East, had only 18,000 men, of whom 

 a large portion were cavaby in armour and using bows 

 and arrows.^ He drew up his forces in line, the heavy 

 infantry in the centre, the cavalry upon the wings, the 

 archers and slingcrs in the rear. As he was drawing out 

 his prmy for battle,"^ he was told that one of the chiefs of 

 the Heruli, which formed a large contingent of his com- 

 mand, had slain one of his own servants for some trivial 

 ofience. He at once inquired into the case, and executed 

 the officer upon the spot. The Heruli, indignant at his 

 severity, refused to go into action. Narses said 'J they 

 did not, they would lose the honour of the victory, and 

 proceeded without them — arranging that if they came up 

 they could act as a second line or reserve. 



Bucelinus formed his army into a wedge-like order, 

 with the point towards the enemy, and charged vehe- 

 mently against the centre of the Eoman line, which was 

 soon broken and obliged to give way. Narses was not 

 discouraged, but swung forward his two wings of cavalry, 

 who armed, some with bows and arrows, some with 

 ' Gibbon, iv. 277. ^ Daniel, Milice Fran^aise, i. 19, 20. 



