CHAP. X.] CAVALRY IN THK KJth CENTURY. 



243 



cavalry was another species of light horse, dift'eriug little 

 from the argoulets.' It seems in fact that argoulet was 

 the name given to a particular type of cavalry, and that 

 the Albanian were of this type, but so called from being 

 recruited in Albania. '^ This would account for the fact 

 that the Albanian, Stradiot, and Argoulet horsemen are 

 often confounded by historians. 



Albanians. — Charles VIII. took 8,000 Albanians into 

 his pay in 1496.^ Louis XII. shortly afterwards 

 appointed a colonel-general to command them, and they 

 became the nucleus and foundation of the French light 

 cavalry. They were retained in the French army until 

 the reign of Henry III., a squadron of them serving in 

 the battle of Courtras under Marshal Joyeuse. 



The Albanians formed companies of 300 or 400 men, 

 and were altogether mercenary troops, furnishing their 

 own horses. They were clad somewhat in the Turkish 

 fashion, except the turban, and fought either on foot or 

 on horseback. Their distinctive weapon was the arzegaye, 

 a species of short lance, which they handled with wonder- 

 ful skill.* It was ironed at both ends. 



Genetaires. — Troops of this type were in use in 

 many of the European armies at this time. In the 

 •Spanish forces they were known as genetaires, from the 

 Spanish word gineta, a short lance.^ They had all the 

 customs and paces of the Saracens or Moors. They 

 formed the light cavalry of the Spanish army, and held 

 the place of tlie hussars. They were clad, like the French 

 Albanian cavalry, in the Turkish manner, using the 

 arzegaye, and also the buckler. Their horses were small 

 well-formed animals, still called in French and English 

 genets, from the troops who formerly used them. They 

 rode with short stirrups, and used the Moorish bit. 



When firearms came into use the argoulets soon 

 adopted the arquebus, and afterwards the escopette and 

 the pistol. The term argoulet became one of reproach 

 under Charles IX., and they are not mentioned after the 

 battle of Dreux, in 1.562.* The carabins succeeded to 



' Daniel, i. 167. * Bardin, 156. « Ibid. * Daniel, i. 168. 

 * Bardin, 2569. • Ibid. 232. 



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