CHAP. X.] CA.VALRY IN THE 16th CENTURY. 249 



present time with but few slight alterations in dress and 

 arms. Light cavalry dressed and armed after the 

 fashion of the Hungarian hussars have been organised 

 and maintained in nearly all the European armies for 

 many years past. 



The Turkish cavalry at this period had attained a high 

 reputation ; they were essentially light cavalry, and 

 relied mainly upon the curved sabre, or cimcter. They 

 fought in loose order, and by very irregular evolutions. 

 They were armed with cuirass and casque, and used bows 

 and arrows as well as the sabre.^ They did not stand 

 the direct charge, but, as was their custom in all ages, 

 gave way before an impetuous attack, to return again to 

 harass the flanks, and to wear out their foe by constant 

 skirmishing.^ They were long considered to be the best 

 cavalry in Europe. They were accustomed to form in 

 the shape of a wedge, in order to pierce the ranks of 

 their foe, and once they succeeded in breaking the order, 

 they scattered, and mingled in the mMee, in which their 

 wonderful dexterity in the management of their sharp 

 cimeters gave them a great advantage.^ 



Their horses were not large, but were spirited, and 

 well trained and bitted. With the exception of the 

 saddle, their equipments were light. The lance, although 

 soixietimes used, was not a favourite weapon with them, 

 as it was not useful in the melee.* 



The Turks did not wear heavy armour, and the conse- 

 quence was, that, being lightly armed, and mounted on 

 active horses, they displayed a wonderful activity in the 

 use of their weapons in a hand-to-hand fight. It was 

 this quickness that made them such excellent light 

 cavalry, but rendered them unfit to sustain the shock of 

 horsemen heavily armed, charging with serried ranks, 

 and in good order.' 



The Turkish cavalry was composed of Spahis, or regu- 

 lar horsemen, and volunteers, the latter of various tjrpes. 

 The Spahis were armed with lances, javelins, and sabres. 

 Some also had carbines, others bows and arrows. The 



' Tjamartine's History of Turkey, ii. 31. 'i. ^ Humbert, 70. 



^ Nolan, 29. " Ibid. 25. ■' Montecuculi, 221. 



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