250 



A HISTORY OF CAVALRY. [period hi. 



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European Turks made use of firearms before they were 

 much used among the Asiatics. After pistols were in- 

 vented they carried them, both in holsters on the saddle 

 and in the waist-belt or girdle. Coats of mail, of light 

 construction, were often used among them during the 

 seventeenth century.^ 



The Turks maintained many advanced posts of cavalry 

 in front, in rear, and upon the flanks of their positions, 

 and their outpost work was generally very fairly per- 

 formed. 



A great battle took place on the 29th of July, 1526, 

 at Mohacz, or Mogatch, between Soliman " The Magni- 

 ficent," Sultan of Turkey, and the Hungarian army 

 under their king, Louis II. It was principally a cavalry 

 action, and is of importance as showing the result of a 

 conflict between the heavy armed Hungarians and the 

 more lightly equipped Turks. Soliman's army consisted 

 of 200,000 men, while the King of Hungary had but 

 30,000, many of them being heavy armed knights and 

 nobles, whose solid and impetuous charge nothing in the 

 Turkish ranks could attempt to withstand. 



Soliman's plans evinced great skill. His army was 

 ranged in three lines — the army of Asia, under Ibrahim, 

 forming the front line ; the army of Europe, under 

 Kosrew Pasha, forming the second ; while the Sultan in 

 person, with his janissaries, or guards, took up a position 

 in rear, on an eminence, as the reserve. 



The front line were ordered to open before the charge 

 of the Hungarian squadrons to avoid the shock, and to 

 endeavour to attack them in flank and rear as they 

 passed. The Hungarian cavalry, under the command of 

 a Bishop named Tomori, attacked in a splendid charge, 

 and swept through the front line, which at once gave 

 way before them, but coming blown and disordered upon 

 the second line, they were checked, and being attacked 

 on both flanks and rear by the first line, were annihilated. 

 This charge was immediately followed by the advance of 

 the king, with the bravest of his knights and heavy 

 horsemen, who burst through both lines beneath a cloud 

 ' Warnery, Remarques sur le Militaire de Tmcs. 



