Cavalry

Cavalry are soldiers who fight on horses.

They move very fast. This speed helps them scout the land. They can also see things from high up.

Some riders wear heavy armor. These riders are called heavy cavalry. They charge into a fight.

Other riders move light and quick. These are light cavalry. They can move around many areas.

Today, many cavalry use fast tanks instead of horses.

It is a very old way to fight.

Cavalry are groups of soldiers who fight on horseback.

For a long time, they were the fastest fighters in war. They used speed to move across large areas.

There were two main types of cavalry. Heavy cavalry wore thick armor. They were used to charge into the middle of a battle. This helped them win big fights.

Light cavalry wore little armor. They were used for scouting and finding the enemy. They could also chase retreating troops.

In the past, people used chariots to move fast. Over time, riding horses became more common. In ancient Greece, many horsemen were rich citizens. In Macedonia, strong cavalry helped leaders like Alexander the Great.

As guns and cannons became common, armor became less useful. Many soldiers began to ride horses but fight on foot. This was called being a dragoon. Today, most horse cavalry are used for ceremonies. Modern armies use fast tanks or helicopters to do the old jobs of the cavalry.

Cavalry refers to groups of soldiers who fight while riding on horseback.

The name comes from the French word "cavalerie." This word itself comes from "cheval," which means horse. For much of history, these soldiers were the most mobile fighters in war. They could move much faster than soldiers on foot. This speed gave them a big advantage in many battles.

There were two main ways to use cavalry. The first type was heavy cavalry. These soldiers wore thick armor and rode large horses. They were used for shock attacks to break enemy lines. The second type was light cavalry. These riders wore very little armor. They were used for scouting and finding the enemy. They also helped by chasing retreating troops or protecting their own friends.

Long ago, people used chariots to move quickly in battle. Chariots came from the Sintashta-Petrovka culture in Central Asia. By 1550 BC, pharaohs in Egypt used them too. Eventually, riding horses directly became more common. In the 13th century BC, horse bones were found at a battlefield in Germany. By 331 BC, Alexander the Great had helped make chariots obsolete. He used strong cavalry to help win his many conquests.

In ancient Greece, cavalry was often for wealthy citizens. They could afford the high cost of war-horses. In Macedonia, the "Companion cavalry" was very famous. These were heavy riders who used long lances called "kontos." In the Roman Republic, the wealthy class known as "equites" served as cavalry.

As time passed, new weapons like muskets changed everything. Heavy armor did not work well against cannons. By the mid-18th century, most soldiers stopped wearing it.

Today, the way we use cavalry has changed a lot. Most horse-mounted soldiers now serve in ceremonial roles. They look grand during parades or special events. However, the old jobs of the cavalry still exist. Modern tanks now do the work of heavy cavalry. Fast armored cars and helicopters do the work of light cavalry. We still use the name "cavalry" for these fast, mobile units.

Cavalry refers to military units composed of soldiers who fight while mounted on horseback.

The term originates from the French word *cavalerie*, which is derived from *cheval*, meaning horse. For most of human history, cavalry served as the most mobile combat arm on the battlefield. These units provided speed and mobility that infantry on foot could not match. They also possessed greater height and inertial mass. This combination allowed them to exert a significant psychological impact on their opponents.

Historically, cavalry was divided into two primary functional types: light and heavy. Heavy cavalry acted as shock troops to break enemy formations. These riders often wore thick armor and rode large, powerful horses. In the Early Middle Ages in Europe, this role was filled by knights. Their main purpose was to charge the main enemy body at the height of battle. Their decisive actions often determined the final outcome of a conflict. This specialized role led to the term "battle cavalry."

Light cavalry served much different tactical purposes. These units were typically unarmored or lightly armored to maintain maximum speed. They performed roles that were ill-suited for the heavy, focused charges of shock troops. Light cavalry handled reconnaissance, which is the act of scouting enemy positions. They also performed screening, which involves hiding the movements of friendly forces. Other duties included foraging, raiding, and pursuing retreating enemies.

They were essential for linking separated friendly forces during complex maneuvers.

Before true cavalry became common, the role of mobile warfare was performed by chariots. Chariots originated with the Sintashta-Petrovka culture in Central Asia. They spread via nomadic Indo-Iranians and were adopted by many settled civilizations. For example, the pharaohs of the New Kingdom in Egypt used them from 1550 BC. The Assyrian army and Babylonian royalty also utilized them.

However, riding horses directly eventually replaced the chariot. By 331 BC, during the conquests of Alexander the Great, chariots became largely obsolete. Even in Britain, the last recorded use of chariots was by the Caledonians in 84 AD.

In ancient Greece, cavalry was often restricted to the wealthy. This was because only citizens with significant means could afford expensive war-horses. In the Macedonian kingdom, the *hetairoi*, or Companion cavalry, became a legendary force. They were heavy cavalry armed with a long lance called a *kontos*.

They used leather armor, mail, and helmets to protect themselves. This combination of cavalry and infantry helped Alexander the Great conquer vast territories. In the Roman Republic, the cavalry was the domain of the *equites*, a wealthy social class.

As technology changed, the nature of cavalry underwent a massive transformation. During the 17th century, European cavalry began discarding heavy armor. This was because metal plates were ineffective against new muskets and cannons. By the mid-18th century, most armor had become obsolete. Some regiments kept a small, thickened *cuirass*, which is a piece of breastplate armor. This offered minor protection against lances, sabers, and bayonets. By the 20th century, the rise of armored warfare changed the battlefield forever.

In the modern era, the term cavalry has been repurposed for mechanized units. The heavy cavalry role was taken over by tanks. Specifically, the cavalry tank or cruiser tank evolved into the modern main battle tank. The light cavalry role is now fulfilled by fast armored cars and infantry fighting vehicles. Even the air is used by "air cavalry," which employs helicopters for rapid movement. While horse-mounted soldiers are now mostly ceremonial, the tactical spirit of the cavalry remains.