The type of troops, where riding horses were used as a means of transportation for warriors, was called cavalry. The word itself has Latin roots and comes from "caballus", which means "horse". What is a cavalry? The concept is an etymological tracing-paper of the word "cavalry", a translation of this word into Russian.
Key Features
What is cavalry in a technical and general context? What was its meaning? Often, she played an important and decisive role in the battles of past eras, as she had increased maneuverability, mobility combined with power. And the ability to cover long distances in short periods of time, to suddenly appear, for example, on the flanks of the enemy troops, made her indispensable in many well-known battles. Many strategic and tactical tasks were solved there with the help of cavalry.
Classification
What is cavalry, according to the generally accepted classification? Usually, depending on the mass of the horse and the weapons of the rider, the cavalry was divided into several main types.
Easy. The mass of horses is below 500 kilograms. Horse rangers, lancers, hussars.
Average. The mass of horses is up to 600 kilograms. Dragoons.
Heavy. The mass of horses is over 600, sometimes over 800 kilograms. These are knights, mounted grenadiers, cuirassiers.
As intended, the light cavalry was intended for reconnaissance and sentry purposes. Heavy - for close attacks. The middle one took center stage in the fight.
It is interesting that the Cossacks, as mounted warriors, were irregular troops for a long time and did not lend themselves to general classification.
Knight's cavalry
At the end of the fifth century, devices such as stirrups were invented. Then, the cavalry becomes the main striking force in battles. In the Middle Ages in Europe, it becomes increasingly important. What is a cavalry of knights? The knights were, as a rule, clad in armor (subsequently, this procedure was also done with horses), armed with a sword and a heavy spear. They attacked the enemy, lining up in a wedge-shaped formation, inside of which the infantry was hiding, which was supposed to complete the defeat of the enemy troops. The front ranks consisted of selected knights. The weight of the knight's chain mail sometimes exceeded fifty kilograms. Later, horses were also shackled into similar armor. The main disadvantage of the heavy knightly cavalry was its inability to maneuver and pursue an easily moving enemy. However, the knightly cavalry for a long time remained an unprecedented and rather formidable weapon that brought the desired victory.
