Roman Heavy Cavalry (2) cover

Description

In the twilight of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th–6th centuries, the elite of the field armies was the heavy armoured cavalry – the cataphracts, clad in lamellar, scale, mail and padded fabric armour. After the fall of the West, the Greek-speaking Eastern or Byzantine Empire survived for nearly a thousand years, and cavalry remained predominant in its armies, with the heaviest armoured regiments continuing to provide the ultimate shock-force in battle.

Accounts from Muslim chroniclers show that the ironclad cataphract on his armoured horse was an awe-­inspiring enemy: '...they advanced against you, iron­-covered – one would have said that they advanced on horses which seemed to have no legs'. This new study, replete with stunning full-colour illustrations of the various units, offers an engaging insight into the fearsome heavy cavalry units that battled against the enemies of Rome's Eastern Empire.

Table of Contents

Introduction
Select Chronology
Heavy Armoured Cavalry in the Eastern Roman Army
Organization & Units
Formation & Tactics
Weapons & Armour
Horses
Bibliography
Index

Product details

Published 26 Nov 2020
Format Ebook (PDF)
Edition 1st
Extent 64
ISBN 9781472839480
Imprint Osprey Publishing
Illustrations Black & white and colour photos.
Series Elite
Short code ELI 235
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

About the contributors

Author

Andrei Negin

Andrei Negin was born, educated and works in Nizhn…

Author

Raffaele D’Amato

Raffaele D'Amato, PhD, is the author of some 40 bo…

Illustrator

Andrei Negin

Andrei Negin was born, educated and works in Nizhn…

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