What weapons did Roman cavalry use?

Roman Auxilia cavalry were usually heavily armored in mail and armed with a short lance, javelins, the Spatha long sword, and sometimes bows for specialist Horse archer units.

How did Roman cavalry fight?

The Roman army used the cavalry to cover its flanks in battle and provide shock tactics. Their disciplined ranks of galloping horses easily dispersed fighters on foot. Cavalrymen could also pursue the enemy when retreating. Due to their rapid deployment, cavalry troops usually had decisive impact on a battle.

What weapons did Cavalry use?

Their main weapons were two or more pistols and a sword; initially, most wore three-quarters armour, though as time passed this was reduced to a helmet and a cuirass over a leather coat; sometimes they also carried a long cavalry firearm known as an arquebus or a carbine (although this type of horsemen soon became …

What was a Roman cavalry sword called?

The spatha
The spatha was a weapon used by the cavalrymen, while the auxiliaries and legionaries used the gladius instead. Eventually, the Roman infantry would adopt the spatha in the 2nd century. The spatha was a very versatile sword, undergoing many changes from its origins in Gaul to its usage in the Roman military.

What were the tactics of the Roman army in battle?

However, other historians bring up defeats such as Cannae and Trebia as evidence against this claim. Cavalry tactics included fighting the enemy cavalry first, then attacking the enemy cavalry from multiple directions to distract the commander and break their defensive line.

Why did cavalry soldiers have longer swords than infantry soldiers?

Cavalry soldiers needed longer swords than infantry soldiers. This was so they could reach their foe. This type of sword developed from Iron Age examples in Europe. The Roman Cavalry sword called a spatha would have been held in a scabbard, made from leather or wood.

What is a Roman cavalry sword?

The Roman Cavalry sword called a spatha would have been held in a scabbard, made from leather or wood. Usually all that remains is the chape, the protective fitting that covered the tip.

Who were the cavalrymen in the Roman army?

All of the cavalrymen were patricians. In the Republican era, the general name for the cavalry was Equites and consisted of the Equites class and the First Class, with a group of 300 cavalrymen in every legion. They were divided into 10 groups of 30 men.