what was the function of the Roman cavalry?

[Theodosius the Great]

Just to elaborate on what I said earlier about Hannibal's Spanish cavalry :

[size=150:1u9rrkg7]The cavalryman was also armed with a falcata, and is frequently mentioned as dismounting to fight along side the infantry when necessary, or even as carrying another man, armed with falcata and caetra (small shield), on the back of his horse into battle, when the second man would dismount to fight on foot.[/size] [Armies of the Carthaginian Wars, 265-146 BC (Osprey)]

So, carrying the second man wasn't only for long distance travel. As said earlier, Hannibal may have used his Spanish cavalry to close the encirclement at Cannae in this way.


~Theo