Caesar vs Alexander

[Crispvs]

I would have thought that the Germanic cavalry would mostly have used spears, either with iron heads or, for the poorer ones, no heads as such but with fire hardened sharpened wooden points. If I recall correctly Caesar comments that Germanic cavalry was particularly effective due it being mixed with infantry. The cavalry would ride into battle with the infantry hanging onto the horses' manes in order to be carried along at the same speed as the cavalry. When they contacted with their opponents the infantry would jump off and fight alongside the cavalry, thus reducing the effectiveness of practiced anti-cavalry tactics and giving the cavalry freedom to use their height and speed to best advantage. I think that it was this practice which was the reason Caesar recruited Germanic cavalry and why Germanic cavalry tactics so bothered the Gauls who presumably fought in a completely different way. Certainly Caesar makes no mention of Gallic mixed cavalry. The Germanic mixed cavalry may well have been the origin of the later cohotes equitatae and if so must have remained an effective type of unit for some time.<br>
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Crispvs <p></p><i></i>