Roman Heavy Cavalry Fighting Techniques

[Robert Vermaat]

Great post Kai.

I for one am still not convinced that cavalry would stop and fight stationary against infantry, since I still not see why anyone would willingly give up all his advantages and fight on the enemy’s terms.

I don't think that what was being advocated here. Normal cavalry indeed has battlefield speed as its one big advantage, and will not likely give that up. What was being said here (at least by me) was that armoured cavalry (especially with horse armour) was unlikely to speed at or along infantry, but fight at low speed or perhaps at times stationary, using the superior range of the contus and the height as an advantage, while being protected against enemy weapons. That's a very different thing from unarmoured cavalry, which has to move in and out of range at a quick pace, and is best used as scouting troops, horse archers, guard flanks and protection of light troops, with the occasional use as chargers into weak spots, and of course harying a fleeing enemy. But that's all different from the heavies.