03-09-2012, 05:36 PM
Cavalry, as well as infantry, was not formed in an absolutely rigid manner. Having three decurions per turma does not necessarily mean that there would be files of 10, as having two centurions per maniple would not mean that maniples deployed in 2 files. For a Roman general to be able to array his turmae in 3 files was certainly a possibility, especially if he wished them to be more mobile (a smaller front made it easier to turn) or if for some reason he anticipated melee action (which Polybius especially reports as quite non-standard) and wanted positional weight (Xenophon praises the merits of cavalry depth in such circumstances). Without myself wanting to advocate any depth as standard, the number of the officers does not strike me as proof enough to accept such a proposition as more probable than others. What I most would like to know is the timeframe of what you are prosposing. Are you suggesting that the Roman cavalry would customarily array 10 deep from the time of the Hannibalic Wars to at least Arrian's generalship?
