heavy cavalry engaging heavy cavalry

[Macedon]

What is interesting in this passage is that the emperor deems it very important that the cavalry units retain their formation until they engage the enemy. As threats that may lead to disorder - in the various cavalry contingents of different nationalities, training, experience, horses that comprised an army- he counted both human and horse psychology and as factors that may work towards either of them break in disorder, he counted the excitement of the war-cry and of course higher speed, which directly implies that the charge should not be made at top speed but at a slower pace, which he does not specify here. He stresses the importance of keeping the ranks and deems disorder as destructive. This is what Maurice says here regarding his understanding of cavalry warfare, which cannot be so different from what would be considered mainstream at his time among the military circles of the Byzantine Empire.