Themsitius and the Scola scutariorum sagittariorum

[Urselius]

There is at least one mounted archer depicted on the Arch of Constantine (second decade of 4th century), and Constantine's troops at that stage of his career would have been those quartered in the westernmost provinces of the Empire. Therefore horse-archers as such would not have been a novelty in Valens' time. What we do not have a handle on from primary sources is the genesis of the Belisarian heavy cavalry archer, who was armoured and could charge home with a lance or sword.