Cavalry and chariots against infantry

[Mark Hygate]

The Greeks may have had theoretical names and formations to call them, but never fielded the numbers - and the Romans thought 600 cavalry per legion (~5000 infantry) was more than enough. If cavalry were ever that wonderful - then we wouldn't have seen so many infantry though-out history.

This may be true for the legions, but what about the auxiliary units which had a proportionately far higher number of cavalry?

Well, an answer to part of that will have to wait for hat little thesis I so wish to write and post here....

But, I am talking about total army ratio's here, not just individual units. Classic 2+2 Roman Consular army - 16-20,000 Infantry and 2,400 cavalry. Greek City state army - often about 10,000 infantry and 3-600 cavalry.