Cavalry
Mounted warriors who dominated battlefields until the 20th century.
Cavalry are soldiers who fight on horseback. The word comes from the French *cavalerie*, which traces back to *cheval*, meaning "horse." Until the 1900s, cavalry were the fastest-moving branch of an army. They served as light cavalry for jobs like scouting, shielding the main force, and skirmishing, or as heavy cavalry for delivering powerful, decisive shock attacks. Depending on the era and tactics, a single cavalry soldier might be called a cavalryman, horseman, trooper, cataphract, knight, drabant, hussar, uhlan, mamluk, cuirassier, lancer, dragoon, samurai, or horse archer. The term "cavalry" was not usually applied to forces riding other animals or platforms, such as chariots, camels, or elephants. Soldiers who rode horses to battle but dismounted to fight on foot were called dragoons from the early 1600s onward; this class of mounted infantry continued to serve in that role well into the 19th century (e.g., during the Napoleonic Wars) and later evolved into standard cavalry in many armies, though they kept their old name.
Fighting from horseback gave soldiers better mobility, greater height, more speed, and extra inertial mass compared to an enemy on foot. These advantages were highly valued in ancient and medieval times. Some armies were mostly cavalry, especially nomadic societies in Asia like Attila's Huns and the later Mongol armies. In Europe, cavalry grew more heavily armored over time, turning into the mounted knights of the Middle Ages. During the 1600s, European cavalry shed most of their armor because it was useless against the muskets and cannons becoming common. However, many heavy cavalry regiments—such as cuirassiers—retained and wore armor (cuirasses and helmets) throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, not just a small thickened cuirass for limited protection.
Between World War I and World War II, many cavalry units were turned into motorized infantry, mechanized infantry, or tank troops. The cavalry tank—also called a cruiser tank—was designed for speed and a different purpose than infantry tanks, and later developed into the main battle tank. Still, some horse-mounted cavalry served in World War II, notably in the Red Army, the Mongolian People's Army, the Royal Italian Army, the Royal Hungarian Army, the Romanian Army, the Polish Land Forces, and German light reconnaissance units within the Waffen SS.
Today, most horse-mounted cava
- field
- Military combat arm
- known_for
- Mobility, shock attacks, reconnaissance, and skirmishing on horseback
- types
- Light cavalry and heavy cavalry
- key_roles
- Reconnaissance, screening, skirmishing, shock attacks, pursuit, foraging, raiding
Lore & Background
Cavalry had the advantage of improved mobility, and a soldier fighting from horseback also had the advantages of greater height, speed, and inertial mass over an opponent on foot. These aspects were greatly valued during the Ancient and Medieval eras. Some hosts were mostly cavalry, particularly in nomadic societies of Asia, such as the Huns of Attila and the later Mongol armies. In Europe, cavalry became increasingly armoured (heavy), evolving into the mounted knights of the medieval period. During the 17th century, cavalry in Europe discarded most of its armor, which was ineffective against the muskets and cannons that were coming into common use, but many heavy cavalry regiments—such as cuirassiers—retained and wore armor (cuirasses and helmets) throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, not just a small thickened cuirass for limited protection.
Reader's Guide
Cavalry shaped warfare for millennia, providing unmatched mobility and shock action. From the horse archers of the Eurasian steppes to the armored knights of medieval Europe, cavalry forces could decide battles through speed and mass. The distinction between light cavalry (for reconnaissance, skirmishing, and harassment) and heavy cavalry (for decisive shock charges) persisted into early modern warfare, though armor gradually declined as firearms became prevalent. By the 20th century, increasing battlefield firepower pushed cavalry toward mounted infantry tactics, and after World War I many units converted to motorized or armored forces. The term 'cavalry' endures in modern armies, applied to units that fulfill traditional light cavalry roles using armored cars, light tanks, and infantry fighting vehicles, or to main battle tank units analogous to historical heavy cavalry. Air cavalry employs helicopters. Despite the obsolescence of horse-mounted combat, the legacy of cavalry remains in the names and functions of reconnaissance and armored units today.
Did You Know?
- The word 'cavalry' comes from the French word cavalerie, itself derived from cheval meaning 'horse'.
- Infantry who moved on horseback but dismounted to fight were known as dragoons from the early 17th to early 18th century.
- Some cavalry still served during World War II, including in the Red Army, Mongolian People's Army, and Polish Land Forces.
- The cavalry tank or cruiser tank was designed with speed beyond infantry tanks and later developed into the main battle tank.
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