What is cavalry and where does the word come from?
Cavalry refers to soldiers or warriors who fight mounted on horseback. The word comes from the French cavalerie, itself derived from cheval, the French word for horse.
Questions about Cavalry
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What were the main roles of light cavalry versus heavy cavalry?
Heavy cavalry, such as Byzantine cataphracts and medieval knights, served as shock troops, charging the main body of the enemy at the height of battle to decide its outcome. Light cavalry, including horse archers, hussars, and Cossacks, handled scouting, skirmishing, raiding, pursuit of retreating enemies, screening of friendly forces, and foraging.
What was the largest cavalry charge in the Napoleonic Wars?
The greatest cavalry charge of modern history occurred at the 1807 Battle of Eylau, when the entire 11,000-strong French cavalry reserve, led by Joachim Murat, launched a massive charge on and through the Russian infantry lines.
Why did cavalry become obsolete in World War I?
On the Western Front, a combination of barbed wire, uneven muddy terrain, machine guns, and rapid-fire rifles proved deadly to horse-mounted troops, and by early 1915 most cavalry units were no longer seeing front line action. Cavalry's share of British Expeditionary Force manpower fell from 9.28% in September 1914 to 1.65% by July 1918.
When did the British Army mechanize its cavalry regiments?
The British Army mechanized all cavalry regiments between 1929 and 1941, combining them with the Royal Tank Regiment to form the Royal Armoured Corps.
Is the story of Polish cavalry charging German tanks in 1939 true?
The story is a myth arising from misreporting. The actual event on the 1st of September 1939 near Krojanty involved two squadrons of the Polish 18th Lancers armed with sabres, who scattered German infantry before being caught in the open by German armoured cars, not tanks.