Cavalery question

**Matinius Brutus** · 05-23-2008, 00:25

Am I mistaken or is it really the best cavalery weapon the horse( over the kontos, lance etc.)?

**lobf** · 05-23-2008, 00:28

As hard as I've tried, I've never been able to stab anyone with my horse

**Matinius Brutus** · 05-23-2008, 00:32

Maybe you should try and run him over :)
And moreover I doubt you have a horse!!!
Sorry, if this sounded offensive, I am just drunk and goddamn proud of it!!!!!

**lobf** · 05-23-2008, 01:01

Originally Posted by Matinius Brutus

Maybe you should try and run him over :)
And moreover I doubt you have a horse!!!
Sorry, if this sounded offensive, I am just drunk and goddamn proud of it!!!!!

I'm deeply offended.

In all seriousness, though, I really don't know the answer to your question. I assume a more massive horse would have more momentum in a charge, but that the effectiveness of cavalry is dependent on all of their equipment (weapons, armor, and stirrups later on, etc.)

**johnhughthom** · 05-23-2008, 03:20

Originally Posted by lobf

As hard as I've tried, I've never been able to stab anyone with my horse

You've obviously never used the Bartix general unit then, mounted on unicorns...

sorry, lame joke

**Spartan198** · 05-23-2008, 04:04

Well, you wouldn't be cavalry without a horse.

**Captain Trek** · 05-23-2008, 04:40

Well, you wouldn't be cavalry without a horse.

*Cough*camels*cough*

**Korlon** · 05-23-2008, 04:42

And those cute, sparkly elephants as well.

And, recently, tanks.

**The Persian Cataphract** · 05-23-2008, 13:00

Or giraffes.

**Jaume** · 05-23-2008, 15:06

*Cough*camels*cough*

And those cute, sparkly elephants as well.

And, recently, tanks.

Or giraffes.

In its etymology, the word "caballus" (from where "cavalry" comes) was first used around S.III aC, replacing the Latin word "equus" (which is Classical Latin). Around those years the same process happened to words like "magnus" (great), who had been replaced for "grandis", "ludere" (to play), who had been replaced for "jocare", or "cruor" (blood) who had been replaced for "sanguis".

And yes, "equus" means exactly HORSE. So I assume that cavalry it's only about horses. Camels, elephants, tanks, giraffes and tanks driven by giraffes are called, in Spanish, "tropas montadas", which literally means "Ridden troops".

**Foot** · 05-23-2008, 15:13

Cavalry was used to designate soldiers mounted on horseback, it was not usually extended to other animals such as camels, elephants or giraffes. In modern warfare Cavalry now designates units that fill the roles previously assigned to light-horse or cavalry regiments. Units that fill the roles of heavy cavalry are referred to as armour (or "armor" if you are a "u" hating American).

Foot

**Ludens** · 05-23-2008, 13:07

I don't think we really know this. It's not as if there are statistics as to how many soldiers died of horse-inflicted injuries. However, the main weapons of cavalry were mobility and shock, rather than any hand-held or rein-held weapons.