Quote Originally Posted by vastator
The Gauls fielded chariots at the battle of Telamon in 225 BC. Mithridates VI of Pontus used scythed chariots in his wars against Rome (1st century BC). Julius Caesar was impressed by the Britons' use of chariots a few years later. Just for the record, the Assyrians kept a "spare" horse loosely tethered to the left of the team puuling the chariot. As the chariot turned after an attack this animal was used to draw enemy fire. If it was hit, the charioteer simply cut it loose and made his getaway. Here endeth the lesson...
Yes, I realize that chariots were used in battle after 300 B.C. The point I was trying to make was that chariots had fallen out of favor with the most militarily-advanced civilizations of the day, because even then most people had recognized the chariot's limitations on the battlefield. Mithridates Eupator may have fielded chariots, but I'm sure you will note that - despite his long career and undoubted resiliency - he repeatedly lost major battles against the Romans : Charonea, Orchomenos, etc. Sulla, Lucullus and Pompey were great generals, granted, but the Pontic chariots were easy meat for "modern" armies. Too, the Gauls lost Telamon on crushing fashion.