Quote Originally Posted by Peasant Phill
Bulgarian Royal Cavalry: 8 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 8 ( charge/melee/defence/morale)
Steppe Heavy Cavalry: 6 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 7

They are much alike (which can be seen in their recruitement cost)with a slight advantage to BRC for their better charge and moral. But it doesn't justify (atleast not for me) the much higher upkeep (more than double) and the fact that SHC have missiles to.
I strongly agree with PP on this, and would like to point out that it should be easier with the Steppe Heavies to tech up to Master Horse Breeder (Royals require the xxx Court series of buildings, IIRC, which don't give valor bonuses), and produce them at +1 valor. Once you reach that point, the SHC become clearly superior to BRC in combat, with a nice cost bonus as extra!