Editing Cavalry (section)

===Late Roman Empire and the Migration Period===
[[File:Roman Cavalry 1.jpg|thumb|upright|right|Reenactor as a Roman [[Auxiliaries (Roman military)|auxiliary]] cavalryman]]

In the army of the late [[Roman Empire]], cavalry played an increasingly important role. The [[Spatha]], the classical sword throughout most of the 1st millennium was adopted as the standard model for the Empire's cavalry forces. By the 6th century these had evolved into lengthy straight weapons influenced by Persian and other eastern patterns.<ref>{{cite book |first=Andry |last=Negin|page=26|title=Roman Heavy Cavalry (2)|date=2020|publisher=Bloomsbury USA |isbn=978-1-4728-3950-3}}</ref> Other specialist weapons during this period included javelins, long reaching lancers, axes and maces.<ref>{{cite book|first=Ross|last=Cowan|page=31|title=Roman Legionary AD 284-337|date=21 April 2015 |publisher=Bloomsbury USA |isbn=978-1-4728-0666-6}}</ref>

The most widespread employment of heavy cavalry at this time was found in the forces of the Iranian empires, the [[Parthian Empire|Parthian]]s and their [[Persians|Persian]] [[Sasanian Empire|Sasanian]] successors. Both, but especially the former, were famed for the [[cataphract]] (fully armored cavalry armed with lances) even though the majority of their forces consisted of lighter [[horse archer]]s. The West first encountered this eastern heavy cavalry during the [[Hellenistic period]] with further intensive contacts during the eight centuries of the [[Roman–Persian Wars]]. At first the Parthians' mobility greatly confounded the Romans, whose armoured close-order infantry proved unable to match the speed of the Parthians. However, later the Romans would successfully adapt such heavy armor and cavalry tactics by creating their own units of cataphracts and ''clibanarii''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.historynet.com/mhq/blromespersianmirage/ |title=Roman-Persian Wars |work=Historynet.com |date=12 June 2006 |access-date=November 25, 2012 |archive-date=29 May 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060529073411/http://www.historynet.com/mhq/blromespersianmirage/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The decline of the Roman infrastructure made it more difficult to field large infantry forces, and during the 4th and 5th centuries cavalry began to take a more dominant role on the European battlefield, also in part made possible by the appearance of new, larger breeds of horses. The replacement of the Roman [[horse tack|saddle]] by variants on the Scythian model, with [[pommel (saddle)|pommel]] and cantle,<ref>The raised rear part of a saddle</ref> was also a significant factor as was the adoption of [[stirrup]]s and the concomitant increase in stability of the rider's seat. Armored cataphracts began to be deployed in Eastern Europe and the Near East, following the precedents established by [[History of Iran|Persia]]n forces, as the main striking force of the armies in contrast to the earlier roles of cavalry as scouts, raiders, and outflankers.<ref>{{cite book |first=Andry |last=Negin|pages=28–30|title=Roman Heavy Cavalry (1)|date= 2018|publisher=Bloomsbury USA |isbn=978-1-4728-3004-3}}</ref>

The late-Roman cavalry tradition of organized units in a standing army differed fundamentally from the nobility of the Germanic invaders—individual warriors who could afford to provide their own horses and equipment. While there was no direct linkage with these predecessors the early medieval knight also developed as a member of a social and martial elite, able to meet the considerable expenses required by his role from grants of land and other incomes.<ref>{{cite book|first=Peter |last=Newark |pages=23–24|title=Sabre & Lance. An Illustrated History of Cavalry|year=1987|publisher=Blandford Press |isbn=0-7137-1813-7}}</ref>