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Roman Cataphract Cavalry

Type Object Region Near East Time c. 200–500

Late Roman heavy cavalry (cataphractarii/clibanarii) adopted from Parthia and Sasanian Persia, with rider and horse clad in scale or mail and armed w…

Timeline

  1. c. 100–200Parthian Empire frontier · Iranian PlateauEncountering heavy cataphract charges in wars against Parthia, Rome began to value the tactical worth of fully armored cavalry and experimented with similar formations in auxiliary units.
  2. c. 200–350Syria and Mesopotamia · LevantAfter the third century Rome formally raised heavy cavalry units such as the cataphractarii, equipped with scale armor and lances, deployed on the eastern frontier against Sasanian Persia and also used for internal mobile suppression.
  3. c. 350–500Eastern Roman Empire · Eastern Roman EmpireThe Eastern Roman Empire incorporated cataphracts into its cavalry corps (cunei) system, operating alongside light cavalry and horse archers, becoming an important component of early Byzantine military power.

Sources