Sasanian Cataphracts

Timeline

1. c. 300–400Iranian Plateau · Iranian PlateauThe Sasanian army inherited and developed the Parthian heavy cavalry tradition, forming cataphract regiments centered on noble sons, equipped with lances, bows and crossbows, and full-body scale armor, becoming the main force in open battle.
2. c. 400–550Mesopotamian frontier · MesopotamiaIn numerous campaigns against Byzantium, the cataphracts served as the decisive striking force, coordinating with infantry, war elephants and light cavalry to form the typical Sasanian battle tactic system.
3. c. 550–651Ctesiphon · MesopotamiaProlonged warfare depleted the manpower and equipment reserves of the noble cavalry, and internal strife weakened regiment cohesion; after the Arab conquest the Sasanian military system collapsed, and the cataphract tradition was partly inherited by later Islamic cavalry.