Indian literature contains numerous references to the cavalry forces of the Central Asian horse nomads like the Sakas, Kambojas, Yavanas, Pahlavas and Paradas.

V. R. Ramachandra Dikshitar writes: " Both the Puranas and the epics agree that the horses of the Sindhu and Kamboja regions were of the finest breed, and that the services of the Kambojas as cavalry troopers were requisitioned in ancient wars ".

Mahabharata ( 950 c BC ) speaks of the esteemed cavalry of the Kambojas, Sakas, Yavanas and Tusharas, all of whom had participated in the Kurukshetra war under the supreme command of Kamboja ruler Sudakshin Kamboj.

The Himalayan alliance gave Chandragupta a formidable composite army made up of the cavalry forces of the Shakas, Yavanas, Kambojas, Kiratas, Parasikas and Bahlikas as attested by Mudra-Rakashas ( Mudra-Rakshasa 2 ).

There are numerous references to Kambojas having been requisitioned as cavalry troopers in ancient wars by outside nations.

Apart from the Buddhist sources, the epic Mahabharata as well as numerous Puranic texts also repeatedly refer to the excellent horses ( Aśvas ) of the Kambojas and also frequently style the latter people as " Aśva-yudha-Kushalah " ( expert cavalry ), yet none of them makes even a slightest reference to the Aśvakas of Kabul or their horses.

Puranic text like Vishnudharmotra Purana too specifically attests that the Kambojas and Gandharas were proficient in cavalry warfare i. e. in Aśva '- Yuddha.

In the Anushasnaparava section of Mahabharata, the Kambojas are specifically designated as aśava. yuddha. kushalah ( expert cavalry ).

The Aśvaka Kambojas are also attested to have fielded 30, 000 strong cavalry, 30 elephants and 20, 000 infantry against Alexander.

The Kambojas had been famous throughout all periods of history for their excellent breed of horses as well as famous horsemen or cavalry troopers.

There are numerous references to Kambojas being requistioned as cavalry troopers in ancient wars by outside nations.

V. R. Ramachandra Dikshitar observes: " Both the Puranas and the epics agree that the horses of the Sindhu and Kamboja regions were of the finest breed, and that the services of the Kambojas as cavalry troopers were requisitioned in ancient wars ".

These references show that the Kamboja cavalry from north-west in conjunction with the Yavanas had invaded India and ruled over it prior to Christian era migration of Kambojas and Yona invasion of India.

Writes Dr R. C. Majumdar: " Mercenary soldiers ( Specially cavalry ) might have been recruited from the Kambojas and some of them might have been influential chiefs ".

But of course the paterollers won't be of any help, not with everything so upset and that Yankee cavalry outfit they say is running around, God knows where ''.

Stuart is assigned command of all the cavalry of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia.

By the end of the novel, the elite cavalry wing is led by a dashing young warrior prince named Artos, whom Sutcliff postulates to be the real Arthur.

But it is more likely that he was pursuing a large enemy cavalry force, probably Sarmatians, which was possibly acting as a decoy.

The first theory is that the Persian cavalry left Marathon for an unspecified reason, and that the Greeks moved to take advantage of this by attacking.

This theory is based on the absence of any mention of cavalry in Herodotus ' account of the battle, and an entry in the Suda dictionary.

The entry χωρίς ἰππεῖς (" without cavalry ") is explained thus: The cavalry left.

There are many variations of this theory, but perhaps the most prevalent is that the cavalry was re-embarked on the ships, and was to be sent by sea to attack ( undefended ) Athens in the rear, whilst the rest of the Persians pinned down the Athenian army at Marathon.

If the first theory is correct ( see above ), then the absence of cavalry removed the main Athenian tactical disadvantage, and the threat of being outflanked made it imperative to attack.

The total force is estimated at 25, 000 men ; a much larger proportion of foot soldiers and slightly less cavalry than the French.

A soldier in the cavalry is known by a number of designations such as cavalryman, horseman or trooper.

What is commonly referred to as cavalry today utilizes helicopters ( air cavalry ) or armored fighting vehicles ( armored cavalry ) as a means to quickly get soldiers into battle.

In many modern armies, the term cavalry is still often used to refer to units that are a combat arm of the armed forces which in the past filled the traditional horse-borne land combat light cavalry roles.

The shock role, traditionally filled by heavy cavalry, is generally filled by units with the " armored " designation.

In the Mahabharata war, the Kamboja cavalry along with that of the Sakas, Yavanas is reported to have been enlisted by the Kuru king Duryodhana of Hastinapura.

In western Europe there emerged what is considered the " ultimate " heavy cavalry, the knight.

A popular myth is that Polish cavalry armed with lances charged German tanks during the September 1939 campaign.

While most modern " cavalry " units have some historic connection with formerly mounted troops this is not always the case.

However, the mystique of the cavalry is such that the name has been introduced for what was always a mechanised force.

Today, the Indian Army's 61st Cavalry is reported to be the largest remaining non-ceremonial horse-mounted cavalry in the world.

The Assyrians were also innovative in military technology with the use of heavy cavalry, sappers, siege engines etc.

They were also, by virtue of their small capacity engines, far less efficient than the cavalry and horse-drawn guns that they were intended to complement.

His cavalry ravaged the nearby woods and the countryside, while the rest of the troopes moved to Turrus, a castle located in the present municipality of Algarinejo, which was surrounded within five days, while its environs were also devastated.

A Dutch cavalry brigade under Averock was also called forward but soon came under pressure from Marsin's more numerous squadrons.

This line also came under severe pressure and, in turn, was forced back to their third-line of cavalry and the few battalions still remaining on the plain.

Most of the army was composed of riflemen, a significant percentage of which were in Menelik's reserve ; however, the army was also composed of a significant number of cavalry and infantry only armed with lances.

Mail was commonly also used as horse armour for cataphracts and heavy cavalry as well as armour for the soldiers themselves.

In addition to these heavy cavalry, the Macedonian army also employed lighter horsemen called prodromoi for scouting and screening, as well as the Macedonian pike phalanx and various kinds of light infantry.

There were also the Ippiko ( or " Horserider "), Greek " heavy " cavalry, armed with kontos ( or cavalry lance ), and sword.

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.

Mamluks were to follow the dictates of al-furusiyya, a code of conduct that included values like courage and generosity but also doctrine of cavalry tactics, horsemanship, archery and treatment of wounds.

Tibetans also had a tradition of cavalry warfare, in several military engagements early on with the Chinese Tang Dynasty ( 618 – 907 AD ), including Emperor Taizong's campaign against Tufan in 638.

The adoption of massed cavalry in China also broke the tradition of the chariot-riding Chinese aristocracy in battle, which had been in use since the ancient Shang Dynasty ( c. 1600 BC-1050 BC ).

The ancient Japanese of the Kofun period also adopted cavalry and equine culture by the 5th century AD.

As late as mediaeval era, the Kamboja cavalry had also formed part of the Gurjara-Pratihara armed forces in 8th / 10th centuries AD.

They are attested to be living as Ayuddha-jivi or Shastr-opajivis ( Nation-in-arms ), which also means that the Kamboja cavalry offered its military services to other nations as well.

The introduction of missile weapons that required less skill than the longbow, such as the crossbow and hand cannon, also helped remove the focus somewhat from cavalry elites to masses of cheap infantry equipped with easy-to-learn weapons.

( See also Polish cavalry.

The United States also has " air cavalry " units equipped with helicopters.

Handheld crossbows with complex bronze trigger mechanisms have also been found with the Terracotta Army in the tomb of Qin Shihuang ( r. 221 – 210 BC ) that are similar to specimens from the subsequent Han Dynasty ( 202 BC – 220 AD ), while crossbowmen described in the Qin and Han Dynasty learned drill formations, some were even mounted as cavalry units, and Han Dynasty writers attributed the success of numerous battles against the Xiongnu to massed crossbow fire.

He was also titled " magister equitum et peditum " (" Master of the Horse and of Foot "), placing him in charge of both the cavalry and infantry forces of the Western Roman Empire.

Locke's father, also called John, was a country lawyer and clerk to the Justices of the Peace in Chew Magna, who had served as a captain of cavalry for the Parliamentarian forces during the early part of the English Civil War.

Count Johann von Werth ( 1591 – September 12, 1652 ), also Jan von Werth or in French Jean de Werth, was a German general of cavalry in the Thirty Years ' War.