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The Roman Cavalry

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

The 6th-century [C.E. Roman] soldier was in fact much more than a cavalryman: he had become an all-around mounted warrior. With his bow he could skirmish at a distance, but he was also heavily armored and well equipped for close mounted combat. When a steady force was needed to hold ground, he was quite happy to dismount and fight as a heavy infantryman. On many occasions Belisarius took only cavalrymen with him, and when Narsus needed steady infantry, he dismounted his cavalry.

– Late Roman Cavalryman: 236-565 AD

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[Parthian] Cataphracts or clibanarii were heavy enough to break any other type of cavalry which opposed them; they were reasonably immune from hand-propelled missiles and arrows, less so from sling pellets or machine weapons. Their attack would be carried out at an ambling trot in close order, and was often only a feint to cause infantry to regroup into close formation to enable the mounted bowmen to create havoc, thus producing a close order/open order dilemma in the ranks. If the charge was pressed home against infantry who had been subjected to prolonged missile attack, who were suffering from lack of food, water, or rest, or who were already disorganized, the chance of success was high. Good, fresh, well-prepared infantry in dense formation were difficult if not impossible to break and could prove disastrously lethal.

Horse-archers were almost impossible to destroy; however, they could be dispersed by good light cavalry, who might in turn be open to eventual counterattack. Enemy cavalry could be attacked while the bowmen's own cataphracts threatened any enemy counterattacking. The effect on heavy infantry was more demoralizing than destructive.

– Rome's Enemies 3: Parthians and Sassanid Persians

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Lots of information about the Napoleonic Wars and the Roman Cavalry coming soon!

The Roman Cavalry in Great Britain
http://www.fellpony.f9.co.uk/fells/rom_dark/cavalry.htm