Heavy cavalry is a class of cavalry whose primary role was to engage in direct combat with enemy forces (shock troops). Although their equipment differed greatly depending on the region and historical period, they were generally mounted on large powerful horses, and were often equipped with some form of scale, plated, chainmail or lamellar armor as well as either swords, maces, lances, or battle axes.
Famous quotes containing the words heavy and/or cavalry:
“Men will tell you sometimes that “money’s hard.” That shows it was not made to eat, I say.... Some of those who sank with the steamer the other day found out that money was heavy too.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“To fight aloud is very brave,
But gallanter I know,
Who charge within the bosom
The Cavalry of Woe.”
—Emily Dickinson (1830–1886)