cataphractarii
Cataphractarii were a class of heavily armored cavalry in the late Roman Empire, and later in the Byzantine army. The term, from the Latin plural cataphractarii, derives from the Greek kataphraktos meaning “armored” or “completely enclosed.” They represented one of the empire’s most heavily protected mounted troops and were developed under eastern influence, drawing on practices associated with Parthian, Sassanian, and Sarmatian horsemen. Romans adopted the concept to create a premier shock force capable of breaking enemy lines and contesting other heavy cavalry.
Equipment and tactics centered on maximum protection and decisive charges. Riders typically wore mail or lamellar
Organization and evolution. In the late Roman army, cataphractarii were an elite unit type, sometimes contrasted
Overall, the cataphractarii illustrate the late antique military shift toward heavily armored cavalry modeled on eastern