cavalry

Cavalry refers to military forces trained to fight while mounted on horses. The term comes from Old French chevalerie, from cheval meaning horse. Cavalry units have been central to mobile warfare since antiquity, providing speed, shock power, and the ability to exploit breakthroughs.

In the ancient and medieval worlds, horse riding enabled rapid maneuver, communication, and flanking actions. Heavy cavalry, armored riders wielding lances or swords, could deliver decisive charges against infantry and other formations. Light and medium cavalry performed reconnaissance, screening, raiding, and pursuit. Cavalry organizations developed into regiments, squadrons, or troops, with tactics aided by stirrups and, later, barding and improved weapons.

With the rise of gunpowder and firearms, cavalry roles evolved. During the Napoleonic era and in the 19th century, coordinated cavalry charges remained impactful in some battles, but the increasing firepower of infantry and artillery reduced their battlefield dominance. World War I further limited horse-mounted operations to reconnaissance and exploitation, while World War II accelerated mechanization, with armored cars and tanks largely replacing horse-mounted forces on the battlefield.

Today, cavalry is largely represented by mechanized or armored units used for reconnaissance, security, and rapid reaction in many armies. Some nations maintain ceremonial or traditional horse-mounted units. In civilian contexts, mounted police use horses for crowd control and patrols. The concept of cavalry endures as a historical and symbolic facet of military organization in addition to its contemporary, mechanized forms.