Cataphracts were the heaviest armored form of cavalry in the ancient world, with riders and bodies clad in heavy armor. They originated from the wealthiest nobles of various tribes in the Central Asian steppes, such as the Massagetae and Scythians, and were adopted and adapted by many great empires. The Achaemenid Persians, the Seleucids, the Sassanids, and eventually the Romans and their Byzantine successors. Typically armed with long lances, they exploited the mobility and mass of the horse in combination with the resilience and solid combat strength of the hoplite phalanx. Although they were very expensive in equipment and maintenance (mainly due to the need for suitable horses), they were potential victors in battle and remained in use for many centuries. Erich B Anderson evaluates the development, equipment, tactics, and combat record of the cataphracts (and similar clibanarii), also showing how enemies tried to counter them. This is a valuable study of one of the most interesting weapon systems of the ancient world.

Pages: 188, Dimensions: 15.6x15.6cm