ROMA28 EQUITES. 218-201 BC

The Roman cavalry (Latin Equites) played an auxiliary role in the Roman martial arts of the Republic and the early Empire. The Romans considered the main type of their armed forces primarily legionary infantry, assigning secondary tasks to their cavalry, such as reconnaissance, insurance of army marches or protection of infantry wings during battle. Thus, the role of Roman cavalry on the battlefield was completely different than in the Carthaginian army led by Hannibal or in the Macedonian army of the times of Philip II or Alexander the Great. It is worth adding that on average the Roman legion during the Punic Wars (264-146 BC) numbered approx. 4,500-5,000 soldiers, of which only 300 served in the cavalry! These 300 cavalrymen were divided into 10 turmas, each of 30 men, and each turma was divided into 3 decuriae of 10 soldiers. It is also worth adding that the Roman cavalry of the Republic period did not present great combat value, which was clearly demonstrated by, for example, the Battle of Cannae (216 BC), although this negative state of affairs improved over time.