CAVALRY OVERVIEW
Cavalry first served with Assyrian forces during the reign of Tukulti-Ninurta II (890 - 884 BC). Wall reliefs from the palace of Assurnasirpal II (883 - 859 BC) depict riders operating in pairs with one holding the reins of both horses in order to allow the other rider to fire his bow. The tactical employment of Assyrian cavalry in this period shows that by riding in pairs, they were envisaged as "charioteers without their chariot." The archer's more elaborate dress and iron conical helmet compared to the horse holder's plain costume and simple iron skullcap probably as with a chariot team indicates superior status. By the reign of Shalmeneser III (858 - 824 BC), the horse holder's iron skull cap is replaced by an iron conical helmet similar to that worn by a mounted archer.
Tiglath-Pileser III, as part of his reform of the Assyrian army, introduced armoured cavalrymen equipped with bronze lamellar corselets and armed with the lance. The latter is used in a downward, overarm thrusting fashion. Horses are now ridden using a proper seat rather than the "donkey seat" (i.e., bareback) used previously. Although the pairing of cavalry is still evident, each rider operates as a self-contained unit controlling his own mount. In addition to the saddle, the rider relied upon the girth, crupper and breast strap to provide stability. In the absence of the spur and stirrup (neither of which had been yet invented), the rider controlled his mount by leg and heel pressure.
The cavalry of Sargon II (722 - 705 BC) were equipped in addition to the lance with the compound bow and quiver. Additionally, cavalry are now equipped with footwear in the form of socks with lace-up boots.
By the reign of Ashurbanipal (668 - 626 BC), cavalry mounts were now almost fully covered by fabric armaments.
The ability of the horse to transverse uneven terrain made the cavalry especially effective in pursuit operations. Similarly the mobility enjoyed by cavalry forces made them ideal for conducting reconnaissance operations as well as providing flank security for the army on the march, two new operational capabilities.
On the battlefield, cavalry drawn up in concentration with chariots functioned as a shock force, either in their own right or supported by the chariots to exploit breaches in the enemy lines created by long-range arrow and sling fire.
The mobility enjoyed by the cavalry enabled them to first pass through gaps in the enemy positions created by the chariots. Once through the enemy line, the cavalry would wheel and roll up the enemy line from behind. Alternatively, by virtue of their mobility, the cavalry could outflank an opponent and assume a blocking position behind their line to prevent their retreat. Once in position behind the enemy line, the cavalry acted as an anvil against which the chariots and infantry units could drive the enemy.