Roman Cavalry Tactics

M.C. Bishop, Adam Hook (Illustrator)

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Paperback

Forthcoming
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English

Osprey
01 December 2025

History; Military history; Defence strategy, planning & research

Series: Elite

A fully illustrated study of the Roman cavalry's evolution, this fascinating book chronicles tactics and composition from the time of the Republic to the fall of the Dominate.

The cavalry ‘wings’ that probed ahead of the Roman Army played a key role in its campaigns of conquest, masking its marching flanks and seeking to encircle enemies in battle. However, the original small cavalry arm provided by the citizen nobility had proved inadequate before the end of the Republic, and Julius Caesar’s cavalry was largely made up of hired allies. During the Early Principate, the armies under Augustus continued in this vein, incorporating large numbers of non-citizen auxiliary cavalry units. The provinces came under increasing attack throughout and following the chaotic mid-3rd century, and Rome took lessons from its ‘barbarian’ enemies in how to improve its military mobility, adopting both new, heavily armoured shock cavalry and horse-archers, and vitally shaping the tactics employed during the Dominate.

In this engaging study, Roman Army expert M.C. Bishop charts how the cavalry grew to become the dominant force in Roman field armies by the twilight of the Western Empire. Eight newly commissioned artwork plates and a rich selection of artefact photographs and archaeological sources provide vivid detail and insight, helping to bring to the life the evolving tactics, clothing and weaponry of Rome’s cavalry from the 2nd century BC through to the 5th century AD.

By: M.C. Bishop
Illustrated by: Adam Hook (Illustrator)
Imprint: Osprey
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Volume: 263
Dimensions: Height: 248mm, Width: 182mm, Spine: 6mm
Weight: 220g
ISBN: 9781472863379
ISBN 10: 1472863372
Series: Elite
Pages: 64
Publication Date: 01 December 2025
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming

[subject to confirmation] Introduction Cavalry under the Republic Cavalry under the late Republic and Early Principate Cavalry under the High Principate Cavalry under the Dominate Select bibliography Index

M.C. Bishop is an authority on all aspects of Ancient Rome at war, with particular emphasis on arms and armour of the era. He has written, co-written or edited dozens of books and articles on the subject, including volumes on the gladius, pilum and spatha for the Osprey Weapon series and Roman shields and armour for Osprey Elite. Adam Hook studied graphic design, and began his work as an illustrator in 1983. He specializes in detailed historical reconstructions.