A cataphract was a form of armoured heavy cavalry that originated in Persia and was fielded in ancient warfare throughout Eurasia and Northern Africa. Historically, the cataphract was a very heavily armoured horseman, with both the rider and mount almost completely covered in scale or lamellar armour over chain mail, and typically wielding a ...

2018年6月27日 · The word ‘cataphract’ has its origins in the Greek language, and is said to mean ‘fully armored’ or ‘closed from all sides’. The cataphract, however, was not a Greek ‘product’, and was only adopted by the armies of the Seleucid Empire sometime during the 4th century B.C., after they went on military campaigns against their ...

2023年7月17日 · The cataphract concept spread quickly amongst the various Iranian peoples of Central Asia. Conflict with the Assyrians most likely introduced the idea into the Ancient Near East, though some have speculated that the Assyrians developed it on their own to counter Iranian-mounted archers.

Panel from Trajan's Column, Rome Equites cataphractarii, or simply cataphractarii, were the most heavily armoured type of Roman cavalry in the Imperial Roman army and Late Roman army. The term derives from a Greek word, κατάφρακτος kataphraktos, meaning "covered over" or "completely covered" (see Cataphract).

The cataphract was one of the most iconic warriors of ancient and medieval times. These heavily armored cavalrymen were used by various armies throughout history, from the Persians to the Byzantines, and were known for their formidable defensive capabilities and devastating charges.

[Latin cataphractus, literally, armored, from Greek kataphraktos] : a soldier wearing a cataphract

2024年10月21日 · The iconic image of cataphracts, heavily armoured warriors and horses, evokes a sense of raw military power and discipline. From at least the third century BC until as late as the Byzantine cataphract in the fourteenth century AD, they were some of the most dominant heavy cavalry units of the ancient world.

2023年6月5日 · The cataphract became a crucial unit in any army roster of antiquity, early and eventually ending in late Middle Ages with the adoption of plate as the basis metal for weapons and armor.

The cataphract type of cavalry was first mentioned in Greek descriptions of Antiochos IV Epiphanes’ army around 166 BC (Michalak 1987, 75), while the latest sources are Roman and date after 2nd century AD.

2024年9月27日 · cataphract (plural cataphracts) (military, historical) A soldier (especially a horseman) covered with a cataphract (etymology 1, sense 1).