Undoubtedly you are going "huh?", as did I when I first saw this book. I'd never thought much about cavalry in general, though I do recall that in the movie 'Gladiator' there were scenes of these guys charging into battle. I also had no idea that there was such a thing as an auxiliary cavalry.

It turns out, that what these guys were, are Roman soldiers from the various provinces controlled by Rome. The Legionnaires were Roman citizens and these were the core of the Roman Army. However, it was standard to use men from outside Rome to build up the Army in the field.

These men, coming from the provinces, were more attuned to the local conditions and were often used as garrison troops to help hold the empire together. These were the men that protected the diplomats, kept the 'barbarians' at bay, kept the local peace and collected taxes.

In any army of the period, and even today (though mechanized), the cavalry has been probably the best of the soldiers. Not only did they have to do standard combat, but they had to do it from astride a moving horse. This all in the days before the stirrup (and if you don't think those are important, try riding without them. Ain't easy).

This book covers the entire spectrum of the life of an auxiliary cavalryman. It includes how he was recruited, the sorts of training he had and the weapons he used. It also includes the choosing of horses, their tack, training and feeding. The types of food and clothing worn by the cavalrymen is also here as are sections on pay and benefits. One of the benefits of 25 years of loyal service (the only recruiting option available), was Roman citizenship for him and his children. The book ends with funeral rites and how religious beliefs of the provincial soldiers was melded in with the usual Roman pantheon of gods.

Superbly illustrated by Adam Hook, we get a closer and more detailed understanding of how these men lived and fought. It is a book that keeps your attention and interest from front to back cover.

January 2006

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