Fast pace cavalry charges were discouraged in 16th century because of a large number of less courageous knights who held back. At the Battle of Bicocca in 1522, a French knight ended up charging the enemy infantry alone because all other knights abandoned him during the charge. This knight was captured by the Imperial Landsknechts who questioned him why he performed this foolish one man charge. This is recorded by chronicler Adam Reusner: "A French cuirassier, after the battle was engaged, dashed into Frundsberg's squadron, penetrating into the third rank, and as the soldiers were thrusting at him, intending to kill him, Frundsberg cried out: 'Let him live.' And when he questioned him through an interpreter as to how and why he had ridden into their midst so boldly, he answered that he was a nobleman and seventy of them had sworn that they would attack with him and strike the enemy. He had no other idea than that they were following close behind him." Because of this cavalry squadrons preferred to move at a walk or a slow trot and halt frequently with captains in front of the formation and at the corners should calling their men by name and sergeants in the rear driving the cowards who tried to dodge the charge forward. Contemporary cavalry military theorists all discussed this problem of cowards in the cavalry. They observed that a captain who covered fifteen paces at the gallop without paying attention to his soldiers ran the risk of attacking alone and being buried in the enemy formation. The cowards would stop their horses six paces in front of the enemy. The theorists came to a conclusion that he who attacked at a gallop would enter the fight with but few men, and they would be in disorder. This was one of the reasons why the hedge formation used by medieval knights went out of fashion and became replaced by deep squadrons which had more cohesion. Even few knights with little courage in a wedge formation could open up holes as they would abandon the unit during the charge. In 16th century, it was observed that out of 100 horsemen, often not 25 actually clashed with the enemy, and even those who did were often discouraged by the lack of support and made only a token effort before turning back. It was also one of the reasons why pistol-armed reiters and cuirassiers became more popular than lancers. Charging with lancers required skilled and motivated courageous men, while large compact cavalry squadrons of pistoliers could be filled with soldiers of lesser quality and still work.

Ahora dilo sin llorar 😂

An update for players who have pre-ordered Total War: PHARAOH on the Epic Games Store.