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 …

Jan 16, 2026 · The most heavily armed cavalry unit in the ancient world was the greatly feared cataphract. Origins of the cataphract The word ‘cataphract’ has its origins in the Greek language, and …

1 day ago · Discover everything about cataphracts, the armoured cavalry of Parthia, Rome and Byzantium. Detailed analysis of weapons, armour, tactics, archaeology and historical legacy.

Jul 17, 2023 · 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 …

A cataphract was a heavily armored cavalryman used in ancient and early medieval warfare. Both the rider and horse were covered in metal armor, making them powerful shock troops capable of …

Feb 15, 2022 · The Parthian cataphract was a heavy cavalry unit of Parthian warfare, an entirely armored, huge fast horse mounted by a completely armored rider, equipped with a long lance and a …

Jun 5, 2025 · 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.

1 : a suit of armor for the whole body : coat of mail 2 [Latin cataphractus, literally, armored, from Greek kataphraktos] : a soldier wearing a cataphract

Jan 23, 2026 · …armoured horse archer called a cataphract. Pronoia, which formed the core of the Byzantine army’s strength during the period of its greatest efficiency in the 8th through 10th …

Dec 13, 2024 · The cataphract is a latecomer to the Hellenistic battle line. Cavalry of this type, where both horse and rider were covered as completely as possible in armour, developed first among the …