Numidian cavalry was a type of

light cavalry Light cavalry comprised lightly armed and body armor, armored cavalry troops mounted on fast horses, as opposed to heavy cavalry, where the mounted riders (and sometimes the warhorses) were heavily armored. The purpose of light cavalry was p ...

developed by the Numidians. They were used by

Hannibal Hannibal (; ; 247 – between 183 and 181 BC) was a Punic people, Carthaginian general and statesman who commanded the forces of Ancient Carthage, Carthage in their battle against the Roman Republic during the Second Punic War. Hannibal's fat ...

during the

Punic Wars The Punic Wars were a series of wars fought between the Roman Republic and the Ancient Carthage, Carthaginian Empire during the period 264 to 146BC. Three such wars took place, involving a total of forty-three years of warfare on both land and ...

, and later became commonplace in the Roman army of the late Republic.

History

Numidian cavalry is first mentioned by

Polybius Polybius (; , ; ) was a Greek historian of the middle Hellenistic period. He is noted for his work , a universal history documenting the rise of Rome in the Mediterranean in the third and second centuries BC. It covered the period of 264–146 ...

as part of the Carthaginian army during the

First Punic War The First Punic War (264–241 BC) was the first of three wars fought between Rome and Carthage, the two main powers of the western Mediterranean in the early 3rd century BC. For 23 years, in the longest continuous conflict and grea ...

. The Numidian cavalry's horses, ancestors of the Berber horse, were small compared with other horses of the era, and were well adapted for faster movement over long distances.Epona
Numidian horsemen rode without

saddle A saddle is a supportive structure for a rider of an animal, fastened to an animal's back by a girth. The most common type is equestrian. However, specialized saddles have been created for oxen, camels and other animals. It is not know ...

s or bridles, controlling their mounts with a simple rope around their horse's neck and a small riding stick. They had no form of bodily protection except for a round leather shield or a

leopard The leopard (''Panthera pardus'') is one of the five extant cat species in the genus ''Panthera''. It has a pale yellowish to dark golden fur with dark spots grouped in rosettes. Its body is slender and muscular reaching a length of with a ...

skin, and their main weapons were

javelin A javelin is a light spear designed primarily to be thrown, historically as a ranged weapon. Today, the javelin is predominantly used for sporting purposes such as the javelin throw. The javelin is nearly always thrown by hand, unlike the sling ...

s in addition to a short sword.RedRampant.com
/ref> Due to their expert horsemanship and agility, as well as their lack of

armor Armour (Commonwealth English) or armor (American English; see American and British English spelling differences#-our, -or, spelling differences) is a covering used to protect an object, individual, or vehicle from physical injury or damage, e ...

or heavy weaponry, they were most suitable for harassing tactics, charging in loose formation and lobbing their

s before wheeling off to escape the enemy's counterattack. This harassing tactic, while rarely decisive, could be extremely frustrating to a less mobile enemy, as experienced by

Julius Caesar Gaius Julius Caesar (12 or 13 July 100 BC – 15 March 44 BC) was a Roman general and statesman. A member of the First Triumvirate, Caesar led the Roman armies in the Gallic Wars before defeating his political rival Pompey in Caesar's civil wa ...

's soldiers during the latter's invasion of Africa. The Numidians were extremely useful during small wars, and their presence certainly contributed greatly to the effectiveness of Hannibal's

reconnaissance In military operations, military reconnaissance () or scouting is the exploration of an area by military forces to obtain information about enemy forces, the terrain, and civil activities in the area of operations. In military jargon, reconnai ...

and intelligence. Hannibal's invasion of Rome during the Second Punic War is best known for his extremely limited use of slow-moving

war elephant A war elephant is an elephant that is Animal training, trained and guided by humans for combat purposes. Historically, the war elephant's main use was to charge (warfare), charge the enemy, break their ranks, and instill terror and fear. Elep ...

s, but he also employed Numidian cavalry where faster movement was needed, such as luring the Romans into a trap at the Battle of TrebiaInvasion of Italy
/ref> and for fighting on his right flank. Numidian cavalry were widely known and not only fought in the Carthaginian army, but in other armies of the time as well. Again during the

Second Punic War The Second Punic War (218 to 201 BC) was the second of Punic Wars, three wars fought between Ancient Carthage, Carthage and Roman Republic, Rome, the two main powers of the western Mediterranean Basin, Mediterranean in the 3rd century BC. For ...

, the Romans allied with the Numidian king Masinissa who led 6000 horsemen against Hannibal's own in the

battle of Zama The Battle of Zama was fought in 202 BC in what is now Tunisia between a Roman Republic, Roman army commanded by Scipio Africanus and a Ancient Carthage, Carthaginian army commanded by Hannibal. The battle was part of the Second Punic War an ...

,Sidnell, Philip. ''Warhorse: Cavalry in Ancient Warfare'', p.194. where the "Numidian Cavalry turned the scales". For centuries thereafter, the

Roman army The Roman army () served ancient Rome and the Roman people, enduring through the Roman Kingdom (753–509 BC), the Roman Republic (509–27 BC), and the Roman Empire (27 BC–AD 1453), including the Western Roman Empire (collapsed Fall of the W ...

employed Numidian light cavalry in separate units (''equites Numidarum'' or ''Maurorum''). The Numidian cavalry were also used in

Caesar's civil war Caesar's civil war (49–45 BC) was a civil war during the late Roman Republic between two factions led by Julius Caesar and Pompey. The main cause of the war was political tensions relating to Caesar's place in the Republic on his expected ret ...

on the side of

Pompey Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus (; 29 September 106 BC – 28 September 48 BC), known in English as Pompey ( ) or Pompey the Great, was a Roman general and statesman who was prominent in the last decades of the Roman Republic. ...

and were used in Battle of Utica.

Second Punic War (218–201 BC)

Throughout the war, Numidian cavalry continued to harass Roman forces, disrupting their supply lines and communications. Their presence forced the Romans to adopt a more cautious approach, hindering their ability to maneuver freely and engage in decisive battles. The Numidians' impact extended beyond the battlefield. Their knowledge of the terrain and local customs proved invaluable to Hannibal as he navigated the unfamiliar landscape of Italy. They served as guides, scouts, and intermediaries, helping the Carthaginian army adapt to its new surroundings and establish alliances with local tribes. While the Numidian cavalry did not engage in direct frontal assaults against Roman infantry, their indirect contributions to the Carthaginian cause were immense. Their ability to disrupt Roman supply lines, gather intelligence, and exploit terrain advantages played a significant role in Hannibal's early successes in Italy. Despite their remarkable feats, the Numidians' contributions to the Second Punic War often go overlooked, overshadowed by the more prominent roles played by Roman and Carthaginian infantry and commanders. Nevertheless, their impact on the war was undeniable, and their legacy as masters of cavalry warfare endures to this day. The Numidian horsemen stand as a testament to the power of adaptation, resilience, and tactical ingenuity, demonstrating that even in the face of overwhelming odds, smaller forces can make a significant impact on the course of history.

Carthaginian Numidian cavalry

The Carthaginians initially relied heavily on Numidian cavalry, particularly during the early stages of the war. Their skilled horsemanship and familiarity with the North African terrain proved valuable in scouting, harassing Roman supply lines, and engaging in skirmishes. However, as the war progressed and the Romans gained control of key territories, the Carthaginians' access to Numidian reinforcements dwindled.

Roman Numidian cavalry

The Romans also employed Numidian cavalry, primarily drawn from conquered territories or allied tribes. These horsemen served a similar purpose to their Carthaginian counterparts, providing reconnaissance, disrupting enemy movements, and engaging in light cavalry engagements. Roman commanders appreciated the Numidians' adaptability and effectiveness in open terrain, often deploying them as a complement to their heavier infantry formations.

References

{{reflist, 30em Cavalry

Cavalry Historically, cavalry (from the French word ''cavalerie'', itself derived from ''cheval'' meaning "horse") are groups of soldiers or warriors who Horses in warfare, fight mounted on horseback. Until the 20th century, cavalry were the most mob ...

Military units and formations of antiquity

History

Second Punic War (218–201 BC)

Carthaginian Numidian cavalry

Roman Numidian cavalry

See also

References