![]() But, whereas ordinary infantrymen came from all walks of life, many cavalrymen had thorough riding experience prior to their entry into the forces and often enjoyed a personal relationship with their noble superiors. As in the case of the infantry, practically all commissioned officers in the cavalry were recruited among the landed gentry. And it was hoped that - with concentrated, well-timed arme-blanche (shock) attacks - in certain circumstances it could tip the balance of forces (something which, in reality, occurred infrequently.)īut no matter how one rated the military function of cavalry, its status derived principally from the superior reputation of its personnel. Even in Frederic's times, it was a common viewpoint that the infantry formed the backbone of armies, was essential for winning military encounters and could be justly called the "queen of the battlefield." Cavalry, on the other hand, was seen as an arm best suited for reconnaissance, pursuit and "screening" functions: cover for offensive or retrograde actions. The fact that the status of cavalry was considerably higher than that of foot soldiers did not reflect the respective fighting values of the two arms.
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