Medium Cavalry

 All the information below is taken from Chainmail, except where noted:

MEDIUM CAVALRY

Type: Normal Person (Human) mounted on Normal Beast (Horse)

Size: Large

Morale: Morale 8 (if Knights, check for instability due to excess casualties only at 1/2 losses)

Move: 18" (Road Bonus 6", Charge 24")

Attacks: 

- in large-scale combat, melees as Medium Horse on the large-scale Melee table;

- in individual combat, melees according to the weapon used on the individual Melee table.

Defense: 

- in large-scale combat, defends from melee attacks as Heavy Horse on the large-scale Melee table and from ranged attacks on the large-scale Missile Fire table according to exact equipment worn (either as as Half-Armor or Shield; or as Full Armor);

- in individual combat, defends according to the armor worn (usually chainmail, and possibly a shield) on the individual Melee table (from melee attacks) or the individual Missile Fire table (from ranged attacks).

Traits:

Impetus Bonus (optional). Cavalry units receive an Impetus Bonus when charging into melee across smooth, level terrain or down moderate slopes. These troops add one extra die to their normal number of combat dice. 

Cavalry Charge Shock (optional). A defending unit must roll 2d6 to withstand a charge by mounted men (this is considered a Morale check). If it fails the required score, it retreats one move and a half and must rally. Required score to withstand a Medium Cavalry charge:

• Peasants: 10 
• Light Infantry (including all Ranged Infantry): 9 
• Levies (of any classification): 9 
• Heavy Infantry: 8 (7 if Elite)
• Armored Infantry: 7
• Light Cavalry: 6 
• Medium Cavalry: 5 
• Heavy Cavalry: 4

Special cases:

• Units charged in the flank deduct 1 from their die roll.

• Units charged in the rear deduct 2 from their die roll.

• If the defending unit is also charging the attacker, both must roll, adding +1 to the die roll if they are Infantry and +2 if they are Cavalry;

• Pike-armed mercenaries (including Landsknechts and Swiss Pikemen) facing the enemy automatically stand any charge.

Standing Cavalry (optional). "Standing Cavalry" is any Cavalry unit that suffers a melee attack on a turn it was not ordered to move (if using simultaneous movement); if using the move/counter-move system, "Standing Cavalry" is a Cavalry unit that suffers a melee attack before having moved this turn. Standing Cavalry defends normally but returns casualties during the first round of a melee (and only then) at the next lower category: Heavy Horse as Medium Horse; Medium Horse as Light Horse; and Light Horse as Armored Foot. 

Point Cost (army creation): 4

Medium Cavalry variants:

Mongol Horsemen: Steppe warriors of the Mongol Empire, renowned for disciplined, highly mobile cavalry tactics built on composite bows, feigned retreats, and exceptional horsemanship.

Norman Knights: Behave as Knights. Heavily armed cavalry of Normandy who combined feudal martial culture with aggressive shock tactics, famously demonstrated during the Battle of Hastings.

Esquires: Young noble retainers in training for knighthood, serving as mounted warriors and attendants who gained battlefield experience before full elevation to knightly rank.

Saracen Cavalry: Muslim horsemen of the medieval Middle East and North Africa, valued for their agility, tactical flexibility, and experience in desert and open warfare.

Spanish Knights: Behave as Knights. Christian heavy cavalry from the Iberian kingdoms, shaped by the long conflicts of the Reconquista.

Turkish Cavalry: Mounted warriors from Turkic polities, blending steppe traditions with Islamic military structures and emphasizing speed and maneuver.

Turcopoles: Locally recruited medium cavalry of mixed Byzantine and Middle Eastern origin, employed by Crusader states for their knowledge of regional terrain and adaptable fighting style.