What is "light cavalry"

Cavalry \Cav"al*ry\, n. [F. cavalerie, fr. It. cavalleria. See Cavalier, and cf. chivalry.] (Mil.) That part of military force which serves on horseback.

Note: Heavy cavalry and light cavalry are so distinguished by the character of their armament, and by the size of the men and horses.

Light cavalry often called Light Horse comprises lightly armed and lightly armoured troops mounted on horses, as opposed to heavy cavalry, where the riders (and sometimes the horses) are heavily armored. The missions of the light cavalry were primarily reconnaissance, screening, skirmishing, raiding, and most importantly, communications, and were usually armed with spears, swords, bows and later carbines.

Light cavalry was used infrequently by the Greeks and Romans (though Roman auxiliaries were often mounted), but were popular among the armies of Central Asia and Southwest Asia. The Arabs, Hungarians, Huns, Mongols, Turks, Parthians, and Persians were all adept light cavalrymen and horse archers.

With the decline of feudalism and knighthood in Europe, light cavalry became more prominent in the armies of the continent. Many were equipped with firearms, as their predecessors had been with bows. European examples of light cavalry included stradiots, hobelars, hussars, chasseurs à cheval, cossacks, chevau-légers, uhlans and some dragoons.

Light Cavalry (7 February 1977–2004) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire best known for winning the classic St Leger Stakes in 1980. After winning his only race as a two-year-old, Light Cavalry was one of the best three-year-olds in Britain in 1980, winning the King Edward VII Stakes and being placed in the Chester Vase, Gordon Stakes and Great Voltigeur Stakes before winning the St Leger by four lengths. He remained in training in 1981 and won the Princess of Wales's Stakes, but his season was restricted by injury problems. After his retirement from racing he stood as a breeding stallion in the United States and Argentina with limited success.

Light Cavalry'' (German:Leichte Kavallerie'') is a 1935 German musical film directed by Werner Hochbaum and starring Marika Rökk, Heinz von Cleve and Fritz Kampers. A separate French-language version Light Cavalry was also released with Mona Goya in the starring role.

The film's sets were designed by the art directors Karl Böhm and Erich Czerwonski

Light Cavalry'' (French:Cavalerie légère'') is a 1935 French-German musical film directed by Werner Hochbaum and starring Mona Goya, Gabriel Gabrio and Constant Rémy. It is the French-language version of Light Cavalry, part of a trend during the 1930s to make Multiple-language versions of productions. Like the German original, it uses music from the operetta Light Cavalry.

Light cavalry is lightly armed and armoured troops mounted on horses.

Light Cavalry may also refer to:

• Light Cavalry HAC, a volunteer military unit associated with the City of London
• Light Cavalry (horse)
• Light Cavalry (1927 film)
• Light Cavalry (1935 French film)
• Light Cavalry (1935 German film)
• Leichte Kavallerie (Light Cavalry), an operetta by Franz von Suppé