THE SCENE: The ancient German idea of combined arms essentially amounted to “protect the noblemen at all costs”.
THE TEXT: The Germans were trained in the use of a special battle technique. They had a force of six thousand cavalry, each of whom had selected from the whole army, for his personal protection, one infantryman of outstanding courage and speed of foot. These accompanied the cavalry in battle and acted as support from them to fall back upon. In a critical situation they ran to the rescue and surrounded any cavalryman who had been unhorsed by a severe wound. They acquired such agility by practice, that in long advance or a quick retreat they could hang onto the horses’ manes and keep pace with them.
– The Conquest of Gaul, Julius Caesar, 1st Century BC
