The Cavalry General

by Xenophon

The Cavalry General is a historical book written by Xenophon, a Greek historian, soldier, and philosopher. The book is a memoir of his experiences as a cavalry officer in the Persian Expedition of the Greek army led by Cyrus the Younger in 401 BC. Xenophon's account provides a vivid description of the campaign, battles, and the political intrigue that led to the expedition. He also gives a detailed account of the tactics and strategies used by the Greek army, particularly the cavalry. The book is divided into two parts. The first part narrates the events leading up to the expedition, including the recruitment of soldiers and the political situation in Greece at the time. The second part focuses on the military campaign, including the battles of Cunaxa and Thymbra, and the retreat of the Greek army through hostile territory.Throughout the book, Xenophon portrays himself as a brave and skilled cavalry officer, and his account provides valuable insights into the tactics and strategies of ancient Greek warfare. The Cavalry General is a fascinating read for anyone interested in ancient Greek history, military strategy, or the art of leadership.But, after all, no man, however great his plastic skill, can hope to mould and shape a work of art to suit his fancy, unless the stuff on which he works be first prepared and made ready to obey the craftsman's will. Nor certainly where the raw material consists of men, will you succeed, unless, under God's blessing, these same men have been prepared and made ready to meet their officer in a friendly spirit. They must come to look upon him as of greater sagacity than themselves in all that concerns encounter with the enemy.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.

Genres: Classics, Military Fiction, History

48 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1964

About the author

Xenophon (Ancient Greek Ξενοφῶν, Modern Greek Ξενοφώντας; ca. 431 – 355 BC), son of Gryllus, of the deme Erchia of Athens, was a soldier, mercenary and a contemporary and admirer of Socrates. He is known for his writings on the history of his own times, preserving the sayings of Socrates, and the life of ancient Greece.

Historical and biographical works:
Anabasis (or The Persian Expedition)
Cyropaedia
Hellenica
Agesilaus

Socratic works and dialogues:
Memorabilia
Oeconomicus
Symposium
Apology
Hiero

Short treatises:
On Horsemanship
The Cavalry General
Hunting with Dogs
Ways and Means
Constitution of Sparta

Reviews

[Debbie Zapata · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have no idea if the edition I read at Project Gutenberg is the best translation of this book, but H. G. Dakyns did a good enough job that I was able to understand and enjoy Xenophon's advice to the cavalry generals of his day.

There was no real introduction, just these two paragraphs, which tell about Xenophon himself and about this book:

Xenophon the Athenian was born 431 B.C. He was a pupil of Socrates. He marched with the Spartans, and was exiled from Athens. Sparta gave him land and property in Scillus, where he lived for many years before having to move once more, to settle in Corinth. He died in 354 B.C.

The Cavalry General is a discourse on the merits a cavalry general, or hipparch, in Athens should have. Xenophon also describes the development of a cavalry force, and some tactical details to be applied in the field and in festival exhibition.

From practical advice about choosing horses (and men) to battle tactics, Xenophon covered just about everything necessary in order for the cavalry units to do their jobs properly. I thought the book was interesting, and I liked the author's style. He does not preach or lecture, he simply explains what he knows, as if he is talking to a group of potential commanders, which of course he was.

I think the best advice he had was that the hipparch should be able to do everything he expects his men to do, and do it all much better. Mount his horse (no stirrups in those days, the rider had to be able to leap aboard his horse), ride at speed over all types of terrain, throw a javelin from horseback, endure lengthy marches. If you as the boss could not do these things, no man would be willing to follow you into battle.

And once in battle, well....let Xenophon tell you what he expects:
It is the business rather of the cavalry general to recognise at a glance the sort of ground on which infantry will be superior to cavalry and where cavalry will be superior to infantry. He should be a man of invention, ready of device to turn all circumstances to account, so as to give at one time a small body of cavalry the appearance of a larger, and again a large the likeness of a smaller body; he should have the craft to appear absent when close at hand, and within striking distance when a long way off; he should know exactly not only how to steal an enemy's position, but by a master stroke of cunning to spirit his own cavalry away, and, when least expected, deliver his attack.

The parts about craft and cunning made me realize why tricky Odysseus had been such an admired character in Homer's The Iliad. Especially when Xenophon goes on to say:
But over and beyond all that can be written on the subject—inventiveness is a personal matter, beyond all formulas—the true general must be able to take in, deceive, decoy, delude his adversary at every turn, as the particular occasion demands. In fact, there is no instrument of war more cunning than chicanery;. . .

Maybe this is not as outdated a book as it might at first seem to be! Seems to me that 'chicanery' is as much a part of war (and politics) as ever. But I digress.

Xenophon loved horses, and understood them better than many men of his time and most men of today. He commented about the need for the cavalry to drill, in order to have confidence in their abilities before the need to prove them in battle. And then he gets poetic about the value of riding skills:
Indeed, there is no accomplishment which so nearly realises the aspiration of a man to have the wings of a bird than this of horsemanship.

I like this man! I certainly would have loved to have shared a few gallops with him. Since I cannot do that, I look forward to reading the other titles available at Gutenberg.

He ends the book with these statements, in my opinion still quite valuable today, in any aspect of life:
To read these observations over a few times will be sufficient, but for giving them effect the officer will need perpetually to act as circumstances require. He must take in the situation at a glance, and carry out unflinchingly whatever is expedient for the moment. To set down in writing everything that he must do, is not a whit more possible than to know the future as a whole. But of all hints and suggestions the most important to my mind is this: whatever you determine to be right, with diligence endeavour to perform. For be it tillage of the soil, or trading, or seafaring, or the art of ruling, without pains applied to bring the matter to perfection, the best theories in the world, the most correct conclusions, will be fruitless.

[Preston Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great if you are interested in this period and how cavalry was used. Reads like a manual so not an exciting read.

[Derek Thornton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good advice

This book holds a lot of wisdom that could be put to good use in today's world very easily, in war and also other endeavors.

[Rich Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting reading

[Santiago González · Rating 3 out of 5]

Un tratado de caballería, no cambia la vida pero es interesante.
Cuando critica a los generales que cuando están confiados llevan a poco ejército y cuando no llevan todo proponiendo llevar todo a pesar de estar confiado (pues no pierdes nada) y una pequeña élite (para intentar dañar y retirarte rápidamente) con las menos bajas posibles no se me había ocurrido pero es lógico

[Miles Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

The short military treatise from Xenophon is packed full of strategic wisdom and anecdotes. Also provides important insights into the history of the Athenian military.