On Cavalry Service, Ancient and New, to King Philip IV: Five Books

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Original title: De militia equestri antiqua et nova ad regem Philippum IV libri quinque A Latin treatise in five books on mounted warfare by the Jesuit Hermann Hugo (1588–1629), chaplain to Ambrosio Spinola at the siege of Breda. It was printed posthumously as an illustrated folio at Antwerp by Balthasar Moretus at the Plantin press, with an engraved title page bearing Cornelius Galle's name and folding plates. A dedicatory epistle to Philip IV of Spain, signed by the Jesuit College at Brussels, presents it as the author's last will. The work compares ancient and contemporary cavalry practice. Book I treats the origin of the mounted arm and the war-horse, made for war by nature and taught by art. Book II covers provision, the breeding of horses, the selection of riders, arms including firearms, and pay. Book III deals with the training of horse and rider, drill vocabulary, formations, and the kinds of cavalry. Book IV addresses the march, camp, discipline, the Christian horseman, and battle tactics, closing with plates of the ancient and modern battle lines after Lipsius and Melzo. Book V concerns the dignity, rewards, penalties, offices, and promotion of the mounted soldier. Throughout, the work draws on classical, biblical, and modern authorities and on the author's own history of the siege of Breda. It urges discipline, regular pay, piety, and merit over birth. 👉 Read our introductory primer, full report, and finding guide here 📜 View the original source file This text was transcribed and translated as part of the ExLatinis project—an effort by Leo to make English translations of every published text in Latin in early modern Europe (between 1450 and 1750) available to the public for free online.

• Read our introductory primer, full report, and finding guide here
• View the original source file

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