Sub-Roman Britain (Cavalry etc)

[Ron Andrea]

A brief description and illustration of a Roman-era merchant ship (very different from a galley) can be found here:

http://shipmodeling.info/photo/displayi ... -Ship.html

I wouldn't think you could transport more than a half dozen horses on such a ship, and they'd better be pretty well tethered.

A core of 900 cavalry could indeed create a potent force, especially if augmented by local mounted forces. In fact, there are some references to the Romans relying more on cavalry late in their administration.

But maintaining a force that large would require two or three mounts per soldier, plus pack animals and maybe light carts to transport essentials. You can't just ride across the island and be ready to fight. But if the natives had some horse tradition, perhaps all that was not so unique or impossible.