In other respects they were armed in the same way as infantry.

The use of the lance and the shield at the same time, of course rendered both nearly worthless.
The Roman cavalry was superior to that of their enemies, except, perhaps, the light cavalry of the Parthians.
The heavy armor which was sometimes worn by the ancients, like the _gens d'armes_ of the middle ages, rendered them greatly inferior to infantry in a close engagement.

Tigranes, king of Armenia, brought an army of one hundred and fifty thousand horse into the field, against the Roman general Lucullus, who had only about six thousand horse and fifteen thousand foot.

But the Armenian cavalry, called _cataphratti_ were so overburdened with armor, that when they fell from their horses they could scarcely move or make any use of their arms.

They were routed by a mere handful of Roman infantry.
The modern cavalry is much lighter, and, by dispensing with armor, shields, &c., it can move with much greater rapidity.