"Light Infantry in the Cavalry Battle Line" Topic

Writing in Slingshot magazine, John Hogan argues:

Light infantry are primarily used on the wargames table to skirmish or drive off other foot skirmishers and then harass the enemy's main battle line… There is though, or should be, an exception to this rule: ancient sources suggest that sometimes javelin armed light foot were intermingled with cavalry and expected to fight with the cavalry against enemy mounted troops. This is not just a question of skirmishing in front of the friendly cavalry and then retreating through them when the enemy charged. Rather the light foot became part of the cavalry battle line.

Do you agree that light infantry should be able to join the cavalry battle line, if properly trained?

If two troop types historically fought together in a particular way thn ideally this should be reflected in the rules. 'Properly trained' is not really relevant – if they did it, it should be allowed. I think that, as wargamers, we are very poor at represented mixed formations generally.

From my ( limited) reading about this period, I understand that it was not uncommon for "light infantry" (an anachronistic term for this period?) to be deployed with cavalry. They would have been useful in hamstringing horses etc, once combat was in progress, although they might be at a severe disadvantage in the " charge" phase. Perhaps rules allowing LI types to "support" cavalry combat after initial contact would fit the bill?

DBMM allows some nations to do this e.g. Spanish, Early Germans.

Impetus allows some early Greek cavalry to have hamippoi with them. These were certainly being used in some parts of Greece until the late 3rd Century BC

I definitely agree that this should be catered for. In my Comitatus rules link I make provision for mixed bases of light infantry and cavalry which fight as a single entity.

I think it should only be allowed to troops who traditionally 'pillioned' light infantry.
We allow, Spanish, Numidian and Early Germans, who must dismount (usual penalties) before the cavalry charge, but then may support their cavalry in melee. Combat whilst in 'pillion' at significant penalties and disorder

Simon – same provision also in your excellent Civitates Bellantes rules!

Armati allows lights to suppirt cavalry in three of its historic sub periods. There appear two be two ways that the lights operate, one is advancing intermingled with the cavalry and then attacking the opposing horses whilst rescuing their own horsemen who were downed. Another tactic was for the infantry to stand back from the cavalry melee and act as a a rallying point fir their own horse if forced to fall back. They would then resist the pursuing enemy who would be advancing disordered, until their own cavalry could return to the fray. This would be effective support because ancient cavalry melees were fluid affairs with advances and retreats and the ability to stabiluse a retreat might well be decisive.
M. Spiedel in Ancient Germanic Warrior sees the Early Germans as having specially armed and trained light infantry whose job it was to hamstring horses.

Impetus allows Early German cavalry to have attached lights as well. The mechanism is simple but it produces the right effect.

Sure. I don't know too many rules sets, but CoE also has a Cavalry/Elephant Escort rule.