CATAPHRACT (Lat. cataphractus, mailed), a horseman in complete armour. The cataphracts of ancient times were heavy-armed cavalry, whose horses were defended with armour composed of plates of brass or other metal, or with scale armour. The weight of such armour frequently rendered them so unwieldy that when once on the ground both rider and horse became an easy prey to the enemy. Cataphracts, from very early times, were common under the name of clibanarii among the Persians, and were also employed in many other eastern nations; and their use was afterwards adopted by the Macedonians. Cataphracts were first employed in the Roman army by Constantine. Liv.
xxxv. xxxvii.; Amm. Marc. xvi.) Ships called cataphracta naves were decked vessels similarly protected, in which the rowers sat below the deck, so as to be completely sheltered from the weapons of the enemy.