Demi-lancer

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"Demi-lancer" is a term used in 16th century military parlance to designate mounted men on unarmored horses, armed with light lances and wearing three-quarter or half-armors (or even only helmets and cuirasses) as opposed to the heavier lances and full plate armor of earlier knights and gendarmes. They were representative of the early modern trend of reducing the coverage of armor while increasing its thickness to provide protection for the vital areas against the fire of gunpowder-based firearms of the time, such as the arquebus and musket. This abbreviated armor was also meant to increase the mobility of the men and horses, as well as reducing the expense inherent in equipping and maintaining them throughout a long campaign. In common with other 16th-century cavalrymen, the demi-lancers were frequently used to strike the enemy's flank and to chase down routing troops.