Savārān cavalry The Savārān cavalry were Persia n military units and were a division of cavalry during the time of the Sassanid Persian dynasty ; they ranged from light cavalry such as horse archer s to heavy cavalry such as Cataphract s . Each Savārān unit would have had its own " Drafsh " ( banner ) . Membership in such units and other important posts was generally reserved for individuals of noble Asavaran ancestry . The Savaran were led by Savārān Sardār . Elite Savārān . The Savārān Sardār were high - ranking officers who were in charge of the Savārān cavalry , their position was so high up in Sassanid society that they were only answerable to the Eran - Spahbad ( Commander in Chief ) and the Shahanshah himself . They would be guarded heavily by Cataphract style cavalry . The post of Savaran Sardar was held by a member of the Mihran - Pahlav family . Parts of the Savārān division were high - ranking including the Pushtigban Body Guards a super heavy shock cavalry these were the royal guards of the Shah himself . The influential Savārān cavalry were mostly made up of heavily armoured cavalry . Generally of which the cavalry were aristocracy or even from the imperial family themselves . There were also commander of which were Elite as well . These parts of the Savārān regiments were kept as reserves . Armor . The Savārān cavalry during this early period had much in common with their Parthian ( Arsacid ) predecessors , most of whom would have worn a scale armor cuirass with long sleeves and chaps covered in scale armor or , less often , plated mail . Their helmets , of the Spangenhelm type , would have been adapted throughout the Sassanid Persian period . Also horses would probably have had armored chests and heads , consisting of an apron and headpiece , or total body protection consisting of five separate pieces that cover the whole body , made from either boiled leather or scale armor . Some Savārān units such as mercenaries ( Kushans , Indians , Huns ) may have worn little to no armor at all , allowing them to be rather more swift , silent and mobile . Spangenhelm . The Spangenhelm helmets worn by members of the Savārān units in battle would have evolved through the centuries . During the 3rd - 6th - century era of the Sassanian empire , the " Spangenhelm " would have probably been made of felt and hardened leather . However , by the late 6th / early - 7th century they would have been decorated with flowers and purple ball with mail and small areas through which to breathe and see . Weaponry . The Savārān cavalry were armed with a variety of weapons . The traditional heavy cavalry weapons , such as maces , lances , and swords would have been used , as well as a variety of other weapons , such as axes . Savārān cavalry were not , however restricted to short - range weapons , as they often carried weapons such as darts and bows . Drafsh . Each Savārān unit would have a Drafsh . These would have often included mythological creatures and animals . These animals would have included : Pil ( Elephants ) , asp ( Horse ) , xirs ( Bears ) , Shaigr ( Lions ) , Ahug ( Deers ) , these would also include Zoroastrian mythological creatures such as Bashkuch and the army of Savārān would have the Derafsh Kaviani as their banner .