A tactical maneuver where a unit moves forward at great speed, using speed and mass to attempt to break up an opponent's forces or movement. The charge was the favored maneuver of the medieval
knight , who used the mass of his horse,
armour and heavy
lance , combined with close-order movement by other knights, to focus a crushing movement. Few could stand against such a charge, but the tactic was worn by improvements in missile technology, new tactics for
pikes and
spears , and the selection of more defensive positions where
cavalry are less effective, such as in marshes, rough ground or in fortifications. As a tactic the charge hinges on the seizure of initiative, where both surprise and mass are used to place an enemy off balance. 
