南北朝期間，由於北方遊牧民族與南方的原住民，與中原民族融合，帶來了新的文化、政治與技術上的演變。在軍隊方面，新起的趨勢是人馬均披掛重甲的重騎兵，成為軍隊的主力。本篇的重點在介紹魏晉南北朝一直到隋末，重騎兵演變成熟的過程與原因，以及其裝備及戰法。

During The Southern and Northern Dynasties ,the process of sinicization accelerated among the non-Chinese arrivals in the north and among the aboriginal people in the south. Notable technological advances occurred during this period. The invention of the stirrup during the period helped spur the development of heavy cavalry as a combat standard. This article will introduce the development process and tactics of heavy cavalry.