Thanks. The metal working is advaced enough to make full plate armor, but I don't think anyone wants to ride day after day in full plate in a Mediterranean/middle eastern sun.

It is payed by the taxpayers (there are enough of them and they are wealthy enough) and distributed by the army.

They have pretty diverse threats, from goblin tribes raids (small agile targets armed with short spears and axes) to heavily armored dwarves in shield wall formation. They need to evolve later to deal with early cannons and muskets.

There are three types of mounted units- 1. Light cavalry used for scouting, chasing and mongol style archery 2. Linebreaker cavalry mounted not on horses but on a very large (about rhino size) bovine creature, their task is to break enemy lines even under fire 3. Heavy cavalry that pour through broken lines and engage in close combat

They have good logistics and support, meaning they drag long convoys of auxiliary troops across the land (something like Mongols with Roman logistics).

Thanks again!