Even with the gradual rise of Cavalry , the Chariot died a prolonged death. For cultural and religious reasons many people had an attachment to it. The gods and the heroes of the ancient tales road chariots and ancient monuments fought over depicted kings on chariots. Kings, Lords, Priests and Generals would ride them in ceremonies and as shows of status, including on the battlefield. The First Celestial Empire in it's century and a half long rise to power was no exception. Each Battalion of six infantry centuries was traditionally led by a chariot mounted officers who used the platform to oversee the field of battle, coordinate phalanxes and crossbow formations , move from place to place and retreat quickly if the need arose. Generals were typically raised from the wealthy landowners of this society who's political careers required some degree of military service. Educated in the classics of war and often mock battles with those of neighboring estates with the sons of their tenants as their infantry during holidays the result was a class of men which generally knew their way around the battlefield by age 18. Despite that there was through the Empire's history those who rose through the ranks from humble beginnings.