Cavalier

With dimensions of 460mm x 620mm, the Cavalier format has a surface area of 285,200 sq mm or 0.2852 sq meters. Its name comes from the French term for ahorseman or knight, referring to early watermarks depicting a galloping equestrian figure. This denotation symbolizes Cavalier's history as a paper frequently used for battle plans, maps and strategic documents. Today the format enjoys niche use for game boards, wargaming layouts, architectural blueprints, banners, family trees, menu boards and various applications needing expansive space. While international standards have largely supplanted it, Cavalier remains popular for visualizing spatial relationships with a touch of chivalric heritage. So from ancient generals to modern hobbyists, its endurance as the realm to envision conquests spans the ages. Though the knightly days of yore faded, devotees like historical reenactors, genealogists and game piece artisans keep the symbolic Cavalier size riding on as a testament to French military legacy on paper. The occasional sight of antique equestrian watermarks still conjures the planned campaigns of old, if now used just for play in modern times rather than medieval battle.