The development of cavalry art in Russia is associated with the history of cavalry. We research one of the most significant periods in Russian military history – the Alexander I’s reign era (1801–1825), in the context of military discourse. A prominent role in this process played by the reception of military experience of the previous century is identified. The emphasis is on the three phases of cavalry modernization: 1801–1807, 1808–1814 and 1815–1825.