Broken lances are well trained and experienced professional soldiers, protected by plate armour, armed with lances and swords.
In medieval Italy, a lance meant a man at arms supported by some lighter soldiers. The term broken lance, or "lanze spezzate" refers to men at arms who have been separated from their supporting soldiers, and hired separately. They are well disciplined professional soldiers who fight as heavy cavalry with unbroken lances, and are well protected by the finest Italian plate armour. Broken Lance Cavalry