Dragoon/Lancer inspiration?

Does anybody here know what Square based the dragoon on? I know that historically, there were cavalrymen called "dragoons," but they sure don't resemble the dragoons from the game. I'm just wondering where they got the idea of some guy with a spear who has a jump attack. Is it based on anything at all?

People take for granted the association with Dragon and a knight armed with a spear. It's been since FFII with Cain. Cain had a spear, wore the dragoon stuffs, and had the ability "Jump". I read stories about it. It originated from the legends of dragons and people riding them. Probably spears are most practicable on a dragon since they are long. Affinity to wind and jumping into the "air" ties with the Dragon's ability of flight which naturally goes with the air element. The dragon head armor is a symbol of the dragon. Lancer is what most think as another name for a dragoon, but really a person armed with a spear or "lance." This is what I think.

In ancient times, Pikeman, Lancers, Spearing flanks, whatever you want to call them, had no immense talent for jumping. I suspect Dragoons are a Square-based creation.

I could be wrong though...

Maybe... and admittedly this is a long shot, but what about the idea of Pole vaulting? Kihmari's first Overdrive was a Pole vault? Maybe it was factored in?

actually yes they created multiply spear and staff fighting techniques and made use of long and short shaft weapons. So it could be.

Another explanation would be that the lances were always thought of as a dragon's pointed tail. This gives the assumption that dragoons wielded these long pointed poles. The term lancer is already self-explanatory.

Sorry to stray from FFT, but in Vandal Hearts, the Dragoon class is a foot soldier that excels in defense. and they use axes instead of spears and lances.

Dragoons were heavily armed sodiers that were trained as infantry and cavalry. Later, they became cavalry units.