Macedonia Shock Cavalry

Contarii

Although the Roman Empire was responsible for countless military advances during its tenure, it couldn’t realistically claim to be responsible for them all. The cataphracts of Parthia – the shock cavalry of the ancient age, armoured from head-to-toe and wielding lances - devastated the Legions at Carrhae in 53BC and again at Nisibis in AD217. This, in combination with the increasing number of incursions by steppe nomads, who also fielded heavy lancers, caused the Roman army to begin modelling its own tactics around similarly heavy cavalry. Thus were formed the 'equites catafractarii' in several variants to fulfil specific functions on the battlefield, such as clibinarii and contarii, heavy horsemen armed with lances. The lance used was a deadly weapon; known as a ‘contus’, it was a long, thrusting spear that probably required the use of both hands. To wield such a weapon whilst simultaneously handling a horse on the charge must have taken great skill, proving that contarii were exceptional mounted soldiers.

Unit Name Contarii

Main Unit Key att_rom_contarii

Land Unit Key att_rom_contarii

Naval Unit Key att_cor_light_rom

Soldiers 80

Category Cavalry

Class Shock Cavalry

Custom Battle Cost 425

Recruitment Cost 425

Upkeep Cost 215

Melee Attack 21

Melee Damage 10

├ Melee Weapon att_lance

├ Melee Base Damage 3

├ Armour-piercing Damage 7

├ Armour Piercing No

├ Attack Against Cavalry 10

├ Attack Against Elephants 0

└ Attack Against Infantry 0

Charge Bonus 201

Melee Defence 2

├ Base Defence 2

├ Shield att_none

└ Shield Defence 0

Armour 25

├ Armour att_leather_very_heavy

├ Armour Defence 25

└ Shield Armour 0

Health 205

├ Man Entity att_infantry_medium

├ Man Health 90

├ Bonus Hit Points 5

├ Mount att_rom_contarii_horse

├ Mount Entity att_horse_light

└ Mount Health 110

Morale 34

Abilities

No Ability

Attributes

• Hide (forest)
  This unit can hide in forests until enemy units get too close.

Strengths & Weaknesses

No Strengths and Weaknesses

Upgrade
Required Technology Cost 163 Upgrade To
Requires Buildings
Lv. 0	Cavalry Stables (att_bld_roman_east_military_cavalry_3) Level 2 Cavalry Compound (att_bld_roman_east_military_cavalry_4) Level 3

Faction Availability
Grand Campaign	Ostrogoths Ostrogothic Separatists Egypt Africa Asia Britain Dacia Gaul Hispania Illyria Italia Macedonia Oriens Pontus Eastern Roman Rebels Western Roman Rebels Septimania Domain of Soissons Eastern Roman Empire Eastern Roman Separatists Roman Separatists Western Roman Empire Western Roman Empire Western Roman Separatists Roman Separatists Western Roman Empire Western Roman Empire
The Last Roman	Roman Rebels (The Last Roman)