Gwent Spear Infantry

Cantref Spearmen

In broad terms, the organisation of Welsh troops was arranged between those in the essential household force known as the ‘teulu’, and the individuals of the expanded common army, the ‘llu’. In addition to this two-tiered military structure, it was not uncommon for the Welsh kingdoms to administer troops regionally according to the ‘cantrefi’, that is, the land divisions which today would be equivalent to counties. Within a cantref there would be a number of manors and estates, worked and occupied by the bond and the free of Welsh society. Amongst these individuals would be those who were trained and tasked by royal decree to be the first to take up arms when their manor or wider cantref came under attack.

By having a regional pool of preselected fighters to mobilise at a local level, the Welsh Kingdoms were well protected. Armed with spears, they were arguably wielding the oldest purpose-built weapon in existence. Given its comparative cheapness and ease of construction, the spear was one of the most commonly used weapons among all classes of fighting men before and throughout medieval times. Its notable advantage was the longer reach it afforded its bearer, enabling effective engagement with a larger or mounted enemy who might otherwise be out of reach. The Viking tendency to emblazon spears with ostentatious decorative carvings indicates that some were primarily used for thrusting rather than throwing, reducing the possibility of losing what were obviously prized weapons.

Unit Name Cantref Spearmen

Main Unit Key wel_cantref_spearmen

Land Unit Key wel_cantref_spearmen

Naval Unit Key vik_ddraig

Soldiers 160

Category Melee Infantry

Class Spear Infantry

Custom Battle Cost 200

Recruitment Cost 200

Upkeep Cost 60

Melee Skill 26

Melee Damage 28

├ Melee Weapon vik_spear_levy

├ Melee Base Damage 20

├ Armour-piercing Damage 8

├ Armour Piercing No

├ Attack Against Cavalry 20

├ Attack Against Elephants 0

└ Attack Against Infantry 0

Charge Bonus 18

Melee Defence 56

├ Base Defence 26

├ Shield vik_medium

└ Shield 30

Armour 12

├ Armour vik_leather

├ Armour Defence 12

└ Shield Armour 0

Health 100

├ Man Entity vik_inf_heavy

├ Man Health 100

└ Bonus Hit Points 0

Morale 30

Abilities

• Shield Castle
  "Heads down, lads, things are about to get a little hairy around here!"
  Units cannot move in this formation.

Attributes

• [[col:yellow]]Expert Charge Defence[[/col]]
  This unit’s melee attack and damage are increased against charging enemies.
• [[col:yellow]]Hide (forest)[[/col]]
  This unit can hide in forests until enemy units get too close.

Strengths & Weaknesses

No Strengths and Weaknesses

Recuitment Requirement
Required Technology Cost 150 Upgrade From
Required Technology Cost 150 Upgrade From

Garrison Buildings
x 2	Patrols (vik_garrison_1) Level 0
x 3	Long Hall (vik_great_hall_1) Level 0 Ship Camp (vik_longphort_1) Level 0 Trading Post (vik_market_1) Level 0 Monastic Community (vik_monastery_1) Level 0 Long Hall of the Mountain (vik_mountain_hall_1) Level 0 Offa's Hall (vik_offas_hall_1) Level 0 Rock of Caisil (vik_rock_caisil_1) Level 0 Church of St Ciaran (vik_st_ciaran_1) Level 0 Church of St Columbe (vik_st_columbe_1) Level 0 Church of St Patraic (vik_st_patraic_1) Level 0

Faction Availability
Thrones of Britannia	Brechinauc Cerneu Cumbra Dewet Gliwissig Gwent Gwined Powis Welsh Rebels Seisilwig Gwined Usurpers Strat Clut Usurpers Welsh Usurpers Strat Clut