Gwent Melee Cavalry

Welsh Horsemen

As the twelfth-century historian Gerald of Wales put it, the people of Welsh lands were ever-trained for war, from their leaders down to their peasantry. He described a people who, if the situation required it, would rush from their ploughs without hesitation to pick up weapons as quickly as the courtier from court. Their rough and hilly terrain resulted in earlier traditions of Celtic culture being reflected in more military terms – for example, a heavily armoured combatant such as a feudal horseman would have difficulty operating there, so Welsh warriors relied more on agility in war situations, rather than brute strength. Where rival armies who fought them relied on stubborn resistance, the Welsh relied on constant movement.

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’. Avoiding the open plains where they were at a disadvantage against heavier cavalry, they sometimes operated on horseback in a similar style to early Roman skirmishers. Unarmoured horsemen would ride without stirrups or a saddle on a smaller, more agile mare, equipped with up to three throwing spears, ready to hurl while mounted. These tactics were honed from the prevalence of hit-and-run cattle-raiding, since the main causes of conflict in Gael-dominated areas was loot. Although their techniques were primitive for the era, Gaelic warriors were still able to conquer large parts of Caledonia with the help of their skirmishing cavalry tactics.

Unit Name Welsh Horsemen

Main Unit Key wel_horsemen

Land Unit Key wel_horsemen

Naval Unit Key vik_corwg

Soldiers 60

Category Cavalry

Class Melee Cavalry

Custom Battle Cost 500

Recruitment Cost 500

Upkeep Cost 150

Missile Damage 38

├ Missile Weapon vik_jav_cav_precursor

├ Projectile vik_javelin_cavalry_precursor

├ Missile Damage 27

├ Missile Ap Damage 11

└ Base Reload Time 30

Accuracy 40

Range 80

Reload 0

Rate of Fire 2

Ammunition 2

Melee Skill 29

Melee Damage 28

├ Melee Weapon vik_spear_cav_levy

├ Melee Base Damage 20

├ Armour-piercing Damage 8

├ Armour Piercing No

├ Attack Against Cavalry 10

├ Attack Against Elephants 0

└ Attack Against Infantry 0

Charge Bonus 21

Melee Defence 59

├ Base Defence 29

├ Shield vik_medium

└ Shield 30

Armour 15

├ Armour vik_leather_helmet

├ Armour Defence 15

└ Shield Armour 0

Health 150

├ Man Entity vik_inf_med

├ Man Health 100

├ Bonus Hit Points 0

├ Mount vik_horse_welsh_spear_medium

├ Mount Entity vik_horse_welsh_medium

└ Mount Health 50

Morale 30

Abilities

• Wedge
  "Let's break their line!"

Attributes

• [[col:yellow]]Hide (forest)[[/col]]
  This unit can hide in forests until enemy units get too close.
• [[col:yellow]]Fire Whilst Moving[[/col]]
  This unit can fire when mounted and moving.
• [[col:yellow]]Raider[[/col]]
  This unit may set buildings on fire, cause more fire damage with torches and capture faster than other units.

Strengths & Weaknesses

No Strengths and Weaknesses

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

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