

Legionary Cavalry
Cavalry support is vital to all infantry work, even in the Legions.Developing throughout the Republic, from to the recruitment of allied horsemen from Iberia, Gaul, Numidia and Thrace, Roman legionary cavalry adapted to meet changing needs and resources. The cavalry of each Legion originally included 300 Equites and 600-900 Socii, giving a typical consular army of two Legions around 1,800-2,400 cavalry. During the Samnite, Pyrrhic, Punic and Jugurthine Wars, and with the demands of a growing empire, there was a gradual move away to using allied cavalry. As the equites became legionary officers and then the Socii became citizens, cavalry recruits from Italy became scarce: by the time of Caesar’s Gallic campaigns the Legions relied almost exclusively on allied cavalry. Equipment changed little during this period. The spear and chainmail adopted by the equites, probably influenced by the Celts, came full-circle with the recruitment of later Gallic cavalry. Helmet and shield styles did change and the small round shield of the equites became the versatile thureos.
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Unit Name Legionary Cavalry |
Main Unit Key Emp_Rom_Legionary_Cav |
Land Unit Key Rom_Legionary_Cav |
Naval Unit Key pel_transport |
Soldiers 80 |
Category Cavalry |
Class Melee Cavalry |
Custom Battle Cost 620 |
Recruitment Cost 620 |
Upkeep Cost 120 |
Melee Attack 33 |
Weapon Damage 25 |
├ Melee Weapon rome_spear_cav |
├ Melee Damage Base 20 |
├ Melee Damage Ap 5 |
├ Armour Piercing No |
├ Bonus vs. Large 15 |
├ Bonus vs Elephants 15 |
└ Bonus vs Infantry 0 |
Charge Bonus 29 |
Melee Defence 30 |
├ Base Defence 10 |
├ Shield cavalry |
└ Shield Defence 20 |
Armour 70 |
├ Armour mail |
├ Armour Defence 40 |
└ Shield Armour 30 |
Health 80 |
├ Man Entity rome_infantry_heavy |
├ Man Health 40 |
├ Bonus Hit Points 15 |
├ Mount rome_horse_spear_shield_m |
├ Mount Entity rome_horse_medium |
└ Mount Health 25 |
Base Morale 45 |
Abilities
Legionary Cavalry- Cavalry Testudo
The unit raises their shields and turns towards the aggressor.
Protection against missiles
Can't move - Flying Wedge
The unit moves into a flying wedge-shaped attack formation.
Charge bonus, melee attack
Acceleration, melee defence
Attributes
- Disciplined
This unit does not suffer a morale penalty when the general dies. It can also rally after routing more often. - Hide (forest)
This unit can hide in forests until enemy units get too close.
Strengths & Weaknesses
Transport- Very poor hull strength
- Very slow speed
- Weak ramming
- Good attack
- Average defence
- Low damage but average armour penetration
- Average morale
Requires Buildings | |
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Manipular Barracks
(rome_military_main_2) Level 1 ![]()
Cohort Barracks
(rome_military_main_3) Level 2 ![]()
Legionary Barracks
(rome_military_main_4) Level 3 |
Faction Availability | |
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Imperator Augustus |