Hetairoi Kataphraktoi (Baktrian Late Bodyguard)

Hetairoi Kataphraktoi (Baktrian Late Bodyguard)
Hetairoi Kataphraktoi (Baktrian Late Bodyguard)
Primary Weapon	Type: spear Attack: 5 Charge: 47 Lethality: 0.4 Attributes: Armour Piercing
Secondary Weapon	Type: sword Attack: 11 Charge: 28 Lethality: 0.11 Attributes: Armour Piercing
Defence	Armour: 29 Shield: 0 Skill: 10
Recruitment	Soldiers: 10 Cost: 2924 Upkeep: 0 Turns: 1
Mental	Morale: 18 Discipline: disciplined Training: highly_trained
Other	Hit Points: 1 Mass: 1 Attributes: Can board ships, Can hide in forest, General bodyguards_upgrade Formation: square Side/Back spacing: 1.5/4 Mount effects: elephant -1, chariot +2 Ownership: Baktria

The elite Baktrian cavalry were extremely heavy Cataphracts retaining Greek tradition and training. The combination of natural steppe skill and Greek training ethos has rendered these men (who are often of mixed Greco-Iranian stock) some of the finest horsemen in the known world.

Description

Having no access to many of the Hetairoi of Alexander from which the other Successors formed their heavy cavalry arm, the Baktrians decided to include both Iranians and Greeks in a new force of Hetairoi, supported by the type of huge estates that were required to comfortably arm such a force. Their massive horses are fully barded with iron lamellar. The riders of these horses wear iron plate reinforced with mail at the joints and lamellar leggings. Their helmets were of a Thracian type, but with a face mask made to look like a roaring lion. They carry the xyston and ride with all the prowess of the steppe peoples from which many are descended. In addition, they are armed with a long kopis as well, which is a common weapon in the lands of Baktria and gives an armor smashing punch to these already deadly cavalry. As can be surmised, they are exceedingly expensive, but are probably the heaviest cavalry that can be found on the battlefield. They are so massively armored that they needn’t fear anything but bristling walls of spear points.

Historically, the elite Baktrian cavalry were extremely heavy cataphracts retaining Greek tradition and training. The combination of natural steppe skill and Greek training ethos has rendered these men (who are often of mixed Greco-Iranian stock) some of the finest horsemen in the known world. They are often known to trot into battle and charge at the very last moment, sending bodies flying and riding down enemies with sheer momentum. In their whole history, they were never outfought, not in any battle. The estates from which they were supported were eventually eroded from nomad attacks and the Baktrian Kingdom could simply not afford them any longer. They truly must have been a sight to behold. Perhaps if a worthy leader had taken the throne of Baktria, these men could have cut down those who opposed them, like their Makedonian, Skythian and Persian ancestors.

Usage

Upgraded from the Somatophylakes Strategou (Baktrian Early Bodyguard) after the March of Time event, these men are one of the most mightiest heavy cavalrymen matching only to the Eastern Factions' heaviest cataphracts. These men should be used for a decisive charge against the enemy lines and with their heavy armor, morale and their armor-piercing kopis, only sheer numbers will stop them.

Their weakness is their slowness, due to the massive armor they are wearing and as such the general must be properly supported by more mobile cavalry or heavy infantry.

Gallery

Hetairoi Kataphraktoi artwork