[Haktar]

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Скачать русификатор на версию 2.0 - To view the link Register (1.4 MB)

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[Веталь]

Ergistal только ивенты не отдавай , я сам их переведу. Потихоньку уже приступил.

[Аrchangel]

Могу взять название войск и их описания.Только скажите,где их взять и срок работы

[Komtur]

Аrchangel, камрад Эргистал тебе даст кусочек. Как мне в свое время советовал камрад Кайот, вооружись нотпадом ++ ( notepad ++).

[Аrchangel]

понял,качаю

[Ergistal]

Архангел, держи кусочек работы

Spoiler (expand)

?---------------- Архангел
{ere_light_spearmen}Akolouthoi Light Spearmen
{ere_light_spearmen_descr}Those spearmen aren?t the best soldiers ERE can field. Truth be told, they aren?t even soldiers. A good many of them are servants, or as their name means ?followers?, riff raff which followed armies on the move back then. Local militia forces from the now disbanded ?Themata? are joining in as well. A mass production iron helmet with leather strips or padded aventail, a ?Kontarion? spear and a plain wooden kite shield, which is the sole means of protection, as they lack any real armor, but for the simple gambeson ?bambakion? ¾ of an inch padded cotton cloth they wear. They are expected to stand and maybe hold the line, not actually fight through or break the enemy. They may actually do that, but it would be the exception rather than the rule. The absolute need to field spearmen, lack of funds as well as the decreasing lands from which they could be recruited from could only mean one thing. Spearmen with the absolute minimum in training and equipment needed to do the job. The akolouthoi are a force of spearmen, who are soldiers in name only. They should not be expected to fight till the last man, as they will flee much before that. Still necessities of war mean that they should fight. They will carry the day, if properly supported but a growing ERE should hire better spear units and leave those behind for garrison duty, whenever possible. Those aren?t soldiers, but rather better equipped militia and shouldn?t be expected to fight as soldiers would. Desperate times call for desperate measures, though.
{ere_light_spearmen_descr_short}Light spearmen Akolouthoi aren?t soldiers per se, still if they have to fight, an iron helmet, a kontarion spear and a kite shield will do.

{ere_pikemen}Kontaratoi Pikeman
{ere_pikemen_descr}Kontaratoi are recently entered into service by Manuel Komnenos who wants a good trusted pike unit to stand guard against heavy horsemen. His victory at Sirmion over a Hungarian all cavalry army made him realize the need for a pike unit for the Roman army. Kontaratoi, while they lack a shield, they wear a ?bambakion? gambeson padded cotton cloth and on top of that another gambeson, be it either another ?bambakion? or ?epilorikion?, quilted cloth, which can stop blunt trauma, but isn?t so good at stopping arrows not like metal is. The pike (Kontarion Makron) they wield in unison and the training it took to handle them effectively are a fear factor in battle, but these same pikes make them unable to run or maintain an effective defense if their flanks are not secure. A good commander will always have spear or sword units protect their flanks, while Kontaratoi in turn, protect the sword and spear units from heavy horsemen. They also keep infantry at a distance, when their flanks are properly supported. Originally Kontaratoi were spearmen, carrying a large oval shield. The destruction wrought upon the empire though during the Seljuk invasion and the Norman raids, obliterated them. Manuel Komnenos brought them back as pikemen to cope with the increasing number of heavy cavalry ERE had to face both on the western but more so on the eastern frontier. Their training was intensive, much more so than their place in the ERE war machine would imply. They use a 12-16 feet Kontarion Makron. Kontaratoi were to be the last bearers of the long lost Hellenic tradition of the Sarissa pikemen, who by being the mainstay of Alexandros? infantry and his Diadochoi, ruled supreme in the battlefield until the more fluid cohorts flanked and overwhelmed them. Kontaratoi were used extensively against heavy cavalry and when properly supported they won the day.
{ere_pikemen_descr_short}Pikemen that Manuel Komnenos? created, they excell at containing enemy heavy cavalry but not much more.

{ere_medium_spearmen}Skutatoi Spearmen
{ere_medium_spearmen_descr}Skutatoi, a solid spearman unit, and their brethren swordmen Spathatoi formed the backbone of all ERE infantry forces. Skutatoi wore a reinforced iron or bronze helmet with both a scale or leather aventail and also a scale or mail gorget. As armor they wore an ?bambakion? padded cotton cloth gambeson (probably more than ¾ of an inch in width). Above that, a ?klibanion? light lamellar corselet is worn reaching down up to the belt. They all carried a big triangular shield, emblazoned with geometrical shapes or lines. Their tactical role was versatile. Initially they formed a shield wall against the light Arab cavalry, and used their spear both against cavalry and infantry. Their tactical role at present would whatever their commander orders. Charge in a valley or in city walls, defend against horsemen, all in a days work. They are standard troopers, however and shouldn?t be pushed out of their limits or they will break. As heavy horsemen emerged much of their previous defense role was transferred to Kontaratoi, but still they make perfect flank guards. The real power behind the Eastern Roman Army wasn?t its shiny Kataphraktoi or Stratiotai. It was the Skoutatoi spearmen and their brethren Spathatoi swordmen. They were a solid infantry unit which became the backbone of all ERE armies during the renaissance of its might in the 9th and 10th centuries. Now, with the devastation brought upon the empire with the Turkish occupation of the Anatolian provinces, their equipment suffered as well with boiled leather replacing metal. Manuel Komnenos, however, especially after his victory at Sirmion over an all horsemen Hungarian army reinvigorates those spearmen, enhancing their equipment. This unit really demonstrates the fusion of cultures and heritage of both Ancient Greeks and Ancient Romans. The other names this unit would have, aka ?Tagmatikoi hoplitai? are just proof of that heritage. The name they now have comes from the latin word ?Scutum? meaning ?shield?.
{ere_medium_spearmen_descr_short}Medium spearmen, they are equipped well enough, and fight well enough on many roles, but shouldn?t be left unsupported.

{ere_medium_swordsmen}Spathatoi Swordsmen
{ere_medium_swordsmen_descr}Spathatoi, medium swordmen, are the sword arm of the Skutatoi. The main difference they have with them is that instead of a Kontarion spear they yield a one-edged sword, sligthly curved like a scimitar and worn at the waist, called ?Paramerion?. Spathatoi wore a reinforced iron or bronze helmet with both a scale or leather aventail and also a scale or mail gorget. As armor they wore a ?bambakion? padded cotton cloth gambeson (probably more than ¾ of an inch in width). Above that, a ?klibanion? light lamellar corselet is worn reaching down up to the belt. They all carried a big triangular shield, emblazoned with geometrical shapes or lines. Fighting alongside the spear carrying Skoutatoi, they were used in the same way those were, but as they carried sword, they would be better suited at fighting infantry, instead of the cavalry that was the role of the Skoutatoi, and later on Kontaratoi. Later on, the improving state of the empire and technological improvement in armaments, led to the introduction of Vestiaritai heavy swordmen in large numbers, as before that they were only household treasury guards. Spathatoi, however still retained their role of flank guards, especially guarding the shieldless Kontaratoi pikemen. The real power behind the Eastern Roman Army wasn?t its shiny Kataphraktoi or Stratiotai. It was the Skoutatoi spearmen and their brethren Spathatoi swordmen. They were a solid infantry unit which became the backbone of all ERE armies during the renaissance of its might in the 9th and 10th centuries. Now, after the devastation brought upon the empire by the Turkish occupation of the Anatolian provinces, the fight against the Normans and Bulgarian rebels, their equipment suffered as well with boiled leather replacing metal. Manuel Komnenos and his predecessors managed to reverse the trend, and now the empire is at the verge of expansion. And not a moment too soon as the need for a medium swordman is great within the ERE ranks. All its neighbours field equal or better swordmen or axemen. Romani tradition of fighting with sword and shield (much like the legionaries of yore) reigns supreme, and until better swordmen become available the spathatoi must fight and must win, but within their limits, or they will rout.
{ere_medium_swordsmen_descr_short}Medium swordmen, a large triangular shield and paramenion scimitar allows them to hold the line.

{ere_heavy_swordsmen}Vestiaritai Swordsmen
{ere_heavy_swordsmen_descr}Vestiaritai are the finest swordmen the E. Roman Empire can marshall. Drawn out from the most trusted of spathatoi, they become entrusted into the imperial household. In there they are provided with the best armor and weaponry the empire can acquire. Their helmet is the western ?kassidion? reinforced with crossing Iron lamellar. They wear a ?bambakion? which is a ¾ inch or more thick cotton cloth padded gambeson, an extra ?lorikion? chain mail or scale armor hauberk up to their face, and on top of that an ?epilorikion? (quilted cloth armor gambeson designed to absorb blunt trauma, like that of a mace). For neck protection they wear a full gorget, sometimes reaching up to the eyes. They are equipped with a heavily reinforced triangular shield, and wield a ?paramerion?, a one-edged sword, sligthly curved like a scimitar and worn at the waist. As the finest swordmen of E. Roman Empire, they are not only expected to charge and break through, but also hold the line to the last man. Vestiaritai are an expensive unit to field and maintain and there is a reason for that. Using the latest advances of western armor techniques and tactics, they are the best swordmen not only in E.Roman Empire, but also on all the surrounding countries. Historically Vestiaritai, were treasury guards of the Treasury of the palace. It was a highly honorary position. Yet the situation of the empire didn?t allow for much ceremonialism or court honours. Vestiaritai along with the Tagmata Excourbiton (or Excourbitores) were the only elite native infantry troops in Konstantinoupolis post Manzikert and the civil wars which ensued and upon them fell the heavy task of fighting the Normans at Dyrrachion at 1081 AD. They were also among the troops to successfully quell the Cuman led Bulgarian rebellion of 1091. Their fighting prowess was never in doubt. To be able to guard the imperial treasury (which included the finest captured armor, which they put to good use) they would have to be trusted by the emperor, as they were. They could outfight most of the heavy infantry units of neighbouring states. Different to the Varangoi in that they were native, if there was one unit in all of the ERE that could be compared to them, it would be Vestiaritai. And being compared to Varangoi, even if inevitably one loses, is no small feat.
{ere_heavy_swordsmen_descr_short}Heavy swordmen, their excellent armor, shield and morale allows them to be very dependable to not only hold the line but break through.

{ere_elite_spearmen}Spatharioi Emperor's Guard
{ere_elite_spearmen_descr}Spatharioi are the infantry veterans of many campaigns, able to fight and survive. A band of brothers outfit, which saw the not so good among them die in the field. They form the core of the Spatharioi. Carrying a ?Kontarion? spear as well as a ?spathion? longsword, 36in long (excluding the hilt) and hung at the left hip. They carry a heavily reinforced kite shield in their left hand. Many promising recruits joined their ranks and after a few battles achieved veteran status. Not only able to hold the line, or fight to the last man, they also inspire other units to fight on. It is the premier infantry unit of the ERE, not because of the money involved to recruit it, but for the fact that it would take many other units? veterans to form a cohesive enough outfit, that the most promising recruits can be added into. They are armed in the best helmets Roman armourers can make, steadily refusing any western European influence, and have those helmets embellished with a plume reminiscing long lost times. They wear a ?bambakion? which is a 2 inch or more thick cotton cloth padded gambeson ? possibly the thickest gambeson of any infantry unit, an extra ?lorikion? chain mail or scale armor hauberk up to their face, and on top of that an ?epilorikion? (quilted cloth armor gambeson designed to absorb blunt trauma, like that of a mace). For neck protection they wear a full gorget, sometimes reaching up to the eyes. ERE?s best of the best, they can die fighting but keeping them alive should be a priority, especially because of the morale boost they give to all surrounding friendlies. Old, grizzled veterans of the E. Roman Empire didn?t die or fade away, they just joined the Spatharioi, the most elite regiment of the E. Roman army. Much like the western knights and men-at-arms, ERE veteran infantrymen weren?t just trained on sword or spear but on any weapon the infantry would fight with. Those lucky raw recruits that did join in the ranks of the Spatharioi, would find themselves considered a veteran after a few battles, as the accumulated experience and battle savvy of those men did seep through the ranks. It is no secret that Spatharioi units are morale enhancers for even the lowest of Akolouthoi, as they not only inspire them by example, but also by their sheer presence. A painted scroll depicts an old infantryman sitting by the fire speaking to two young recruits. Presumably Spatharioi must have done the same on other ERE units, enhancing their morale. Armed with the best armor of the empire, they do proud themselves on their selective anachronisms. One of those is the plume on the head and the leather pteryges they wear to cover their vitals, both reminders of ancient times. They wear them to show they are the last holders of the line which goes back to Alexandros, Sparta and Emperor Oktavianos Kaisaras. In fact the name ?Elite hoplites? could very well describe them, as ?hoplites? are described in military texts of ERE. Spatharioi was in fact a very old outfit. Bodyguards in the time of Ioustinianos, they became honorary arm bearers, but the dire straights in which the empire finds itself in mean that no one can be spared and anyone who can grab a sword and shield had better done so, yesterday, hence the transfer back to active duty. Spatharioi draw their inspiration from one of the greatest Emperors of ERE, Basileios II the Bulgarslayer, who was buried in the Monastery of Mary in the Ebdomon suburb near the walls of Konstantinoupolis, in order to observe post mortem the ERE troops departing for war. Their battlecry if they had one, would definitely be one of Basileios II who when leading his men into battle well in his sixties cried : ?Whoever is a soldier, follow me!?. This is the fighting tradition of the ERE that Spatharioi, answering the call, must follow.
{ere_elite_spearmen_descr_short}The heaviest native spearmen/swordsmen ERE can field in battle. They are very valuable because they raise the morale of nearby units, as well.

{ere_elite_varangian_axemen}Pelekyphoroi Axemen
{ere_elite_varangian_axemen_descr}As it happened some of the mercenary Varangoi of the ERE went native. Those had children with roman women who in turn joined in the family business of cracking skulls open with a two handed waraxe. Furious in battle and dreadful for tavern owners who were in the way of free drink afterwards, Pelekyphoroi (Native Varangoi) willingly became subjects of the empire, if anything, had a more standardized and slightly better quality of armor. The thickest ?bambakion? cotton gambeson available (probably thicker than 1 inch, or even more) would be available to them, with scale or mail ?lorikion? of the highest quality, and a reinforced ?klibanion? lamellar corcelet. His forearms and lower feet would be protected by arm and leg guard vambraces of splint construction, called ?cheiropsella? and ?podopsella? respectively. A mail gorget was worn for neck protection. The only ERE units that can compare to them armorwise are Pronoiarioi and Kataphraktoi, (even if they have an extra quilted cloth gambeson ?epilorikion? on top of mail and lamellar) and those have a horse under them to carry all that armor, along with themselves. So it is easy to assume that the Pelekyphoroi must have been at an excellent physical form to be able to not only carry all that armor around, but also fight wearing it. On top of that they had to wield a heavy ?Tzikourion? (from the latin root ?securis?) or ?Pelekys? waraxe, whose metal was a slightly better quality than that of their merc brethren. The round shield they carried, was slung on their back in battle, as the fore arm lamellar guards made the shield redundant in many cases. Pelekyphoroi were Christian, still they carried in their shields the crow which was the emblem of Odin. Their numbers were never great, but that has more to do with the situation of the empire, which became embroiled in non-ending civil wars towards the end, not their worth. A resurging empire, would definitely put higher numbers of Native Varangoi as a recruitment goal. The empire tried to create a Native Varangoi force and actually achieved it. The importance the empire bestowed upon the Pelekyphoroi (Native Varangoi) is evident, if their unbreakable victory record is to be trusted. Only when everyone else fled did they surrender, and then only to save the life of the Emperor, as happened in Manzikert. The Emperors, especially the Komnenoi, if the words of the Emperor Ioannis I Komnenos (as transferred by Niketas Choniates, (a 12th century source) are to be believed. When asked to risk his Varangoi in a dangerous situation, he considered them priceless. Their value he said was higher than all of the jewels of the empire. That in no way meant that the Pelekyphoroi weren?t used in battle, but that there was always the fear of losing them, along with their valuable services. They fought and bled for the Empire, and were acknowledged (along with their Mercenary brethren) to be one of the few regiments of the ERE army who actually fought during the sacking of Konstantinoupolis at 1204. Unfortunately the breach didn?t occur in their sector or there wouldn?t have been one. In battle they would be indistinguishable to their Mercenarry brethren, sharing all their talents and faults. Even so, brought up in the most beautiful of the cities of Christendom, and realizing that a lot of the natives just couldn?t fight to save their lives, does make those Native Varangoi, patriotic in the modern sense of the word, meaning putting their own life on the line for what had become their own country. Their absolute loyalty to the Emperor as well as their love for heavy drinking was legendary. Niketas Choniates in the 12th centrury, describes the personality and character of the Varangoi ?Pelekyphoroi? (axe bearers) when he calls them ?wine-bags? to emphasize their fondness of alcohol. They must have been impressive to look at, especially from the viewpoint of a Mediterranean subject. Anna Komnene, a contemporary compares them to ?tall and strong palm trees?. No emperor worth his salt would throw them at impossible odds, still, no emperor had doubts about using them in a battle they could win. They just pointed them to a target, then the Varangoi would run at them with their double handed war axes held high (their unit possibly arranged in a wedge formation) and their opposing force would either run away or be hacked into pieces. There are records of Varangoi simply assaulting an enemy battle line and it melting away without Varangoi coming near it.
{ere_elite_varangian_axemen_descr_short}Heavy axemen who are Varangoi who went native or their descendants. ERE?s finest troops, their assault is legendary.

{ere_jav_cav}Trapezitae Javelin Cavalry
{ere_jav_cav_descr}ERE placed more importance on the spear and javelin, than the bow. As it continues the Romani tradition, close combat and spear/javelin are the mainstay of its troops. Hence Trapezitoi were given priority over horse archers. Their position in the battleline does not reflect their worth. In fact they would more often than not they would be equipped with some of the best javelin throwing men. They would have to be good riders, in order to face the multitude of the enemies of the empire, especially Turkish horsearchers who could pierce both a horse and its rider with their arrows. It has to be noted, that even when there was peace between the ERE and the Sultanate of Rum, Turkmen uc/akra (border) raiders, disrespected all authority, religion or state for a good loot. Those were their main enemies. For close combat they switch to their ?kontarion? spears but they shouldn?t be used against armored cavalry, because their simple iron helmet and light ?esolorikon? padded cloth gambeson armor and small 12 inches shield will be their undoing. In a pitched battle deployed in tactical combat their role would be to support the medium and heavy infantry by ?ακοντίσεις? aka ?javelin shots? at the enemy. Their best use would be to charge a fleeing enemy or light missile troops, or support the medium and heavy infantry by softening up their targets. To employ them against HA is to waste them, as especially the Turkish HA can outshoot them by a wide margin. Known as hippakontistai in earlier times, those guys would guard border passes to fight off light raiders, one of the multitude of Turmken tribes living on the uc/akra ( no man?s land border) between the two states, or raid themselves. They should be used with caution, not thrown away against heavier or troops that can outshoot them. A wise commander should always keep some distance between them and other enemy troops, use their javelins with devastating effects at troops who don?t shoot back and close in only when the enemy is already fleeing.
{ere_jav_cav_descr_short}?Trapezitoi? are horse javelineers, light in armor but very experienced in the throw of javelin. They are usually the first to engage the enemies of ERE.

{ere_light_lancer}Hosarii Lancers
{ere_light_lancer_descr}Hosarioi (greekified version of hosarii) were medium lance/sword cavalry. While heavier and more durable than Trapezitoi, their main force lies in their charge, not exactly their staying power. A wise commander would attack with them, then break off contact, regroup and attack again. They wore simple iron helmets with leather aventails, those that did wear any helmets at all and relatively light armor ( an ?esolorikon? ¾ inch or more thick padded cloth gambeson and sometimes light lamellar ?klibanion? corselet above that) and rode unarmored horses which explains their lack of staying power. They are good horsmen though, and better fighters than their position in the ERE war machine would indicate. They are armed with a ?kontarion? spear and also a ?paramerion? sword which is one-edged, sligthly curved like a scimitar and worn at the waist. A commander who has studied ?strategikon? or other war manuals would know that they should be deployed in ?hit and run? tactics, as their speed, maneuverability, and lack of decent armor dictates. To use them against more armed opponents or spear infantry is to throw them away. The Hosarioi/Hosarii were one of the oldest horsemen units ERE would field. There is a theory that their name comes from ?cohors?, but another one maintains that their name came from the goth word for horse aka ?horsa? which became latinised and with the addition of ?-arii? became horsemen, much like ?spatha?+?arii? became spatharii (greekified latin : spatharioi). Hosarioi may be one of the few units to survive ERE?s downfall by having its name used (albeit changed) by later day ?Hussars? even if the relationship between ?hussars? and hosarii? is shaky to say the least. They would be used as ?akrites? or frontiersmen along with Trapezitoi, in denying their Gazi Turkmen counterparts of the uc/akra (frontier no man?s land) passage to the E. Roman empire, and maybe counterattacking the Turkish lands whenever possible. Light and fast they must always be on the move, as getting bogged down would be their undoing.
{ere_light_lancer_descr_short}Hosarioi/hosarii are light horsemen equipped with a kontarion spear and a small round buckler shield. Not to be used against heavier enemies.

{ere_medium_lancer}Stratatoi Heavy Cavalry
{ere_medium_lancer_descr}Stratiotai were the mainstay of ERE horsemen. Wearing an ?esolorikon? ( ¾ inch thick padded gambeson) and a chain mail ?lorikion? hauberk they were the mainstay of Komnenoi era cavalry. Their helmet is the western inspired ?kassidion?. It has been suggested that perhaps as much as 50% or 60% of all cavalry forces were Stratiotai. ERE fielded them in great numbers because they were definitely a good solid force of cavalry and their unit design was a great compromise between speed, availability and armor. Good enough to hold the line as well as break through. More armor layers as well as the absence of horse barding kepth them from competing with their heavier armed Kavallarioi and Kataphraktoi brethren. Still their sheer numbers can easily overwhelm heavier foes. Once ERE is able to field enough of them, Stratiotai should be the backbone of Roman cavalry. Historically Stratiotai were often thought to be medieval or later era troops, yet a monastery document from the time of the first Komnenos? emperor proves that they did infact exist at that time. The name stratiotai became so intertwined with the army in general that now it means soldier in present day greek. This should speak volumes of just how many of them were, and how good they must have been if their unit designation is to mean ?soldier?, and ?foot soldier? at that. They were general use cavalry, which could fight well, but heavier opponents and pikes would destroy them.
{ere_medium_lancer_descr_short}Stratiotai, medium horsemen the are the mainstay of ERE cavalry, and are all purpose armored cavalrymen.

{ere_kavalaroi}Kavallarioi Lancers
{ere_kavalaroi_descr}Kavallarioi was the greek word for ?knights? and it meant absolutely the same thing as their western counterparts. Bravery in battle and loyalty to the Emperor would be rewarded with a fief and a title which besides honor would also place them in at least two lists of precedence, but very near the bottom. ?Kavallarioi? would be given a ?pronoia? land, but not as large as that of the ?Pronoiarioi?. It was good enough to be able to afford them besides the ?esolorikon? ¾ inch thick padded gambeson, an extra ?lorikion? chain mail or scale armor hauberk, which whould reach sometimes up to their face, sometimes a ?klibanion? lamellar armor cuirass over it and on top of that an ?epilorikion? (quilted cloth armor gambeson designed to absorb blunt trauma, like that of a mace). They wear reinforced iron helmets with iron scale aventails and have small iron circular shoulder protectors. A gorget protects the neck made of mail or less likely scale. They carry a reinforced kite shield with the kontarion lance on the other hand. They also carry a ?spathion? longsword, 36in long (excluding the hilt), hung at the left hip. Their forearms are protected by ?cheiropsella? interlocking lamellar pieces. Lower feet would be protected by ?podopsella? interlocking lamellar pieces as well. Kavallarioi ?knights? are thus heavily armed, like the klibinarioi of yore, but with a big difference. Their steed is without armor. It really means that they are more maneuverable than their Kataphraktoi brothers-in-arms, but less able to withstand an enemy who has a barded horse. Later on, Kavallarioi with greater pronoia lands (which could supposedly sustain up to 70 infantrymen, other than the ?Pronoiarios? heavy knight) would be able to afford an armor for their horse, but Kavallarioi had heavy armor on, if only for the rider. The fall of 1204, in which Konstantinoupolis was sacked bare, marks for many the end of the ERE. For those who survived it, however and had to pick up the pieces, one of the first things they realized, was that between their own heavy but very few in number Kataphraktoi and their lighter armed Stratiotai, a new class of horseman had emerged in the West that was both more powerful and versatile: The Knights. In 1211, 1200 Nicaean (ERE successor state) cavalrymen defeated the Turks against impossible odds, keeping ERE holdings in western Anatolia. 800 western knights were among those, and died fighting almost to a man. As such, many former Latin knights were absorbed into what remained of the Empire, and the word ?Kavallarioi? from meaning ?horseman? became ?knight?. Emperor John Katakouzenos (1347-1354) in his memoirs, noted that when Anne of Savoy reached Konstantinoupolis at 1326 with the purpose of marrying Andronikos III Palaiologos (1328-1341) she was accompanied by many Kavallarioi. The ?Kavallarioi? are knights, a step up from Stratiotai in morale, horsemanship, chivalry and equipment. They are the Empires? best hope at fielding a good enough cavalry, without having to sustain the outlandish costs of horse metal armor as well. Kavallarioi historically fought bravely against very diffucult odds. It was them along with Stratiotai and Trapezitoi who protected the no mans? land between Nikaian and Seljuk holdings from the gazi Turkmen who attacked anyone who passed through their territory, Seljuk or E. Roman, as their love of loot was legendary. In this no man?s land, the uc/Akra frontiers that separated the two states, Kavallarioi reinged supreme, when properly led. Alexios Philanthropenos was such a leader. Kavallarioi started out as Latin knights, but were fully incorporated into the E. Roman Empire, dressed and talked like Romans and a generation later their children were Romans proper. Before the advent of ?Pronoiarioi? (who are basically richer ?Kavallarioi? with a half armored horse), they are the best horsemen Romans had.
{ere_kavalaroi_descr_short}Kavallarioi are western knights in ERE clothes. Great horsemen, they are ERE?s best regular cavalry force, with lack of horse barding as their only impediment.

{ere_kataphractoi}Royal Kataphractoi
{ere_kataphractoi_descr}Kataphraktoi are the elite of the elite. They stand a bit higher than their now extinct brethren ?Klibinarioi?, as they are even more highly armored. Klibinarioi had 4 layers of armor (?esolorikon? padded cloth gambeson, ?lorikon? scale or mail hauberk that can reach up to the eyes, ?klibanion? lamellar cuirass and ?epilorikion? quilted cloth gambeson over that). Kataphraktoi best them by using an extra layer of padding to prevent the blunt trauma that will occur, leading to possibly the most armored horsmen of that period. The lamellar klibanion they wore also covered the upper half of the cavalrymen?s arms with lamellar and shoulder plates combining together, and on top of that the quilted cloth armor, the epilorikion to blunt the power of mace like weapons. A mail or scale gorget would be used to protect the neck. Forearms and lower legs would be protected by lamellar pieces interlocking with each other. Hand pieces are called ?cheiropsella?, and foot ones ?podopsella?. A small shield is also worn mainly for left hand protection, but it is not really needed, as very few things can penetrate those armor layers. Still, all those armor layers had a price. It must have been hot as hell to wear one of those, though. It is no wonder that one of the unit?s armor, ?klibanion? lamellar armor means ?furnace?. ?Klibanos? still means furnace in present day greek. Not many of the Stratiotai or Kavallarioi would be able to withstand such a weight and fight with the mace at the same time. Hence the importance the empire gave to them. Roman ingenuity armed them with close range sharp headed javelins as a way to soften the enemy a bit before hitting them with the hardest force in all of the Roman arsenal. They enter the fight after shooting off their javelins but they don?t charge to break through. They attack and stay there, smashing the enemy with their vardoukion/apelatikion/siderorabdion heavy mace. Those who oppose them would have to slash through 5 layers of armor and padding to hurt them, and that could be difficult. Kataphraktoi, along with their long gone cousins Klibinarioi passed from being the top of the line in Roman cavalry to being a memory, as the empire had to field lighter cavalry to keep up with the invading and ever moving armies of the Arabs, who conquered the biggest part of what used to be ERE. As the Romans came to grips with this threat, for nearly two centuries they counterattacked reaching present day N. Syria, N. Iraq, and Armenia. The spearhead of this assault was the Kataphraktoi. Later on, Turk conquest of the Mikrasia, to be called Anatolia from now on, deprived the resources and estates needed to field such troops, and made only ?dynatoi? big landlords, able to field horsemen equipped as such. Those ?dynatoi? meaning ?powerful? can choose not to join the army themselves but rather sponsor a cavalryman to join in their stead by providing a warhorse and all the equipment. A Kataphraktos isn?t a charger. He is a thrasher, moving in and start smashing and killing until there are no more enemies, or they flee, or he is ordered to depart. In fact according to tactical manuals of the ERE army, the Kataphraktoi aim was to break the center of the enemy front and cause their enemies to flee. Once that would happen, lighter cavalry (That would be Hosarioi and Stratiotai) which was many times their number would pursue and destroy the fleeing enemy troops. Kataphraktoi were a rarity though. A big ERE expeditionary force would normally be comprised of 16.000 infantry, 8.000 light and medium cavalry and only 500 Kataphraktoi. Very few in number, but ?happy few? as Shakespeare would say, who really did turn the battle around.
{ere_kataphractoi_descr_short}Kataphraktoi are quite possibly the most armored horsemen in the world. Armed with a heavy mace they will thrash all enemies in its reach.

{ere_proniarioi}Proniarioi Elite Cavalry
{ere_proniarioi_descr}Western influence and the decaying state of the empire brought about the emergence of Pronoiarioi. ?Pronoiai?, large estates bestowed by the emperor to his best horsemen with the obligation to field a barded warhorse ready to fight with themselves on it as well, equipped and ready for battle. Some of those were Latin or of Latin ancestry. ?Pronoiai? or ?Oikonomiai? could be regular lands but most of the time they are fresh conquered lands from the hands of the enemy, so their former ?dynatoi? owners can?t claim them. Advances in western technology created lighter yet stronger chainmail, which allowed the Pronoiarioi to wear them from toe to the eyelids without the weight that accompanied earlier heavy horsemen like Kataphraktoi. In fact they must have wore 4 layers of armor, ?esolorikon? padded gambeson and full body advanced mail ?lorikion? hauberk. On top of that, an extra ?lorikion? hauberk this time in big iron scales, which would serve to maximize protection against arrows, spears and lances. Over that the epilorikion quilted cloth would be used to blunt mace blows. Their armor is supplemented by arm and leg guard vambraces of splint construction, the ?podopsella? for feet and ?cheiropsella? for forearms. The helmet of Pronoiarioi is completely western. Not just westernized ?Kassidion? as that of the Stratiotai, but a plain western helmet with a better construction and much larger brim that is called ?Kassidion? as well. Kite shield, larger and stronger than that of the Stratiotai that covers a big part of their body, and thus limits the need for extra armor layers. Even their horse has less armor than that of the heavier Kataphraktoi. That means higher speed, and maneuverability at the cost of a slightly decreased protection. The paramerion sword they carry (one-edged, sligthly curved like a scimitar and worn at the waist) would be used when in melee with the enemy. They were primary lancers as their heavy knights counterparts were. This unit isn?t so much a Roman unit imitating a western one, it is more of heavy knight western unit but armed with roman weapons and armor. The big differences in armor, tactics and overall mentality that existed for hundreds of years between the Catholic knights of western Europe and Outremer regions, no longer apply. A cultural shift towards the west is in place, with many Western Catholic subjects of the Empire serving the empire as horsemen or infantry. Manuel himself is a big admirer of western style combat, even organizing joust matches. Pronoiarioi are as close to the heavy western knights as any Roman unit is going to get, while retaining a Roman identity. A lot of them are just Kavallarioi knights, whose bravery in battle enabled them to acquire a bigger ?Pronoia? estate. Historically ?Pronoiai? were war-guifts to the best cavalrymen to both secure their loyalty and also make sure that they would be fighting alongside the emperor in the finest outfit they possibly could. Smaller ?Pronoiai? provided Kavallarioi, bigger and richer ones, ?Pronoiarioi?. Some of those pronoiai not only gave a ?Pronoiar/Pronoiarios? to the throne but as many as up to 70 infantrymen. Bound to the Emperor with sacred oaths, they would fight to the last man in his name. However hard hitting lancers they are however, they still operate as a part of a larger army. They should be reigned in at all times, as they can?t win the battle alone, and a clever enemy will annihilate them on a wall of spears and pikes and heavy horsemen of its own in their backs. They should be preserved until an opportunity for a breakthrough arises in which case they should assault with all their might.
{ere_proniarioi_descr_short}Pronoiarioi are the ERE?s heavy knights. A heavy lance and kite shield, barded horse and paramerion scimitar Pronoiarios on top of a semibarded heavy charger is a glorious sight.

{ere_archer}Toxotai
{ere_archer_descr}Coming from the militia of the themata which remained in the Empire, after the Turkish onslaught post Manzikert, those former hunters apply their trade well in the service of the E. Roman army. They don?t have any armor to speak of, just their clothes, a cotton cloth gambeson and a basic helmet if that is available. A bit better equipped than Peltastai, Toxotai wear a basic ?bambakion?, ¾ inch cotton cloth gambeson. Their training wasn?t so much in target practice as in synchronized shooting, aka shooting all at once at the general direction of the enemy. They are closely interlinked with the spear and sword units of the ERE army as all are interdependent. Spearmen and swordmen would be arrow bait without them, and the Toxotai would be slaughtered outright if left unprotected from even one flank. ERE?s battleplan always relied on foot archery as a way to relieve the Horse Archer pressure on the spearmen and swordmen who comprised its infantry. They might also kill enough of the enemy to cause a rout. Historically, even if some regions of the empire were great at archery (Trebizond), archery wasn?t as developed in E. Roman Empire as much as in its eastern neighbours. ERE?s dire straits substituted its once regular archery training by using bow hunters. We know surprisingly much on the ERE bow hunters, including that they had 8 arrowheads for different game. Anna Komnene in the final chapter of Alexiad, describes her father ?teaching the troops use of spear and bow?, clearly showing the ERE trying to reestablish a good archery training regiment. The typical E. Roman strategy was to protect its archers as much as possible with spear and sword units in front of them to shield them from heavy units which would be the Toxotai undoing. Toxotai, in turn with massed volleys could out shoot the Horse archers which were the bane of E. Roman forces, and be generally more precise in their fire. They are also very good at breaking up the charge of enemy infantry. Not as good as the archers of neighbouring nations, toxotai is what the ERE has as native bowmen and has to protect them accordingly, if they are to help it.
{ere_archer_descr_short}Toxotai are archers. Good in their trade but should be guarded at all times as their lack of armor and sword, means that they will killed easily if attacked.

{ere_jav}Peltastoi
{ere_jav_descr}Those former militiamen from former Themata are very good with their javelins. Drafted into the ERE army they are armed in just their plain clothes, a small leather or wooden shield and plain iron helmet when available, is their only means of armor. Their best protection however is to move up to the enemy fire off their javelins and back out again, before the enemy missile troops or cavalry returns the favor. Heavily outclassed by better and further shooting archers, those militiamen have to fight against unfavorable odds. Even if they aren?t the most valuable troop of ERE, their position in the ERE battleline is vital. Used in both the preliminary phase of the battle, but also to weaken a potential breakthrough point for the heavy cavalry to charge through, Peltastai are a cheap unit, whose usefulness is much greater than its value. Historically, Peltastai were skirmishing javeling throwing troops. Not ever fighting on their own but complimenting a larger force or army. Other names for a javelin throwing unit included Akontistai and Rhiptaristai. As unit names and designations changed a lot in the era of the E.Roman empire BC takes place on, there is no absolute truth on those names and what each of those would mean at any given time. Still, historical continuity and some depictions, can give us a rough idea of what each unit would do in battle. Peltastai are the former soldiers of Themata who in decades of neglected became militia from tactical army and who honed their skills in hunting, especially dangerous game as boars. While they are useful, they are not soldiers and in the first sign of trouble, they will break. A wise commander should know this limit and not stray beyond it.
{ere_jav_descr_short}Peltastai are javelin throwing skirmishers, who should be recalled once they unleash their javelins at the enemy.

{ere_heavy_jav}Menaulatoi Infantry
{ere_heavy_jav_descr}Menavlatoi are the evolution of Peltastai. Better equipped, motivated and trained, they pack quite a punch. They use a heavy javelin called ?Menavlion? (from which they derive their name) against enemy cavalry. Those ?Menavlia? javelins are the worse threat to heavy cav there is, especially when thrown by properly trained troops like Menavlatoi are. ?Menavlion? is a thick headed javelin with a long 50cm iron spearhead. Their defensive equipment and weapons are similar to the Skoutatoi but with a predominance of leather and padded coats over iron. Military manuals of the time suggest that the first line defends with long ?akontion? spear and shield, while all other lines throw their ?menavlia? heavy javelins. The effects of massed ?menavlia? heavy javelins on the enemy cavalry must have been devastating, be it light or heavy. Menavlatoi must have been the ultimate close contact javelin troops of their time. Historically, Menavlatoi are a unique ERE unit, combining the battleline tactics of two units which were formed in ERE. According to the 11th century Parisinus graecus, it places the peltastai right behind the the front ranking hoplitai. Menavlatoi combine both troops as both a pike infantry to withstand a full enemy cataphract assault, but also ?menavlion? heavy javelin throwing infantry to break the first lines of assaulting cavalry. Menavlion was a shorter, thicker, heavier javelin, with possibly the longest winged spearhead (about 50 cm). "Menavlos" "μέναυλος" was a type of lilly flower, as described in a 4th cent greek dictionary. "Menavlia" also are mentioned as spears/heavy javelins special for boar hunting. Menavlatoi are one of many units that have their names changed over the course of history but not necessarily their tactical role and functions. Much controversy on the subject of names and the functions they performed remains, however. Nor were they simply a missile unit. If anything the closest unit that can compare to them would be the Hellenistic era ?Hypaspistai? in their ?Pheraspidai? / ?Euzonoi? role, aka heavy peltasts who can also fight.
{ere_heavy_jav_descr_short}Menavlatoi heavy peltasts are equipped with heavy (boar hunting) javelins called Menavlion, who also double up as anti cavalry spearmen using their Kontarion spear and oval shield.

{ere_varangians}Varangian Warriors
{ere_varangians_descr}Varangoi were the ultimate assault troops of the ERE, terrorizing their enemies with both their double handed war axe, as well as with their outwardly appearance. Chosen among the best of the Skandinavian warriors, Anglo-saxon exiled gentry, and Russian Viking descendants, it has been rumoured that there were bribes involved for applicants to be selected into the Varangoi force, or Etaireia as it would be called. Armed with their hallmark war axe, Varangoi wore a ?bambakion? which is a ¾ inch wide or more cotton cloth padded gambeson, an extra ?lorikion? chain mail or scale armor hauberk up to their face, and on top of that an ?epilorikion? (quilted cloth armor gambeson designed to absorb blunt trauma, like that of a mace). Sometimes they would add extra layers of either scale or mail hauberk or cloth gambeson, or change the order in which those armor layers were worn. A mail gorget would supplement their armor by protecting their neck. They didn?t maintain a ?proper? way to dress, and not many cared about that. Their employers never complained about their appearance. A common feature of their armor though was a mail gorget, that all units had for neck protection. They wear a multitude of helmets, with the Viking Visor helmet as a distinctive feature of sorts. Christians they were, still their shields would be emblazoned with the black crow, the holy bird of Odin. They are armed with a heavy war axe with a medium circular shield attached to their left hand, which is slung on their back when they assault the enemy. They are expensive mercenary troops and maintaining huge numbers of them would ruin the empire, but if there is a unit that could attack any target and make them run away screaming, it would be the Varangoi. Varangoi warrior tradition in the ?Milkagard? ?city of gold? (as those troopers called Konstantinoupolis) began with Basileios II the Boulgaroktonos (bulgarslayer). He got 6000 of them as mercenary warriors. After using them in battle, in which they distinguished themselves, it wouldn?t be long before an exclusive guard of those would be formed to guard the emperor. They were no praitorians though, paid to throne or dethrone Kings. If anything their dedication and loyalty was exemplary. The money they would make was also the stuff of legend. The high pay and salary of the Varangoi was cited at around 150-170 nomismata or hyperpyra (coins) per annum in addition to bonuses and campaign loot. Still, in order to become a Varangos, one must first pay an entrance fee to the chief of the guard. Fortunately, that investment can be recouped very quickly after a few years of service. One of their leaders Harald ?Hardråde? Sigurdsson, wound up in the Norwegian throne as Harald the III. His ascenscion was owed partly to the loot he had gathered as leader of the Varangoi, especially when serving in a combined ERE force that under Georgios Maniakes reclaimed W. Sicily for the Roman Empire in 1038. Varangoi would obey the Emperor?s orders to a letter, and guard him until death. Both in Manzikert and in the fall of Konstantinoupolis at 1204 they were the first ones to fight and the last ones to keep fighting, after almost anyone else had either surrendered or fled. Their numbers and ethnological make were in constant flux. In time more Anglosaxon recruits would make Varangoi an exclusive English force (sometimes they are mentioned as Inglovarangoi or Anglovarangoi), whereas in another situation, a successful recruitment drive in Scandinavia saw the Norvegian, Swedish even Icelander numbers among them swell . Russian Viking descendants were always a mainstay of Varangoi. The Emperor of the ERE wasn?t the only one they served. Vladimir I of Kiev, i.e. the Prince of Kievan Rus, is mentioned to have "Varangians" in his service, it is probable that they didn?t come from his own country but either directly from Scandinavia or from ERE after being in the service of the Emperor at Konstantinoupolis. Their love for heavy drinking was legendary. Niketas Choniates, a 12th century source, describes the personality and character of the Varangoi ?Pelekyphoroi? (axe bearers) when he calls them ?wine-bags? to emphasize their love for alcohol. They must have been impressive to look at, especially from the viewpoint of a Mediterranean subject. Anna Komnene, a contemporary compares them to ?tall and strong palm trees?. No emperor worth his salt would throw them at impossible odds, still, no emperor had doubts about using them in a battle they could win. They just pointed them to a target, then the Varangoi would run at them with their double handed war axes held high (their unit possibly arranged in a wedge formation) and their opposing force would either run away or be hacked into pieces. There are records of Varangoi simply assaulting an enemy battle line and it melting away without Varangoi coming near it.
{ere_varangians_descr_short}Heavy axemen mercenaries, legendary in their own right. Their double handed waraxe and their ferocious assault can?t be beaten

[Ergistal]

Это если не ошибаюсь - линейка войск Византийской империи. Как с греками, дружищь?

Копируй текст в текстовый файл и переводи. Первые слова в фигурной скобке не переводишь.

{ere_light_spearmen} Akolouthoi Light Spearmen

{ere_light_spearmen} Лёгкие копейщики Аколотои.

Перевод совсем не обязательно точный и дословный, главное удобно читаемый и историчный. Слишком длинные тексты можешь немного сокращать, выкидывая лишнее. Не переводимые слова пиши в транскрипции. Удачи!

Камрады, чёто Эргистал расслабился после свадьбы, дайте пинка чтобы делом занялся и доделал, то что обещал!

[Аrchangel]

Спасибо комрад,рад стараться

[Койот]

Ergistal 2 Sep 2009 14:51

Камрады, чёто Эргистал расслабился после свадьбы

Ни чё, ни чё! Потом бытовщина так задавит -- шиш расслабишься!

[Койот]

2 Эргистал
Дружище, вынужден испариться с форума -- начальство командирует на Урал учиться уму-разуму. Позволь нагрузить тебя делом окончания перевода ВС2.0 на русский. Вот позднейший архив: To view the link Register -- в нем нет только войск и исторических событий на русском. Добьете с камрадами эти файлы(юниты и события) -- поскребите ошибки и неточности и попросите Координаторов выложить готовый перевод в шапку темы.
Успехов тебе!
Если присоединятся новые камрады -- впиши их в файл credits(Архангел уже вписан).

[Komtur]

Интересно, а я вписан?
2 Эргистал
А где мой кусочек? Для меня что-то есть?