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Yavana Somatophylakes BaktriaBaktria Hoplite/Pike Infantry

Yavana Somatophylakes

(Yavana Guard)

"Yavana" is the name given originally to Greeks, then later to all westerners in India. King Menander had his own group of these bodyguards and advisors that would accompany him at all times. Their equipment is similar to that of elite hoplites.

The royal guard, a phalanx of elite spearmen who protected the kings of Bactria, resulted from Alexandrian and eastern influences. They wore bronze armour and Phrygian helmets, but carried smaller shields than was typical among hoplites. They were armed with Greek-style short swords and spears rather than the longer sarissa used by many western states. A half-way point between the phalangite and hoplite-like hypaspists of Alexandrian and later Successor armies, the Bactrian royal guard were used to protect the flanks of sarissa-armed phalanxes. Such elite units were a deliberate echo of Alexander’s patronage and reforms, and marked the move from the citizen-soldier, loyal to the state, to the professional soldier, loyal to his paymaster alone.

Yavana Somatophylakes

Unit Name

Yavana Somatophylakes

Main Unit Key

Bac_Royal_Guard

Land Unit Key

Bac_Royal_Guard

Naval Unit Key

pel_transport

Soldiers

200

Category

Melee Infantry

Class

Hoplite/Pike Infantry

Custom Battle Cost

1213

Recruitment Cost

1213

Upkeep Cost

243

Melee Attack

36

Weapon Damage

9

├ Melee Weapon

spear4

├ Weapon Damage

9

├ Weapon Deadliness

0

├ Armour Piercing

No

├ Bonus vs. Cavalry

4

├ Bonus vs. Elephants

10

└ Bonus vs Infantry

0

Charge Bonus

19

Melee Defence

75

├ Base Defence

23

├ Shield

shield7

└ Shield Defence

52

Armour

14

├ Armour

arm8

├ Armour Defence

14

└ Shield Armour

0

Health

20

├ Man Entity

hoplite_heavy

├ Man Health

20

└ Bonus Hit Points

0

Base Morale

65

Abilities

Yavana Somatophylakes
  • Stamina (poor)
    Governs how fast the unit tires and restores fatigue, and is dependent on type of unit, weight and approach to combat.
  • Phalanx
    The unit enters a defensive formation that increases frontal defense but the unit's movement speed and attack are reduced

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.
  • Expert Charge Defence
    This unit’s melee attack and damage are increased against charging enemies.

Strengths & Weaknesses

Transport
  • Very poor hull strength
  • Very slow speed
  • Weak ramming
Yavana Somatophylakes
  • Very good defensive unit
  • Low damage but average armour penetration
  • Average attack
  • Good morale
Faction Availability
Grand Campaign