Ardiaei Melee Cavalry

Illyrian Mounted Swordmasters

A lethal combination of sharp-edge and beast. Just the sight of these formiddable warriors is alone enough to secure victory.

Liby-Phoenicians are the closest Carthaginian society came to an indigenous population, and their numbers were limited following the catastrophic defeat of the Sacred Band in battle against Syracuse in 340BC. Afterwards, Carthage was unwilling to risk many of its own citizens again in a single struggle. This reluctance led to the greater use of mercenaries during the Punic Wars against Rome. However, some Carthaginians were in the field at Cannae, the greatest single Roman defeat of the period. Their trusted commander, Muttines, later betrayed the Sicilian stronghold of Acragas to the Romans following the Carthaginian senate's change of heart towards Hannibal towards the end of the Second Punic War. They withdrew support, fearing his ambitions more than they feared the Romans.

Abilities

Illyrian Mounted Swordmasters

• Trample
  Charges are more effective for an extended time.
  Charge bonus
  Exertion: fatigue
• Frenzied Charge
  Increases the effectiveness of the unit's charge for an extended period. The unit will suffer a large fatigue penalty after the charge is over.
  Charge speed, charge damage, acceleration
  Melee defence, fatigue
• Flying Wedge
  The unit moves into a flying wedge-shaped attack formation.
  Charge bonus, melee attack
  Acceleration, melee defence

Attributes

• Hide (forest)
  This unit can hide in forests until enemy units get too close.
• Resistant to Heat
  This unit tires less quickly in the desert.

Strengths & Weaknesses

Transport

• Very poor hull strength
• Very slow speed
• Weak ramming

Illyrian Mounted Swordmasters

• Very good attack
• Average defence
• Low damage but average armour penetration
• Good morale

Ardiaei Units
General (5)
1.Illyrian Cavalry
2.Illyrian Hoplites
3.Illyrian Noble Hoplites
4.Illyrian Expert Swords
5.Illyrian Mounted Swordmasters
Melee Infantry (9)
6.Illyrian Levies
7.Illyrian Raiders
8.Illyro-Italian Infantry Cohort
9.Taulantian Noble Guard
10.Illyrian Infantry
11.Veteran Illyrian Infantry
12.Illyrian Levy Footmen
13.Grosphomachoi
14.Illyrian Expert Swords
Missile Infantry (4)
15.Slave Javelinmen
16.Slave Slingers
17.Illyro-Italian Bow Auxiliaries
18.Illyrian Archers
Spear Infantry (11)
19.Illyrian Hoplites
20.Illyrian Marines
21.Illyrian Noble Hoplites
22.Illyrian Spearmen
23.Illyrian Thureos Spears
24.Illyrian Tribesmen
25.Illyrian Spear Warband
26.Corcyran Free-Company Spearmen
27.Sibunetes
28.Molossian Shieldsworn
29.Illyrian Disciplined Spearmen
Melee Cavalry (4)
30.Illyrian Cavalry
31.Illyrian Light Cavalry
32.Illyrian Mounted Swordmasters
33.Illyrian Spear Riders
Missile Cavalry (1)
34.Dardanian Bondsman Cavalry
Fixed Artillery (1)
35.Greek Bastion Scorpion
Field Artillery (5)
36.Greek Bastion Ballista
37.Greek Ballista
38.Greek Scorpion
39.Greek Bastion Onager
40.Greek Onager
Special (1)
41.Molossian War Dogs
Admiral (2)
42.Scorpion Trieres - Slave Slingers
43.Assault Hexeres - Illyrian Thureos Spears
Melee Ship (7)
44.Assault Tetreres - Illyrian Marines
45.Assault Hexeres - Illyrian Marines
46.Assault Dieres - Illyrian Raiders
47.Assault Tetreres - Illyrian Spearmen
48.Assault Hexeres - Illyrian Thureos Spears
49.Fire Pot Dieres - Illyrian Tribesmen
50.Assault Dieres - Illyrian Tribesmen
Missile Ship (7)
51.Raiding Hemiolia - Slave Javelinmen
52.Pursuit Trihemiolia - Slave Javelinmen
53.Tower Penteres - Slave Slingers
54.Scorpion Penteres - Slave Slingers
55.Missile Penteres - Slave Slingers
56.Scorpion Trieres - Slave Slingers
57.Missile Trieres - Slave Slingers
Artillery Ship (2)
58.Light Artillery Penteres - Greek Ballista (Ship)
59.Artillery Penteres - Greek Onager (Ship)