Ledeborg Spear Infantry

Norman Spearmen

The Normans were one of the most successful and long-lived political and military cultures ever founded by the Vikings. Through military prowess and political manoeuvring in the ninth century, the Danish war leader Hrolf managed to secure a roughly autonomous region for his raiding army within the Frankish kingdom. Later going by the Frankish name Rollo, the Dane was given the status of Duke, a position carried down his bloodline that ruled Normandy and subsequently conquered Norman lands. Their legendary expansionist successes were the result of a unique military structure within their fiefdoms, organised around a new type of warrior elite – the feudal knights. Supported by infantry, heavily armoured mounted lords would form fearsome cavalry blocks of around thirty men charging knee-to-knee, a psychologically imposing sight that often caused battle lines to break at their mere advance.

Using their system of infantry-supported knights, the Normans were incredibly effective in battle. Armed with spears, they were arguably wielding the oldest purpose-built weapon in existence. Given its comparative cheapness and ease of construction, the spear was one of the most commonly used weapons among all classes of fighting men before and throughout medieval times. Its notable advantage was the longer reach it afforded its bearer, enabling effective engagement with a larger or mounted enemy who might otherwise be out of reach. The Viking tendency to emblazon spears with ostentatious decorative carvings indicates that some were primarily used for thrusting rather than throwing, reducing the possibility of losing what were obviously prized weapons.

Unit Name Norman Spearmen

Main Unit Key nor_spearmen

Land Unit Key nor_spearmen

Naval Unit Key vik_dreki

Soldiers 160

Category Melee Infantry

Class Spear Infantry

Custom Battle Cost 150

Recruitment Cost 150

Upkeep Cost 50

Melee Skill 25

Melee Damage 28

├ Melee Weapon vik_spear_levy

├ Melee Base Damage 20

├ Armour-piercing Damage 8

├ Armour Piercing No

├ Attack Against Cavalry 20

├ Attack Against Elephants 0

└ Attack Against Infantry 0

Charge Bonus 17

Melee Defence 55

├ Base Defence 25

├ Shield vik_medium

└ Shield 30

Armour 7

├ Armour vik_cloth_helmet

├ Armour Defence 7

└ Shield Armour 0

Health 100

├ Man Entity vik_inf_med

├ Man Health 100

└ Bonus Hit Points 0

Morale 28

Abilities

• Shield Castle
  "Heads down, lads, things are about to get a little hairy around here!"
  Units cannot move in this formation.

Attributes

• [[col:yellow]]Expert Charge Defence[[/col]]
  This unit’s melee attack and damage are increased against charging enemies.
• [[col:yellow]]Hide (forest)[[/col]]
  This unit can hide in forests until enemy units get too close.

Strengths & Weaknesses

No Strengths and Weaknesses

Garrison Buildings
x 2	Patrols (vik_garrison_1) Level 0
x 3	Long Hall (vik_great_hall_1) Level 0 Ship Camp (vik_longphort_1) Level 0 Trading Post (vik_market_1) Level 0 Monastic Community (vik_monastery_1) Level 0 Long Hall of the Mountain (vik_mountain_hall_1) Level 0 Offa's Hall (vik_offas_hall_1) Level 0 Rock of Caisil (vik_rock_caisil_1) Level 0 Church of St Ciaran (vik_st_ciaran_1) Level 0 Church of St Columbe (vik_st_columbe_1) Level 0 Church of St Patraic (vik_st_patraic_1) Level 0

Faction Availability
Thrones of Britannia	Normaunds