Circenn Spear Infantry

Schiltron

A schiltron was a defensive pike formation used to great effect by Scottish foot soldiers against heavy cavalry in several encounters throughout medieval history. It is thought that the term itself dates back to the tenth century from the Old English word ‘scildtruma’ meaning a type of mobile phalanx or testudo. It was very similar in nature to both, consisting of long, heavy spears held at increasing angles by several rows of men, protected by wooden spikes embedded in the ground at the front of the line. With well-drilled movements, the schiltron was a fairly mobile entity that could quickly deploy in a splayed array which only the foolhardiest of horsemen would dare charge – indeed, most horses would downright refuse to go near it.

Schiltron tactics were likely used for centuries from early medieval times, but a refinement of strategies led to historians deeming it notable enough to be mentioned as having been used in the Battle of Falkirk against the English at the end of the thirteenth century, albeit unsuccessfully. More notably, when the Scots faced the English once again a few years later in the Battle of Bannockburn, the vastly greater numbers of the English bolstered with heavy cavalry were gloriously defeated at the ends of Scottish pikes. Although early versions of the pikes used in schiltrons may have simply been long cylinders of wood carved into a point, later versions were much more sturdy, with pointed iron crossheads pinned onto a shaft of hardwood, cut in lengths of up to fifteen feet.

Unit Name Schiltron

Main Unit Key sco_schiltron

Land Unit Key sco_schiltron

Naval Unit Key vik_draga

Soldiers 160

Category Melee Infantry

Class Spear Infantry

Custom Battle Cost 200

Recruitment Cost 200

Upkeep Cost 60

Melee Skill 26

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 18

Melee Defence 56

├ Base Defence 26

├ Shield vik_medium

└ Shield 30

Armour 12

├ Armour vik_leather

├ Armour Defence 12

└ Shield Armour 0

Health 100

├ Man Entity vik_inf_heavy

├ Man Health 100

└ Bonus Hit Points 0

Morale 30

Abilities

• Square
  "Together lads, we'll stop them on all sides!"
  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

Recuitment Requirement
Required Technology Cost 150 Upgrade From
Required Technology Cost 150 Upgrade From

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	Airer Goidel Athfochla Circenn Fortriu Scottish Rebels Circenn Usurpers Scottish Usurpers