Viking Usurpers Melee Infantry

Jarl's Huskarls

For many, the word ‘Viking’ conjures up scenes of pillaging marauders from across the sea, rampaging around the coastlines of Britain in the last centuries leading up to the Norman conquest. However, the Vikings should not simply be thought of as mindless, bloodthirsty looters, and instead should be seen for what they really were – initially, sea-based raiders from Scandinavia who would avoid a fight if it meant a quick profit, and later on, migrants in search of newer pastures to settle in, from which they could subsist and even trade. Indeed, the earliest Viking forays into Britain were quick raids of lightly defended, but highly bountiful targets such as churches and monasteries, while in later years they concentrated their actions on conquering lands to establish themselves as permanent kings.

The Vikings were rightly known for their skill at war, utilising the traditional barbarian charge alongside carefully drilled shield wall tactics. Much like the Roman ‘comes’, in the Viking world there emerged a culture of heroic champions flanked by chosen companions. The ‘hirdman’ was the highest rank amongst such warriors, and in later times the rank carried with it a seat on the king’s council, enabling them to advise their rulers on non-military aspects of government. In Old Norse and Old English, the term translates to ‘household man’, originally referring to an armed retinue for a warlord but eventually morphing into ‘housecarl’ or ‘huscarl’, specifically referring to a royal guard. Following the ninth-century Danish settlement of England, huscarls also became an integral part of Anglo-Saxon armies, famously defeating their Norwegian counterparts at Stamford Bridge and protecting King Harold's body to the very last man at Hastings.

Unit Name Jarl's Huskarls

Main Unit Key vik_jarls_huskarls

Land Unit Key vik_jarls_huskarls

Naval Unit Key vik_dreki

Soldiers 160

Category Melee Infantry

Class Melee Infantry

Custom Battle Cost 1000

Recruitment Cost 1000

Upkeep Cost 300

Melee Skill 47

Melee Damage 65

├ Melee Weapon vik_dane_axe_elite

├ Melee Base Damage 25

├ Armour-piercing Damage 40

├ Armour Piercing No

├ Attack Against Cavalry 0

├ Attack Against Elephants 0

└ Attack Against Infantry 0

Charge Bonus 70

Melee Defence 47

├ Base Defence 47

├ Shield vik_none

└ Shield 0

Armour 27

├ Armour vik_mail_long

├ Armour Defence 27

└ Shield Armour 0

Health 100

├ Man Entity vik_inf_2h_heavy

├ Man Health 100

└ Bonus Hit Points 0

Morale 52

Abilities

• Wedge
  "Let's break their line!"

Attributes

• [[col:yellow]]Encourage[[/col]]
  This unit provides a morale bonus to nearby allies.
• [[col:yellow]]Hide (forest)[[/col]]
  This unit can hide in forests until enemy units get too close.
• [[col:yellow]]Raider[[/col]]
  This unit may set buildings on fire, cause more fire damage with torches and capture faster than other units.

Strengths & Weaknesses

No Strengths and Weaknesses

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

Faction Availability
Thrones of Britannia	Dene Dubgaill Finngaill Haeden Jorvik Nordmann Norse Viking Rebels Viking Usurpers Wicing