Bituriges (Rise of the Republic) Melee Ship

Medium Assault Raider - Noble Gallic Swordsmen

Able to withstand rough seas, these ships' crews can capture enemy vessels in any weather.

Those "of the blood" must purchase their nobility with enemy lives.

Most of the northern European tribes were not naval powers, but there were still able seafarers to be found amongst them. Shipbuilding techniques were well understood, so while many vessels were small leather-skinned boats for inland and inshore use, bigger sea-going vessels were also made. Shipwrights used heavy planking for hulls, stitched together and then fastened to a wooden skeleton to create sturdy craft able to cope with Atlantic conditions. Julius Caesar was surprised at the quality of the enemy ships when his fleet clashed with the Veneti from modern-day Brittany. The Veneti vessels had flat bottoms to cope with shallows, but were also of heavy oak construction to cope with rough seas. This made them tough opposition for Roman galleys, and capable of shrugging off a ramming attack. Caesar said that the enemy ships "...were constructed of planks a foot in breadth, fastened by iron spikes the thickness of a man's thumb; the anchors were secured fast by iron chains instead of cables”. When the Romans were forced to board, they faced fearsome warriors used to close-quarters fighting at sea.

(Noble Gallic Swordsmen)
Following the route set by Bellovesus and the Insubres, multiple Gallic tribes gradually invaded northern Italy, looking for fertile lands to settle. The last of these were the Senones, who occupied the territory between the Utis and Aesis rivers. In 391BC, the Senones' chief Brennus besieged Clusium, an Etruscan city, which looked to Rome for help against the barbarian threat. The Roman Republic sent three ambassadors, but they conducted a far from peaceful negotiation, instead killing a Gallic chieftain and causing war to break out between the Senones and the Romans. Rome's Senate paid little heed to the looming threat, failing to even elect a dictator. According to Livy, the Gauls marched on Rome so quickly that the Roman army was caught by surprise and were not even able to set up camp or build defences. Brennus led his warriors to attack a nearby hill, where the Romans kept their reserves. Seeing the slaughter unfolding there, the Roman army panicked and broke, with most of the men fleeing to Veii. The Senones themselves were shocked by how easy and crushing their victory was, an event regarded by Plutarch as "a disorderly and shameful battle".

Abilities

Medium Assault Raider

• Row Hard 10
  Increases speed for 10 strokes.
  Ship speed

Noble Gallic Swordsmen

• 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

Attributes

• Encourage
  This unit provides a morale bonus to nearby allies.
• Hide (forest)
  This unit can hide in forests until enemy units get too close.
• Resistant to Cold
  This unit tires less quickly in snow.

Strengths & Weaknesses

Medium Assault Raider

• Good hull strength
• Medium crew
• Fast speed
• Weak ramming
• Good boarding

Noble Gallic Swordsmen

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

Bituriges (Rise of the Republic) Units
General (2)
1.Noble Horsemen
2.Noble Gallic Swordsmen
Melee Infantry (19)
3.Native Aequi Swordsmen
4.Native Bruttii Tribesmen
5.Native Carthaginian Infantry
6.Native Italian Hillmen
7.Native Italian Swordsmen
8.Native Latin Tribesmen
9.Native Ligurian Axe Warriors
10.Native Ligurian Swordsmen
11.Native Lucanian Warriors
12.Native Sabine Warriors
13.Native Samnite Infantryman
14.Native Sardi Hillmen
15.Native Sicilian Tribesmen
16.Native Tribeless Warriors
17.Native Umbrian Hillmen
18.Gallic Axemen
19.Noble Gallic Swordsmen
20.Tribeless Warriors
21.Young Swords
Missile Infantry (12)
22.Native Iapygian Archers
23.Native Iapygian Javelinmen
24.Native Bruttii Slingers
25.Native Greek Archers
26.Native Italian Skirmishers
27.Native Italian Slingers
28.Native Lucanian Ambushers
29.Native Sabine Skirmishers
30.Native Sardi Bowmen
31.Gallic Hunters
32.Gallic Skirmishers
33.Tribeless Slingers
Spear Infantry (7)
34.Native Carthaginian Spearmen
35.Native Etruscan Spearmen
36.Native Greek Militia
37.Native Latin Spearmen
38.Native Umbrian Spearmen
39.Gallic Spearmen
40.Tribeless Spearmen
Melee Cavalry (6)
41.Native Aequi Horsemen
42.Native Campanian Cavalry
43.Native Ligurian Horsemen
44.Gallic Axe Cavalry
45.Gallic Horsemen
46.Noble Horsemen
Missile Cavalry (3)
47.African Cavalry
48.Native Veneti Raiders
49.Gallic Horse Skirmishers
Elephant (1)
50.African Elephants
Admiral (1)
51.Medium Assault Raider - Noble Gallic Swordsmen
Melee Ship (8)
52.Assault Tetreres - Carthaginian Hoplites
53.Assault Hexeres - Sacred Band
54.Assault Dieres - Carthaginian Infantry
55.Assault Dieres - Carthaginian Hoplites
56.Assault Dieres - Sword Militia
57.Medium Assault Raider - Noble Gallic Swordsmen
58.Assault Raider - Gallic Axemen
59.Assault Raider - Tribeless Warriors
Missile Ship (2)
60.Pursuit Trihemiolia - Carthaginian Javelinmen
61.Missile Raider - Gallic Hunters