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Equites RomaRoma Melee Cavalry

Equites

(Camillan Cavalry)

The cavalry elite of Roman society are among its most effective defenders.

Recruited from the gentry and lower aristocratic classes of Roman society, the equites were the cavalrymen of the royal and early Republican Roman armies. To be a member of the equestrian class meant that a man was rich enough to keep a horse, and provide his own armour, shield and spear. There were usually some 300 equites in each Republican Legion, organised into ten turmae of thirty horsemen each under the command of three decuriones. One of these men would be the praefectus, or commander, of the squadron. Mostly drawn from the young sons of elite society, these were men keen to show their courage. Showing prowess on the battlefield was an important step towards gaining political office and prestige for their families. Mundane duties such as patrol or reconnaissance would be the work of the equites extraordinarii of the Socii, the Romans’ collected Italian allies. During the Samnite and Punic Wars, the equites’ ranks were opened to first class commoners. Although they received none of the equestrians' social and political powers, they eventually replaced the aristocracy in the ranks of the Roman cavalry, allowing the equestrians to become senior officers in the newer Marian Legions.

Equites

Unit Name

Equites

Main Unit Key

Rom_Equites

Land Unit Key

Rom_Equites

Naval Unit Key

pel_transport

Soldiers

100

Category

Cavalry

Class

Melee Cavalry

Custom Battle Cost

1696

Recruitment Cost

1696

Upkeep Cost

339

Melee Attack

27

Weapon Damage

9

├ Melee Weapon

cspear2

├ Weapon Damage

9

├ Weapon Deadliness

0

├ Armour Piercing

No

├ Bonus vs. Cavalry

1

├ Bonus vs. Elephants

1

└ Bonus vs Infantry

0

Charge Bonus

22

Melee Defence

41

├ Base Defence

15

├ Shield

cshield2

└ Shield Defence

26

Armour

18

├ Armour

carm9

├ Armour Defence

18

└ Shield Armour

0

Health

20

├ Man Entity

medium_medium

├ Man Health

20

├ Bonus Hit Points

0

├ Mount

rome_horse_spear_shield_m

├ Mount Entity

rome_horse_medium_spr

└ Mount Health

0

Base Morale

55

Abilities

Equites
  • Stamina (average)
    Governs how fast the unit tires and restores fatigue, and is dependent on type of unit, weight and approach to combat.
  • Flying Wedge
    The unit assumes a wedge formation that increases charge speed and bonus

Attributes

  • Fire Whilst Moving
    This unit can fire when mounted and moving.
  • Hide (forest)
    This unit can hide in forests until enemy units get too close.

Strengths & Weaknesses

Transport
  • Very poor hull strength
  • Very slow speed
  • Weak ramming
Equites
  • Average attack
  • Weak defence
  • Low damage but average armour penetration
  • Poor morale
Upgrade
Required Technology Roman Unit Upgrades Cost 398 Upgrade To Equites (Late)
Requires Buildings
Equites Lv. 0 Roma
Roma
(dei_main_city_ROME_1)
Level 0
Roma
Roma
(dei_main_city_ROME_2)
Level 1
Roma
Roma
(dei_main_city_ROME_3)
Level 2
Fortified Roma
Fortified Roma
(dei_main_city_ROME_3_fort)
Level 2
Commercial Roma
Commercial Roma
(dei_main_city_ROME_3_trade)
Level 2
Field of Mars
Field of Mars
(rom_ROMAN_military_main_1)
Level 0
Roman Barracks
Roman Barracks
(rom_ROMAN_military_main_heavy_2)
Level 1
Roman Barracks
Roman Barracks
(rom_ROMAN_military_main_heavy_2)
Level 1
Elite Roman Barracks
Elite Roman Barracks
(rom_ROMAN_military_main_heavy_3)
Level 2
Elite Roman Barracks
Elite Roman Barracks
(rom_ROMAN_military_main_heavy_3)
Level 2
Equites Lv. 1 Roma
Roma
(dei_main_city_ROME_4)
Level 3
Fortified Roma
Fortified Roma
(dei_main_city_ROME_4_fort)
Level 3
Commercial Roma
Commercial Roma
(dei_main_city_ROME_4_trade)
Level 3
Provincial Barracks
Provincial Barracks
(rom_ROMAN_military_main_heavy_4)
Level 3