Blemmyes Melee Infantry

Red Sea Light Infantry

These settlers living on the Red Sea coast are men bred to live and fight on the frontier.

The thureos, a large oval-shaped shield, became common throughout the Hellenistic world from the 3rd century BC. Made from wood covered in hide, it differed from the earlier Greek hoplon in having a central handgrip, which was protected by a vertical spine running the length of the shield. This in turn could be further reinforced by the addition of a wide metal strip that protected the grip and the user’s hand. Inspired by the sub-rectangular and oval shields of the Celts, possibly through contact with the migrating Galatians, its usage seems to have spread through the Illyrian and Thracian tribes before it was adopted by the Greeks. Although large, the thureos was light in comparison to the traditional hoplon, and was adopted by heavily-armoured peltasts. Named after their shields, 'thureophoroi' could fight as common peltasts, skirmishing with javelins, but could also form up with their larger shields and longer spears in a similar fashion to a phalanx. The versatile and useful design of the thureos meant it was used by many armies, including the auxiliaries and cavalry of the later Roman Legions.

Abilities

Red Sea Light Infantry

• Frenzy
  Improves a unit's charge and weapon damage for an extended period.
  Charge damage, Weapon damage
  Exertion: fatigue
• Headhunt
  Gradual increase in effectiveness of the unit's attack.
  Melee attack, morale
  Melee defence

Attributes

• Hide (forest)
  This unit can hide in forests until enemy units get too close.
• Resistant to Heat
  This unit tires less quickly in the desert.

Strengths & Weaknesses

Transport

• Very poor hull strength
• Very slow speed
• Weak ramming

Red Sea Light Infantry

• Good attack
• Average defence
• Average damage but low armour penetration
• Normal morale

Blemmyes Units
General (7)
1.Aethiopian Cavalry
2.Swordsmen
3.Garama's Noble Guard
4.Syrtis Chosen Spearmen
5.Thapsus Noble Cavalry
6.Kandake Royal Cavalry
7.Kandake Royal Guard
Melee Infantry (14)
8.Swordsmen
9.Nubian Axe Warriors
10.Desert Swordsmen
11.Desert Axemen
12.Leopard Swordsmen
13.Lion Warriors
14.Tribal Clubs
15.Mailed Swordsmen
16.Red Sea Light Infantry
17.Tribesmen of the Oasis of Augila
18.Meroitic Sword Infantry
19.Nubian Axe Marauders
20.Garama's Noble Guard
21.Axumite Noble Infantry
Missile Infantry (7)
22.Archers
23.Javelinmen
24.Tribal Slingers
25.Tribesmen
26.Blyemmes Bowmen
27.Meroitic Archers
28.Mauri Javelinmen
Pike Infantry (2)
29.Nubian Pikes
30.Meroitic Pikemen
Spear Infantry (10)
31.Levy Spearmen
32.Desert Spearmen
33.Kandake Royal Guard
34.Herdsmen
35.Red Sea Hoplites
36.Garamantian Desert Spearmen
37.Axumite Desert Spearmen
38.Iol Spearmen
39.Garamantian Heavy Spears
40.Syrtis Chosen Spearmen
Melee Cavalry (7)
41.Aethiopian Cavalry
42.Desert Camel Spearmen
43.Nubian Cavalry
44.Blyemmes Noble Horsemen
45.Kandake Royal Cavalry
46.Axumite Desert Cavalry
47.Thapsus Noble Cavalry
Missile Cavalry (1)
48.Desert Camel Archers
Shock Cavalry (1)
49.Nubian Heavy Lancers
Elephant (1)
50.African War Elephants
Fixed Artillery (3)
51.African Giant Ballista
52.African Bastion Scorpion
53.African Scorpion (Fixed)
Field Artillery (6)
54.African Bastion Ballista
55.African Ballista
56.African Scorpion
57.African Heavy Onager
58.African Bastion Onager
59.African Onager
Admiral (2)
60.Assault Hexeres - Swordsmen
61.Scorpion Trieres - Tribal Slingers
Melee Ship (3)
62.Assault Hexeres - Swordsmen
63.Fire Pot Dieres - Levy Spearmen
64.Assault Dieres - Levy Spearmen
Missile Ship (6)
65.Tower Penteres - Archers
66.Missile Penteres - Archers
67.Scorpion Trieres - Tribal Slingers
68.Missile Trieres - Tribal Slingers
69.Raiding Hemiolia - Libyan Javelinmen
70.Pursuit Trihemiolia - Libyan Javelinmen
Artillery Ship (2)
71.Artillery Penteres - African Ballista (Ship)
72.Artillery Penteres - African Onager (Ship)