Sacred Band
The best and bravest of Carthage trained to fight as hoplites.The Sacred Band were a phalanx of veteran spearmen, raised in Carthage, and trained and armoured in Greek hoplite fashion. They were unique in that they were drawn from the populace of the city itself, rather than being allies, levied subject peoples or mercenaries; these were the groups that normally made up Carthaginian armies. Chosen from the nobility and wealthy citizens, they were well trained and disciplined. Thanks to their social status they could afford the full panoply of hoplite armour: a bronze cuirass, greaves and helm, and a hoplon shield. In the case of the Sacred Band these were predominately white in colour. Armed with hoplite spears, tipped with an iron head and bronze butt-spike for balance, members of the Sacred Band also carried straight swords. Renowned for their valour, even in defeat, the Sacred Band was expected to fight to the last, and did so at the Battle of the Crimissus in 340BC. Their numbers never recovered and in time the pressure of Carthage’s wars with Rome meant that the Sacred Band was superseded by mercenary armies, paid for by Carthage's trading wealth. These armies still had small numbers of Carthaginian citizens and Liby-Phoenicians, but the Sacred Band of old was no more.
Unit Name Sacred Band |
Main Unit Key Car_Sacred_Band |
Land Unit Key Car_Sacred_Band |
Naval Unit Key greek_transport |
Soldiers 160 |
Category Melee Infantry |
Class Spear Infantry |
Custom Battle Cost 860 |
Recruitment Cost 940 |
Upkeep Cost 100 |
Melee Attack 32 |
32 |
├ Melee Weapon rome_spear_elite |
├ Melee Damage Base 21 |
├ Melee Damage Ap 11 |
├ Armour Piercing No |
├ Bonus vs. Large 17 |
├ Bonus vs Elephants 19 |
└ Bonus vs Infantry 0 |
Charge Bonus 28 |
83 |
├ Base Defence 57 |
├ Shield hoplite |
└ Shield Defence 26 |
117 |
├ Armour bronze |
├ Armour Defence 74 |
└ Shield Armour 43 |
80 |
├ Man Entity rome_infantry_hoplite |
├ Man Health 60 |
└ Bonus Hit Points 20 |
Base Morale 65 |
Abilities
Sacred Band- Hoplite Wall
The unit moves into close wall formation.
Bracing, melee defence, shield strength
Acceleration, speed - Square
The unit moves into a close square formation.
Bracing, morale, melee defence
Can't move - Rapid Advance
Improved unit movement speed over an extended period.
Speed, acceleration, charge speed
Exertion: fatigue
Attributes
- Expert Charge Defence
This unit’s melee attack and damage are increased against charging enemies. - Disciplined
This unit does not suffer a morale penalty when the general dies. It can also rally after routing more often. - 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 Heat
This unit tires less quickly in the desert.
Strengths & Weaknesses
Transport- Very poor hull strength
- Very slow speed
- Weak ramming
- Very good defensive unit
- Low damage but average armour penetration
- Average attack
- Good morale
Faction Availability | |
---|---|
Grand Campaign | |
Hannibal at the Gates | |
Imperator Augustus |