17th Century mod for Empire Total War including new models, textures, rulers and historical events.
Armoured Sword and Buckler Men
(view original)
Post a comment
Description
Melee infantry armed with a broadsword and a round shield. Uncommon by 1600 apart from the colonies where still quite important. In the 17th century when used in the European theatre, they tended to be mixed in with pike formations rather than in mass formations themselves. They were revived to an unknown extent in the Thirty Years War under the influence of Ancient Roman military doctrine, including in Maurice of Nassau's guard. They retained a role in Imperial military tactics well into the 1630s.
Because this unit was uncommon outside the colonies, only colonial factions will be able to recruit them in large numbers. They were obviously more effective against arrows than firearms. The majority of Hernan Cortes' forces in Mexico had been SAB men known as Rodeleiros in Spain). They were largely dropped in Spain after 1520, prior to which the Spanish had fielded them in great numbers.
Having said that this unit is a great favourite of mine.
I feel silly to correct this six years later but in spain we call them Rodeleros, cause the small shield was called rodela. Thanks for how well Spain looks in this mod, I`m cuban but my grandfather was spaniard and i have very special feelings for that nation.