End of Antiquity Campaign: The First Crusade (612 - 710)

[Gäiten]

Excellent models and skins!

[Rampante-Cid]

Optimates







Battle Photos

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

The Optimates were an elite cavalry regiment formed by men from the best Germanic elements within the Foederati. Formed by the Emperor Maurice Tiberius they are one of the best cavalrymen available to the Roman Army and will only be recruited in Constantinople.

Credits:
Leif_Erikson for his Round Shields
Rusichi and Absinthia for Primary Materials

Excelent WORK! They are awesome!

+Rep

[Caudillo87]

Will we see any other units (infantry and cavalry) wear the type of helmet that this unit is wearing?

Yes, only officers will have them and other guard units.

[Heathen Storm]

Optimates







Battle Photos

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

The Optimates were an elite cavalry regiment formed by men from the best Germanic elements within the Foederati. Formed by the Emperor Maurice Tiberius they are one of the best cavalrymen available to the Roman Army and will only be recruited in Constantinople.

Credits:
Leif_Erikson for his Round Shields
Rusichi and Absinthia for Primary Materials

Wonderful work mate. However being a Germanic unit wouldn't it make more sense to have them recruitable in Italy, rather than Constantinople?

[Giorgios]

Wonderful work mate. However being a Germanic unit wouldn't it make more sense to have them recruitable in Italy, rather than Constantinople?

I'll quote you part of their unit description to answer that query!

"Historically, although some have suggested that this unit originated with Goths defeated and resettled in the Roman Empire by Stilicho centuries earlier, it is more likely that they were Ostrogothic elites who joined the Romans after the destruction of their kingdom. The Optimates unit was created by Tiberius Constantine to serve on the Persian front, much as Justinian had recruited defeated Vandals to fight in the East. They became a highly valued component of the praesental army. The Strategikon says that foreigners unskilled with the bow should fight with shield and lance, and as Goths the Optimates probably preferred the use of lances and swords.

The Optimates were predominantly Arians, but they were allowed the privilege of open practice of their religion, and they were allowed to have a church in Constantinople which John of Ephesus reports caused anger among the citizens of city. The Optimates were permanently billeted in Bithynia in the seventh century. They survived the upheavals of the Persian and Arab invasions, and were part of the elite field army of the Opsician theme. However, they were split off from the Opsikion theme by the Emperor Constantine V after that army supported his rival, Artabasdos. Thereafter, the Optimates had their own theme, the theme of the Optimatoi. But they no longer provided armed troops. Instead they formed a corps of 4,000 mule-drivers with their animals, which provided the baggage train (touldon) of the imperial tagmata in Constantinople."

[Caudillo87]

Exactly, the exarchs will be able to recruit something similar in their cities that will be the best cavalry unit in the west similar to the scholae palatina.

[Heathen Storm]

Ahhhh. that makes sense. Thanks guys

[_Tartaros_]

Instead they formed a corps of 4,000 mule-drivers with their animals, which provided the baggage train (touldon) of the imperial tagmata in Constantinople."

whow, where they punished or did they get fat over the years?

[mayotte]

Excelent WORK Caudillo !!

[romano britones]

Will the Plumbatarii appear as a separate unit?

[Øctavia Yávëtil Theron]

Really EPIC !