Introduction.
The Celts were a people of the iron age who spoke Celtic languages and shared a common culture. During 200BC, the Celts inhabited a large area of Europe, from the British Isles, France, parts of Germany, Central Europe, and even right down into Anatolia. In a sense they were Europes largest ethnic group. They were a proud people with a strong warrior culture, classically based on courage, bravery and single combat duels, though later they would become militarized through all ranks of society, thanks to increasingly large scale warfare, and contact with foreign civilized nations. The Galatians were a splinter group of Celts who migrated and invaded through the Balkans, famously sacking the Oracle at Delphi, before finally settling in central Anatolia and becoming quite Hellenised.
Units
The Galatians use the same roster as the main Celtic troops, however they use some different equipment and have a generally unique appearance.
Bonded Spearmen.
The basic troop provided by the Unfree classes would be simple spearmen, little to no armour, spears and celtic shields, they can't afford nor deserve swords. They are unfree, they are bonded to their masters and must fight for them.
Galatian Version
Slingers
The sling was a very popular weapon especially for defense of settlements, and would have dominated long range warfare in Celtic society. Even so its a weapon which would have largely been left to the unfree, not worthy or honourably in a nobles eyes.
Galatian Version
Archers.
Archery was fairly common among the Celts, mostly used for hunting but also in warfare by the lower classes. As Celtic society became more organised in the 1st century BC, a militia of archers eventually forms to provide reliable defense.
Galatian Version
Dog Handlers.
Historical evidence exists for the use of Molossus dogs in warfare among the Celts. It would be the free class who would train, sell and use these dogs. Such dogs were very powerful, more than capable of taking down a man.
Galatian Version
Free Warband
A Free warband is essentially the Freemen version of the traditional Celtic warband, these young men have given up their mundane lives to strike it out as a band of warriors, giving their service to whoever will pay, though this life is not as glorified as being a noble swordsman, they are still a valuable asset on the battlefield. They are fairly well equipped with helmets and basic leather armours.
Galatian Version
Levy Freeman
Freemen are the common Celtic folk, the middle class of the Celtic world. They're not nobles but nor are they serfs. They have trades such as blacksmithing or leatherworking. Some of them choose the warrior life, but most do not. Nonetheless they will train with their tribe and are ready to be called up if a war occurs. Being men of trade, they have some money and can afford a helmet or some armour.
Galatian Version
Spear Wall
Late Celts started to become very organised, probably influenced by the Greeks and Romans. This led to the adoption of new, almost phalanx like tactics amongst Celtic spearmen. Ancient sources describe how the Celts would form up tightly, with their shields locked, using long spears.
Galatian Version
Free Horse
Owning a horse was for Celts usually the domain of the nobles, though in the late Celtic period some freemen gained enough wealth to own their own horses. These men are not as well equiped or trained as the nobility, but they still make for excellent medium cavalry.
Galatian Version
Skirmishers
Freemen who aren't quite cut out for full blown contact, perhaps the younger men, or even old men, prefer to fight on the fringes of combat, hurling javelins into the fray. Lightly armed, they're not cut out for combat.
Galatian Version
Noble Warband, Early and Late.
The warband was the primary and most famous fighting force of the Celts. These men are the typical Celtic warriors, made up of young and old nobles with good equipment, each one accompanied by a select group of personal oathsworn bodyguards, who would have varying levels of equipment depending on their nobles wealth. They are warrior aristocrats, they live to fight and all dream of becoming great and famous warriors. The late version adopts more armour as it becomes more common in the later period.
Galatian Version
Celtic Light Horse
The Celts were somewhat famous for their cavalry, being fairly skilled riders. You would need to be a wealthy man to own a horse, but most Celtic cavalry men would ride light, with little to no armour, throwing javelins before charging.
Galatian Version
Celtic Noble Horse
Cavalry among the Celts seems to have gradually gotten heavier over time. The riders would wear their armour while mounted and use stronger horses. Celtic Cavalry was widely employed as a mercenary force by many ancient nations. This unit combines the warrior spirit of the Celtic noble with a spear and a strong horse behind it.
Galatian Version
Naked Fanatics
Many sources note that some Celts would fight totally naked It's not quite known why they would do this, it seems to be a mixture of things, such as a show of bravery, an attempt to intimidate the enemy, or a trust in the gods rather than armour. Whatever the reasons these men are as brave as they come, and fanatical in battle.
Galatian Version
Celtic Youths
This unit is comprised of the sons and young adults of the noble class. They are eager for battle but too inexperienced to join the main melee, so it was common for them to get initial experience in battle acting as skirmisher troops, getting to see battle up close, but not close enough to die before their prime, in theory of course.
Galatian Version
Chieftain
The leader of a Celtic clan or tribe would be a wealthy nobleman, surrounded by the wealthiest and most famous nobles of his particular group, this would be a formidable force in battle, the very best of the Celtic warriors in equipment and valour. These units will be your generals.
Galatian Version
Credits
We would like to thank the Divide et Impera team for many of the unit components seen above. Access to their massive unit resources sped up the creation process of these units a great deal and proved to be invaluable. Their fantastic work paved the way for us.
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