[Preview] The Edetani

[Ritter-Floh]

The Edetani

Overview:
For most of the first millennium B.C., the Iberian peninsula was a mix of cultures and forms of settlements, from Celtic towns inland, to the cities of seafaring Greeks, Phoenecians and Carthaginians along the coast. There existed a distinct Iberian culture along the Mediterranean coast, often meshing with Celtic inhabitants of Iberia, but very little is known about the native Iberians, and the ancient Iberian language remains linguistically unclassified to this day.

What little we do know from historical sources describing the Iberian tribes, however, is that they were not a warlike people; they did hire out mercenaries to other peoples, but they rarely themselves went to war. Organized as a loose confederation of tribes and cities, they mostly minded their own business. Their economy subsisted of agriculture, metalworking and exporting metals. (Indeed, Iberia was a rich source of minerals for all its neighbors and occupiers, including silver, iron, lead, copper and zinc). As their religious practice, they worshiped a pantheon of gods at small home altars. Male Endovellikos and female Ataekina were their chief deities.

When under threat, however, Iberia did not lend itself easily to conquest. Not even the great Hannibal could accomplish the task, and it took the Romans 200 years. Part of this has to do with two distinct features of the way the Iberians waged war: One was the guerrilla war style of fighting they employed; in fact, the Iberians invented guerrilla warfare. The second was the strong fortifications they built, the oppidum (a fortified town) and the castro (a hill fort).

Edetania, the land of the Iberian tribe of the Edetani, comprised the district lying between the rivers Iberus (Ebro) and Sucro (Iucar), and bounded by the mountains of Celtiberia on the west. The territory includes the modern-day cities of Valencia and Zaragoza*. The Edetani's major city, and possible capital in certain times in history, was Edeta, which was continuously inhabited since the seventh century B.C. The modern-day city of Llíria lies on top of it nowadays.

Edetania, along with many other parts of Iberia, was conquered by the Romans by 19 B.C. and eventually became a Roman province. Mentions of the Edetani, however, continued up until the second century AD, indicating that they had maintained their tribal identity for centuries after foreign conquest.


This faction overhaul will be released with 1.2


Units
This faction overhaul adds 18 new units to the Edetani. Here are some pictures of the unique units:

Spear Infantry

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

(Iberian Levy Spearmen) These levies prefer to fight only when their lands are in danger, because they cannot afford to lose what little they have, however they are able to participate in regional plundering against their neighbours if they can obtain some additional wealth through distributing loot after the battle. A precarious life with a simple diet makes a man dangerous; he becomes as cruel as the necessity he calls life.


(Edetani Light Infantry) These men are hardened warriors and constitute the bulk of Edetani armies. They wear bronze helmets and round bronze breastplates above their short linen tunic. Their main weapons are the spear and the Soliferrum (a full-metal heavy javelin).


(Iberian Scutarii) These troops are well-equipped medium spearmen, armed with the dreaded all-metal soliferrum javelin, a spear as their main weapon, and a short straight sword. They protect themselves with leather armour and a bronze breastplate. With this equipment and their skills, they make extremely versatile and quick infantry.


(Iberian Armoured Scutarii) The armour of these skilled men is better than their mostly lower class counterparts, as they can afford scale armour and bronze greaves (or are sponsored by a noble). They carry ovular shields and the famous Gladius Hispaniensis, making them excellent anti-infantry soldiers.


(Iberian Nobles) These men form the highest social class among Iberians. They are wealthy and as such, well-equipped. Their main weapons is the lance and the falcata. They are courageous and skilled, but like any cavalry, they need to use their speed to escape the grasp of spear infantry.


(Iberian Tribesmen) In essence, these tribesmen are a transition between skirmishers and light infantry, for they are relatively more fierce than other peoples' support troops, and expected to be a part of some of the hand-to-hand fighting if given an opportunity. However, armed with a bundle of javelins, a spear, and protected only by a small shield, they should not be confused with real light infantry, and should not be expected to fight a protracted melee against a well-organised and prepared enemy.

Melee Infantry

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

(Edetani Guard) These men are of high birth, forming the faithful followers of Edetani chieftans and bound religiously by a promise of loyalty: they protect their lord in battle to the last man. They are skilled, hardy, and very competent in hand-to-hand combat, which makes them effective against the best troops the enemy has to offer.


(Iberian Heavy Infantry) The Dunaminica (Dun-a-min-eek-ah; "Fort Soldier") are the best regular footmen in Iberia. Their weapons and armour are those common to the Celtiberian elite. For weapons they have the famous Gladius Hispaniensis, which would become the standard Roman sword, complemented by javelins similar to the Roman light pilum. To protect themselves, they carry a scutum, a Celtic Montefortino helmet, Iberian bronze greaves, and an elaborate set of breastplates.


Iberian Light Infantry) Caetrati are a deceptive type of infantry. Able light troops, they can skirmish while softening their enemy before closing in for hand-to-hand combat. Four things contribute to this capability: their agility on the battlefield, their all-metal heavy javelins ("soliferrum"), the traditional Iberian ferocity, and their superb swordsmanship.


(Iberian Medium Infantry) The Iberians are famous the world over for their extremely versatile and excellent quality light infantry. Loricati Caetrati are no exception. They have as protection a breastplate and leather armour supplementing their "bascinet" type bronze helm. Fighting with the traditional soliferrum + falcata + caetra set, and more motivated and resilient than greener troops, they are dangerous foes able to strike vulnerable spots in the enemy lines.

Missile Infantry

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

(Iberian Slingers) Armed only with their sling and a knife, these slingers are largely unprotected aside from their small wicker buckler. This makes them extremely vulnerable to any troops that can catch them in a melee, and even light cavalry is likely to just run through them without breaking a sweat.


(Iberian Javelineers) The Gaesamica (Guy-sah-mek-ah; "Javelineers") constitute the majority of Iberian warriors who fight as light spearmen. They’re fast, proficient at flanking manoeuvres and harassing the enemy line before joining the melee.

Cavalry

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

(Iberian Armoured Cavalry) These all-purpose heavy cavalrymen have a staying power on the battlefield that is simply unmatched by all but the most elite cavalry forces. They wear good quality mail armour and carry Iberian-style shields. Combined with their use of a cavalry spear and falcata, this makes them ideal cavalry for both the charge and fierce melee. These are probably the most versatile heavy cavalry in the world, and their status in the Carthaginian army proves it.


(Iberian Melee Cavalry) Riding their agile, resilient Iberian horses, these skilled medium cavalrymen are able to perform the role of shock against light troops. They wear bronze helmets and chest plates along with leather armour, which gives them staying power in a melee contest. They carry the normal falcata and caetra combination of the Iberian tribes, which allows them to hold their own in melee, although they are more adept at spearing down fleeing enemies.


(Iberian Medium Cavalry) The men of Sparta will tell you that the simplest meal may breed the strongest of men. The men of Iberia are indeed such men. With silvery steel-tipped spears couched beneath their arms, and gripping the small round caetra shields from whence they take their name, these cavalrymen are renowned beyond their lands for the skills they bring to the battlefield.


(Edetani Noble Cavalry) The Iberians have a great deal of respect for horses, even worshipping them as divine creatures. In times of war, the horse previously played a minor role, but has gradually progressed from a symbol of prestige, and noble warrior’s ride to the battlefield, to becoming a major presence in the battle itself.


(Iberian Heavy Cavalry) Although a common sight in the armies of foreign powers, these horsemen are all the more determined to defend their homelands from foreign domination, combining endurance, loyalty, and discipline, to form a corps of warriors which any army would eagerly have guard its flanks.


(Edetani Light Cavalry) These skilled horsemen are extremely agile, which almost makes up for their lack of real protection. Since they wear only a rough tunic and cloak, their caetra shield is their sole defence. As for weapons, they carry a multitude of javelins and a falcata sword as their side-arm.

Sources and credits:
Men at Arms Series, 180
Celtic Gods of the Iberian Peninsula
An Universal History from the Earliest Account of Time. 22. VI. Chapter XII, Section I: The History of the Celtes. T. Osborne, A. Millar, and J. Osborn.
From the archaic states to romanization: a historical and evolutionary perspective on the Iberians - ​Joan Sanmartí
some unit names and parts of their descriptions from Europa Barbarorum
Miri82 for some great models and textures - check his amazing iberian units mod

[Tenerife_Boy]

Great preview!

[ablebodie]

This is awesome, I continue to be impressed by the DeI team. Love the light infantry specialization. You may want to have a look at the description for noble spear infantry, it's referring to them as cavalry.

[charlieh]

You guys have busy for this 1.2. Looking great.

[suras333]

Great units! Thanks

[KAM 2150]

You guys have busy for this 1.2. Looking great.

What at first was supposed to be solid, but nothing more then just an update, changed into probably the biggest update we will ever have And still some stuff are in the making!

[philler]

What at first was supposed to be solid, but nothing more then just an update, changed into probably the biggest update we will ever have And still some stuff are in the making!

I just hope, that you guys will be fast enough to release this great update before Christmas right now I have brand new PC filled with i7 4790 waiting for those huge battles

[KAM 2150]

I use the same i7 so it should be just fine We also hope to release it this year but we also want to make it as good as possible so it will be finished when we will think it is the right one We put soo much heart and effort into it that we simply do not want to rush it or try to meet certain date.

Although you are not alone, probably all of us dream of the day that we will be able to say "It is this day? Is it finally ready? Yes, it is! Let's finally play the damn mod!" xD Playing a campaign would be a nice change compared to "Repeat battle X around Y amount of times so you can see that +2 change did exactly nothing"

[Daergar]

Fantastic work, blown away by every preview.

[The Tribunal]

I use the same i7 so it should be just fine We also hope to release it this year but we also want to make it as good as possible so it will be finished when we will think it is the right one We put soo much heart and effort into it that we simply do not want to rush it or try to meet certain date.

Although you are not alone, probably all of us dream of the day that we will be able to say "It is this day? Is it finally ready? Yes, it is! Let's finally play the damn mod!" xD Playing a campaign would be a nice change compared to "Repeat battle X around Y amount of times so you can see that +2 change did exactly nothing"

You're excitement is infectious. Can't wait to play it. Good luck to you and the crew the rest of the way.

[Vardano]

Really good roster and very good job to create them! Thanks! Will Editani have access to any kind of archers?

[Jay the Byzantine]

Excellent work! Can't give more rep to Ritter though

[philler]

I use the same i7 so it should be just fine We also hope to release it this year but we also want to make it as good as possible so it will be finished when we will think it is the right one We put soo much heart and effort into it that we simply do not want to rush it or try to meet certain date.

Although you are not alone, probably all of us dream of the day that we will be able to say "It is this day? Is it finally ready? Yes, it is! Let's finally play the damn mod!" xD Playing a campaign would be a nice change compared to "Repeat battle X around Y amount of times so you can see that +2 change did exactly nothing"

Yeah, in fact, you are the reason why I bought i7 4790 anyway, since I saw your rig somewhere in the forum with sentence, that you play big battles on max setting without a single lag Although I have non-K version, I hope it will be satisfactory To the mod itself, you guys are my heros..I cannot really imagine what it is like to play those battles just to figure out, that this or that does not act as it should..Nevertheless, I can assure you, that your common effort is very appreciated, this game-mod will be played for years to come! So take your time, Christmas date is just my dream, but I would wait another year if that was needed

[Falco]

Very nice!! The Iberians have always been my favorite barbarians!