Faction - Byzantine Empire

[Tzar]

Basileia ton Rhomaion

*Βασιλεία Ῥωμαίων*

* * * * * * * * * * * UNITS * * * * * * * * * * *

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[Tzar]

to be edited...

[Tzar]

originaly posted by The_Bulgar_Slayer

Byzantine Unit List


Infantry:

City Guard - Vigla: These are the poor peasant conscripts recruited to fill out the garrisons of the last few Byzantine cities. Equipped with padded armour(other than a helmet of couse), a long spear, and long triangle shaped shield, these men have relatively low morale and are best used for the defense.**(M)

Greek Skirmishers - Acontistai :From among the poorest in society, these light infantrymen are equipped with a sword and several javelins but little armour except for a small circle shield. Their javelins make them useful against cavalry, but they are very vulnerable in melee combat with almost anyone.**(P,M)

Anti-Cavalry Infantry - Choritai :Literally "countrymen", these are the poor of the poor, who under the Palaeologoi, became semi-professional soldiers capable of defeating even the Turks. Armed with javelins, a long spear, and large oval shield but only padded armour, they are essentially anti-cavalry troops that should be used for the defense.**(M)

Marines - Tzakones: These Marines form an important part of the late Byzantine military as there has been constant fighting for the islands of the Aegean and the Morea. Hailing from the Pelopponesos, they also were used as a palace guard at times. They are equiped with a mace, saber and circlular shield along with light mail armour and a distinctive bule over tunic with a white lion chestplate. Aggressive in nature these light troops make up for their lack in armour and range with skill and training.**(M)

Slavic Infantry - Skythikoi Etairia: These mercenaries coming predominately from the Serbs and the Bulgars are now necessary if Byzantium is to keep control of what lands she has left. Armed with a spear, sword, and circle shield and protected with mail armour, they're still fairly quick and good at attacking. Though pretty good at defense and with a fairly expensive upkeep(do to their thirst for plunder), they are still cheap to buy and a nice asset to have.

Byzantine Spearmen - Kontaratoi : These are the trained Greek soldiers. They are basically all that is left of the once great Byzantine professional army. Covered with chain mail and scale armour and armed with a spear and long triangle shield, these medium infantry can form a solid backbone of the army in the cities and in the field. Their armament makes them especially suited for defense.

Latin Mercenary Infantry - Latinikoi Pezoi Etairia : Mostly from the Italian states of Venice and Genoa but also including some Germans and even Poles, these mercenaries are now an integral part of the Byzantine army. While not as heavily clad as the rich nobility, these citizen and lower nobility mercenaries are still decked out in chain mail, a long sword, and small western style triangle shield. Due to their training and nature they are ideally suited for the offense, but may not stick around if things start to go bad.**(H)

Emperor's Foot Guard - Paramonai : The decendents of the Varangian guard(disbanded in 1204), these are the few elite infantry left in the Byzantine army. Still composed primarily of mercenaries(mostly Anglo-Saxons left over from the old guard), though now with a strong Greek backbone as well, they are well armoured with heavy chain mail and equipped with a variety of weapons including axes, maces and swords as well as a western triangle shield and bow for a secondary weapon. Excellent morale and fierce discipline makes these professionals willing to die with their emperor on the walls of Constantinople if necessary(foreshadowing).


Latin Arquebusier Mercenaries - Latinikoi Arquebusier Etairia: Though historically the Empire fell before firearms became dominant, by looking at the Byzantine use of artillery and the Turkish use of firearms after 1453, it seems clear the Greeks would have tried to get ahold of some guns or brought in some mercenaries who knew how to use them had they had the chance.**(M)

Missile:

Levy Archers - Toxotai: Taken from the poor citizens of the Greek cities, these are all that is left of the old formidible Byzantine archers. They have padded armour, no shield, a short sword, and of course a bow, and although effective at long range, they should not be expected to last long in melee combat.**(M)

Balkan Bowmen - Skythikoi Toxotai : Made up of men from Byzantium's northern neighbors, primarily Bulgarians, Magyars, Serbs, and Vlachs; these mercenaries have light mail armour and a small shield, as well as a short sword and bow. Though they are no more effective than their Greek counterparts at range, they do have the ability to stand up for some time in melee combat if necessary.**(M)

Turkish Archers - Tourkoi Toxotai : Desperate times call for desperate measures, and with the current situation these are certainly deperate times. Desperate enough for the Byzantines to bring in large numbers of Turkish muslim archers into their army to supplement the dwindling supply of native ones. Though equipped with only a saber and padded armour with no shield, these old Byzantine adversaries do provide them with excellent archery skill at a distance, but still due to their mercenary status and lack of protection, they cannot be expected to fight for long in melee.**(M)

Latin-Greek Crossbowmen - Gasmouloi: These are the sons of Latin fathers and Greek mothers left over from the Latin Empire. They are quipped in a mixed Eastern/Western way and armed with the Western crossbow. Well trained, they can be deadly at a distance. Though initially only naval troops, they are now needed to fill a role in a army. In this role they could be a vital part of the Byzantine army.

Byzantine Guard Crossbowmen - Tzangratai : Though the soldiers themselves are predominately Greek, the weapons have been adopted from the West. They are essentially the old Mourtatoi archers that have been rearmed. Protected with scale and chain mail armour, and a short sword, these men have adopted the western crossbow and are now the elite of the Byzantine archer corps, serving as the imperial gaurds in the 15th century. Though not as skilled as the Turks at long range, the weapon and armour allow them to be both deadly at a distance and quite effective in melee for a time.**(M)


Cavalry :

Turkopole Horsearchers - Tourkopouloi Hippotoxotai : These mercenaries are hired by the Empire to fill a pressing need no longer available from internal sources. Coming from a variety of peoples including Cumans, Alans, Tartars, and especially Turks, these skilled bowmen provide a light cavalry element to an otherwise heavy lot. Wearing little to no armour, they are armed with a recurve bow, small shield, and saber. While excellent at long range, they will not last long in melee against heavier opponents.**(P,M)

Guard Horsearchers - Vardariotai: Formed inititally from Magyar settlers in the Vardar valley and now joined by Byzantium's most reliable mercenaries the Cumans, these are the elite of the Empire's horsearchers. With thousands of Magyars settled in the Vardar and some 2000 Cumans settled in Anatolia to guard aganst the Turks, Byzantium has ample manpower for this elite unit. Always with the Emperor when he goes to battle and armed with a recurve bow, saber, and little armour, they are more reliable and deadly than Byzantium's Turkish Horseachers and can be quite a force on the battlefield.**(M)

Pronoiarioi Light Cavalry - Oikonomia: Lower in value than common pronoia. These soldier-farmers provided the light cavalry, and along with "collective" pronoiai were the principal means of maintaining native provincial troops, including some, or perhaps most garrisons. Armed with a spear, several javelins, a small circular shield, and scale armour they should be used more for harrassing and pursuing than actual combat.**(M).

Pronoiarioi Medium Cavalry - Stratiotai: The mainstay of the Pronoiarioi system, these are the most common Byzantine cavalry. Mostly native Greek they aren't equipped as heavily as they were in the past. Armed with a spear, mace, chain mail and scale armour, and long triangular shield they are a swift effective force against most medium cavalry.

Western-style Lancers - Kavallarioi : After the fall of the Latin Empire, Western Knights were no longer available to the Greeks. But their decendants were, and they were incorporated into the Pronoiarioi sytem. Through use of Western resources and ideas, they are equiped in a half-Western style with large Western horses, mail armour, Western triangle shield, thick lance, and long sword. While not quite as fast as most eastern cavalry, they have a powerful charge and are equally effective in melee combat, though still no match for a Western Knight.

Magnates - Dynatoi: - The heavy well equipped cavalry of the pronoiarioi, their holdings were hereditary. Equipped with mail armour, a heavy spear, mace, and long triangle shield, they are a strong force on the battlefield. Though not as heavily armoured as the heavily plated Western knights, they are a match for almost any cavalry in the East.**(H)

Latin Mercenary Cavalry - Latinikoi Hippeis Etairia : Coming predominately from France and Germany, these nobles are considered the elite soldiers of their day. Heavily clad in new plate armour and armed with a lance, shield, and long sword, they are both effective in offense and defense. However, being mercenaries, they are not prone to stick around when the going gets tough.

Emperor's Personal Guard - Oikeioi : The last remnants of the cavalry the Romans copied from the Persians well over 1000 years ago, they are essentially Byzantine nobles, often related by kin, who follow their leader to the death. These very heavy cavalry are equipped similiar to the Cataphracts of old. Though armed with a Western style lance and new Western plate armour, they retain the classic mace and heavy plate armour for their horses as well. Though slow and expensive, As the emperor's personal gaurd they are not to be messed with on the battlefield.
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**Upgrades(P=Padded, S=Scale, M=Mail, H=Heavy Plate)

[The_Bulgar_Slayer]

Here is an idea we are considering for the Byzantines to give them relatively cheap access to some decent units but with some clear detriments to their use. It will be a Turkish Mercenary Recruitment Building which, when built, will give Byzantium access to all these units along with the bad things. Tell me what you guys think.

Benefits:
1. Allow the Byzantines to fairly cheaply recruit Turkish mercenary units,
i.e. Tourkopouloi Hippotoxotai, Toukopouloi Kontaratoi, and Toukoi Toxotai.

Detriments(these are only ideas I don't think all are necessary, they don't have to be final):
1. increase in unrest(due to dislike of the Turks)
2. +5% conversion to Islam(due to Turkish families arriving as well)
3. +5% penalty on recruitment costs of other units(due to Turkish dominance of armies)
4. -5% tax penalty(due to plundering and stealing by the Turks)

[The_Bulgar_Slayer]

Here is a mercenary list available for Byzantium. NOT FINAL

Genoese Crossbowmen: Genoa's effect on Byzantium was huge, and with their colony of Galata so close to Constantinople, Genoese units would be readily available for hire by the Empire.

Germen Pikemen: The pike ironically was a weapon the Greeks lacked at this time, but it could be gotten from the West in places like Flanders, Germany, and Switzerland. These lightly armed pikemen could come in handy against Turkish cavalry.

Italian Halbrediers: Another predominately western weapon introduced to Byzantium by French and Savoyard soldiers in the second half of the 14th century, this is a good heavy unit to fight off cavalry(as well as infantry).

Catalan Almogavars: Although the Catalans devestated the Empire not long ago, their skill as fighters did not go unnoticed, nor had their close proximity in Athens and Sicily. Wearing no armour and equipped in the classic Roman style with two javelins and a short stabbing sword, they could prove very useful to the Greeks.

Albanian Irregulars: As guerrilla warriors they stand alone. These lightly armed javelineers harrassed the Greeks and evaded far superior Turkish armies for years before finally being subjugated.

Cuman Horseachers: Fast and nimble like the Turks and far more reliable, the Cumans have been employed by the Byzantines for centuries and are their most reliable mercenaries. They can be used to supplement any Byzantine army.

Tartar Lancers: Their close proximity and frequent employment by the Bulgars has made them familiar to Byzantium. Though not too heavily armed they can form a good offensive punch.

Albanian Light Cavalry: Some of the best cavlry in the region, these lightly armed javelineers like the infantry first gave the Greeks trouble and then the Turks before being employed by the Spanish as far away as the Netherlands.

Akritai(Boarder Cavalry): Though mostly Greek in origin, these predominately Muslim light cavalrymen once guarded the froniter in Anatolia before converting and joining the Turks. However, they could still fight for their old allegience if the price is right.

[AnthoniusII]

Something to be known...
Empire's flags and what they present!
1st of all we all make a common mistake...The imperial flag was NEVER the one with the double head eagle.The imperial flag was like this...

The pollitical flag that ment that a city,land or a ship is property of the Roman emperor(basileus ton romaion)was that with the four Bs.
Until Basileios II Boulgaroctonus the imperial eagle was the classic one (aquilla).The eagle with one or two heads had two meanings:
1st that the emperor is the ONLY ROMAN emperor from east to west and
2nd the only real protector for both christian worlds (east and west)...
Only the roman emperor had the right to have a golden eagle on his banner.
Countries and kingdoms who have a simmilar one must have it in black(it is the real eagle's shadow).
Some will say why Serbia and Russia have eagles in silver and gold?
I must admit that espesially the russian eagle is offentive for the real emperor,(rusians claim that they are the roman emperor's succesors and their patriarch sould be the ultimate ruller of all orthodox all around the world)!!!!!
As for the Serbians...at first they too had a golden eagle on their flag but soon realished that "romioi" could be very dengerous ennemies or vailuable allies and changed their flag to silver!!!!
In my signature is not the imperial flag but the Palaiologus imperial monogramm....

[Zenith Darksea]

2. +5% conversion to Islam(due to Turkish families arriving as well)

That needn't necessarily be the case. Many Tourkopouloi were Orthodox Christians (often they were the children of mixed Greek/Turkish families or converted on entering Roman service).

[AnthoniusII]

That needn't necessarily be the case. Many Tourkopouloi were Orthodox Christians (often they were the children of mixed Greek/Turkish families or converted on entering Roman service).

You are right my friend turcopouloi and mourtatoi were some of those mixed 'ethnic" units...Like gasmouloi were from latin/greek famillies!!!!

[The_Bulgar_Slayer]

You are right my friend turcopouloi and mourtatoi were some of those mixed 'ethnic" units...Like gasmouloi were from latin/greek famillies!!!!

You guys are right that Tourkopouloi initially refered to Christian Turks employed by the state under the Komnenoi, however times have changed but the word hasn't. By the 14th century Tourkopouloi was still the term for Turkish mercenaries, but not necessarily Christian ones. In fact, with the loss of Anatolia by Byzantium there weren't many Christian Turks left. Nearly all the Turkish mercenaries(or Tourkopouloi) recriuted by John VI Kantakouzenos were Muslim Turks from Smyrna or the Ottomans.

[AnthoniusII]

It is diferent thing the turkish mercs from turkopouloi...
The turkopouloi were citizens of the empire(by their double greek/turkish origin).In fact some of them had high ranks in the army(even domestikos rank).Turkish mercs (seljuks,turkomans and ottomans)were reqruited with agreements between the rullers of tho factions and they(the mercs)intodused in the army by the Etairiai system...Etairiai(or Vasilikai Etairiai) were large groups of mercs,each one with a spesific origin of soldiers(latiniki etairia,skythiki etairia,etairia ton varangion and catalaniki etairia as well)...The leading officer(most times a byz officer had the title"Etairiarches" and if was responsible for all etairiai unit "Megas Etairiarches"...

[The_Bulgar_Slayer]

It is diferent thing the turkish mercs from turkopouloi...
The turkopouloi were citizens of the empire(by their double greek/turkish origin).In fact some of them had high ranks in the army(even domestikos rank).Turkish mercs (seljuks,turkomans and ottomans)were reqruited with agreements between the rullers of tho factions and they(the mercs)intodused in the army by the Etairiai system...Etairiai(or Vasilikai Etairiai) were large groups of mercs,each one with a spesific origin of soldiers(latiniki etairia,skythiki etairia,etairia ton varangion and catalaniki etairia as well)...The leading officer(most times a byz officer had the title"Etairiarches" and if was responsible for all etairiai unit "Megas Etairiarches"...

That is exactly right. I'm just saying when you look at the sources from the 14th and 15th centuries they refer to all Turks in the Byzantine army as Tourkopouloi. The distinction had apparently been lost over time.

[Menander of India]

I have a question about the name... Shouldn't be more appropriate to call the Empire the "Eastern Roman Empire"? No matter how hellenized the empire was, it was officially known like this until the end.

[AnthoniusII]

I have a question about the name... Shouldn't be more appropriate to call the Empire the "Eastern Roman Empire"? No matter how hellenized the empire was, it was officially known like this until the end.

The most corect name would be "Roman empire"(the one and only)...
That's the "Βασιλεια των Ρωμαιων" (Vasileia ton romaion)means!!!!

[The_Bulgar_Slayer]

It is actually called the Roman Empire, but we have it listed here as the Byzantine Empire just so people know what it is.

[AnthoniusII]

The word byzantine is an 19th century title...Europeans (mostly the germans and the british claimed that they were the roman succesors and they did not want their people to know that the real "pollitical"succesors of the romans were the ROMANS)....

[Sarmatian]

True, but it is easier to just write byzantium than "Βασιλεια των Ρωμαιων" every time we refer to medieval orthodox roman empire (which is probably the "most correct" way of refering to that particular stage and period of roman empire). If you say just "roman empire" than you would have to explain about exactly which period/stage of roman empire you're talking about. And eastern roman empire is also incorrect because there was no more western roman empire. So you write just one word - byzantium, and avoid all this confusion .

And anyway, I don't see why people make such a fuss about it. No one does it when someone use term like golden horde for example.

[Tzar]

....

[Menander of India]

No great deal really! I really didn't want seem like making a fuss! I'm sorry if it seemed like that...It was more like a personal query rather than suggestion...
Anyway, great work so far

[Sarmatian]

I didn't mean you. I was just recollecting numerous big discussions on that subject here and at the .org.

The real problem is when someone tries to say Byzantium wasn't Roman, that it was something else, but when it is used just as a term to denominate what was left of the Roman Empire in the middle ages, I don't see a problem...

[Tzar]

I'm not sure which one of moderators change the name of the thread to Roman Empire, then at least use proper greek name for it "Βασιλεια των Ρωμαιων"