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Thread: Tsardoms Total War - FACTION PREVIEW: Knights of St. John

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    Default Tsardoms Total War - FACTION PREVIEW: Knights of St. John



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    Historical Background

    The Sovereign Order of Saint John of Jerusalem has its roots in the early 11th century, when in 1023 merchants from Amalfi and Salerno in Italy were allowed to build a Hospital on the sight of the monestary of St.John the Baptist in Jerusalem. The hospital was run by Benadictine monks who took in Christian pilgrims travelling to visit the Christian holy sites. The monastic hospitaller order was founded following the First Crusade by the Blessed Gerard, whose role as founder was confirmed by a Papal Bull of Pope Paschal II in 1113. Gerard acquired territory and revenues for his order throughout the Kingdom of Jerusalem and beyond. Under his successor, Raymond du Puy de Provence, the original hospice was expanded to an infirmary near the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. Initially the group cared for pilgrims in Jerusalem, but the order soon extended to providing pilgrims with an armed escort, which soon grew into a substantial force. Thus the Order of St. John imperceptibly became military without losing its charitable character. The Hospitallers and the Knights Templar became the most formidable military orders in the Holy Land.

    Many of the more substantial Christian fortifications in the Holy Land were built by the Templars and the Hospitallers. At the height of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, the Hospitallers held seven great forts and 140 other estates in the area. The two largest of these, their bases of power in the Kingdom of Jerusalem and in the Principality of Antioch, were the Krak de Chevaliers and Margat in Syria.

    The knights provided participated in many of the great battles of the crusades facing enemies such as Saladin or Zengi. However, like the other military orders the Hospitallers also had a present in Europe aswell. Their forces were involved in the Reconquista in Spain and also provided forces in Poland and Hungary to fight the invading Mongols in 1241.

    Between 1260 and 1291 the situation in the Middle East was charaterised by renewed Muslim unity under the Mamluks and Christian retreat and also by the Mongol invasion. In 1265 the Mamluk sultan Baibars began a great offensive against the Crusader states. He captured Caesarea, Haifa, Toron and the Hospitaller castle of Arsuf. In 1268 Jaffa and Antioch fell and in 1271 the Hospitallers' Krak de Chevaliers fell. In 1285 Margat, the Hospitaller castle that not even Saladin attempted to attack was besieged and conquered. Between 1277 and 1285 the Kingdom of Jerusalem was marked by infighting between two pretenders to the throne: Charles I of Anjou and King Hugh of Cyprus. The Kingdom was divided between the supporters of Charles (including the Templars) and the supporters of Hugh of Cyprus (including the Hospitallers). The situation was resolved on Charles' death in 1285 however this was too late to save the Holy Land. Tripoli fell to Sultan Qalawun in 1289 and in 1291 al-Ashraf Khalil attacked Acre. The defenders of the city including the Hospitallers put a heroic last, however the city fell in over a month of siege warfare. The surviving masters and brothers escaped the city before it fell. This marked the final fall of the Holy Land in the arms of the Islamic invaders.

    Even before the fall of Acre the Hospiallers had been prepared for the eventuality of evacuation and had started moving valuable materials such as charters and relics to Cyprus and the West in the 1280s. After the fall of Acre the Hospitallers regrouped at Kolossi in Cyprus, the last Crusader principality in Outremer. There they lived under the generally benevolent sovereignty of the Lusignan Dynasty whom they assisted military. In 1292 the Hospitallers used their ships to assist Cillician Armenia, a state with which the Order had been allied since the early XIIIth centuries and had receveid Hospitaller aid in the past. Again in 1300 and 1305 the Hospitaller master William de Villaret led two large expeditions to assist in the defence of Cillician Armenia.

    In 1309 the Order under Grand Master Foulques de Villaret conquered Rhodes at the instigation of a Genoan adventurer, and persuaded the Pope to grant the Order title to rule the island as an independent sovereign. Rhodes provided a strategically located base for naval operations in both the Mediterranean and the Aegean that lay directly astride the ocean route that brought iron, lumber and Ghulam slaves from the Black Sea to the Mamluk Egyptians. The Knights Hospitaller used their island as a launching pad for raids on Muslim shipping and coastal towns. They prospered on loot. After a failed attempt at merger, and following the Papal ban on the Knights Templar, the Knights of St. John also received many of the Temple's estates in 1312, along with many new recruits seeking refuge from the Pope's Templar inquisition.


    Grand Master de Villaret's rule proved somewhat despotic, provoking a rebellion of the native Rhodians in 1317, and prompting a Papal intervention. De Villaret resigned and was replaced by the new Grand Master Helion de Villeneuve. Taking advantage of the political vacuum caused by the declining Byzantine Empire and shielded from Turkish retribution by their naval superiority, the Order conquered Scarpanto for Venice, and were able to seize the Southern Sparades in 1319 and Lango in 1337 and establish a colony at Smyrna in Anatolia in 1344.



    Current situation

    Currently the order is in possession of the island of Rhodes as well as several other islands in the Greek archipelago such as Kos and they also have a foothold in Anatolia in the fortress of Smyrna. Anatolia offers the best avenue for expansion as the former Christian land is now occupied by the splintered turkish beyliks. The closest powerful beyliks are the Karamanids and the Aydinids two beyliks that are seeking to increase their influence and promote islam. These beyliks represent the most immediate threat against the Hospitallers and a wise Master would ensure they are dealt with. Taking on each beylik at a time would ensure that the Order does not extend its resources. Further to the North lies the Ottoman state which although not as powerful as the mighty Karamanids may be a potential threat to the Order if it continues its expansion at the expense of the Greeks or the other beyliks. The once mighty Roman Empire is now splintered and divided by civil war. These heretics are not followers of the true Catholic faith and as such they are fair game in the eyes of the Papacy and implicitly the Order. The Hospitallers may use their naval forces to pick the last Roman remnants one by one and use the Greek's manpower to the good of Catholicism. The Greek mainland can offer rich pickings and the Order could establish a foothold there. Alternatively, the Romans could become a useful ally in the fight against Islam and act as a counter balance against the growing power of the beyliks. The Catalan Company is another Catholic player in the Greek mainland, however their mercenary background suggests that the Catalans can not be trusted and should be seen as potential threats to the faith and the Order. The old weakend Frankish states in Romania could offer a power base for the Order and alliances or overlordship over these states should be considered.

    To the West lies the Venetian controlled island of Crete. Although the Venetians are Catholics by faith they are really only driven by their lust for money and power. The Venetians may appear to be a friendly power however they must be regarded with much reservation as the past has shown that they are ready to fight other Christians and even Catholics if their is financial gain involved. The Republic of Genoa is the rival of the Venetians and although they are driven by the same mercantile interests they have historically served as allies to the Order. The Genoese own several small islands and ports in the Mediteranean and could prove useful allies in the fight against the Islamic states but also in potential conflicts with Venice. Far away, in the Holy Land and Egypte the Mamluk Sultanate is pursuing its aggressive expansion. Although they are too far away to pose an immediate threat the Order should always be mindful of their power.

    The immediate aim of any Hospitaller Grand Master should be the consolidation of the Order's power in the Mediteranean and the forging of alliances with other friendly Christian powers. The Order can then look towards expanding in the Mediteranean at the expense of the Islamic powers and the ailing Roman Empire. The fleet should be at the core of the expansion strategy raiding enemy ports and delivering the fighting brothers onto the door steps of unsuspecting enemy fortresses. Anatolia and then the Greek mainland should be the final aim of the expansion strategy and the defeat of all the turkish beyliks.


    Map position of St John Knights. ( Still W.I.P. )







    Organisation

    The members of the Order were divided into three principal classes. First the knights, who provided the core of the Order and would ultimately make profession by taking the monastic vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. They alone could be appointed Bailifss of the Convent. Secondly the Chaplains, who were priest-brothers exempted from fighting but whose responsibility was to serve the spritiual needs of the knights and those living in areas under their rule. The Prior was chosen from among their ranks. Thirdly the Serjeants-at-Arms, later Serving Brothers, divided into Brothers of Arms who could, until 1364, become knights, and Brothers of Office, who fulfilled a more lowly role. Until the loss of Malta the Serving-Brothers of Arms, although not noble, could also make full profession as religious-brothers and were no less members of the Order than the knights of Justice. They were called to the elections of the Grand Masters, to which they could contribute their votes, although they were excluded from any senior executive responsibility. Later a fourth division of Sisters were added, divided into Sisters of Justice and Sisters of Grace, who lived in convents with their own Superior but were under the authority of their Langue.

    The Order was an international organisation with members coming from various European countries. The Order was divided into 7 distinct nations which were known as 'tonuges' ('langues' in French): Provence, Auvergne, France, Italy, Aragon, England and Germany. The organization of the Order into tongues emerged in the early 14th century when the Knights Hospitaller took possession of Rhodes and was based on a decision of the Order's Chapter-General in 1301.

    The Tongue of Provence was hierarchically superior because it was the oldest. It comprised of southern France, with Grand Priories in Toulouse and Saint-Gilles. The Tongue of Auvergne comprised of central France, with the Grand Priory in Bourganeuf. The Tongue of France comprised of northern France, with three Grand Priories. The Tongue of Aragon comprised of the Iberian peninsula, with Grand Priories for Aragon, Catalonia, Castile and Leon, Navarre and Portugal. In 1462 it was decided that the Tongue of Aragon be split in two: the Tongue of Aragaon (with Grand Priories of Aragon, Catalonia and Navarre) and the Tongue of Castille (with Grand Priories of Castile-León and Portugal). The Tongue of Italy comprised of all of Italy with Grand Priories of Messina, Barletta, Capua, Rome, Pisa, Lombardy and Venice. The Tongue of England covered the British Isles, with the Grand Priories of England (including Scotland) and Ireland. The Tongue of Germany with Grand Priories of Bohemia, Upper Germany, Lower Germany, Dacia (covering Denmark, Sweden, Norway and modern day Finland), Poland and Hungary.



    Offices of Government

    The government of the Order, which was, as such, also the sovereign ruler of Rhodes, was headed by the Grand Master. He was elected by the Chapter General and ruled over the Order for life. The Grand Master was the supreme commander, managed the order and named officials

    Militarily each tongue was headed by a Pilier (also known as Bailliffs or Baillis), who would also hold one of the high offices. The Piliers were answerable only to the Grand Master, the office each tongue was seeking to gain for one of its own. The 7 (later 8) Piliers formed the Grand Council.

    The Pilier of Provence was The Grand Commander who, with the Treasurer, controlled the Common Treasure, presided over the Accounts committee, acted as Master of the Artillery and selected certain conventual chaplains and replaced the Grand Master when he was absent.

    The Pilier of Auvergne was the Marshal, later Grand Marshal, acted as military chief of staff, commanding all the brothers except Grand Crosses and their lieutenants.

    The Pilier of France was the Grand Hospitaller who superintended the work of the hospitals and infirmaries.

    The Pilier of Italy was the the Admiral, or Grand Admiral, a post created when the Order left the Holy Land and who commanded the galleys.

    The Pilier of Aragon was the Drapier, from 1539 Grand Conservator, who was the quartermaster of the armed forces of the Order and responsible for the maintenance of certain buildings.

    The Pilier of England was the Grand Turcopolier who commanded the Turcopoles, the Order's cavalry in Palestine and, on Rhodes and Malta, was responsible for the coast guard.

    The Pilier of Germany was the Grand Bailiff who was responsible on Rhodes for the defense of the Castle of Saint Peter and later of the Island of Gozo.

    The Pilier of Castille was the Grand Chancellor who who counter-signed all the acts of government, held the official seal and regulated all bulls and decrees.



    Dress

    The rule of the Blessed Raymond du Puy 1120 - 1160 states that the Brethren's clothing should be humble, because "Our Lord's poor, whose servants we confess ourselves to be, go naked."

    The church dress of a 12th -15th century Hospitaller brother consisted of a blakc under-robe, simillar to a cassock, covered by a black mantle with an eight pointed cross on the left breast. The cross was worn, as the Rule of the Blessed Raymond notes "to the honour of God and the Holy Cross, that God by that banner, and through faith and works and obedience, may gyard and defend us in soul and body. A black skull cap was generally worn.

    On campaign the Brethren wore an Order tunic, or tabbard over their armour. This tabbard was called a supraveste and it was red with a plain white cross on the front. The Statutes of Fr. Nicholas Le Lorgne (1277-85) decree that "all the brethren-at-arms of the Hospital, when armed, should wear the scarlet surcoat with the white cross." Hence, the tabbard was the Order's official battle dress and it was worn either loose or drawn tight at the waist by points tied at either side. Such was its reputation that on one occasion in the 16th Century a Turkish attack was defeated by the simple expedient of dressing up all available civilians in it—the sight of what appeared to be an unexpected reinforcement of knights proving too much for the enemy.

    The ordinary soldiers which were not part of the order appear to have worn just the white cross as a field sign on back and breast. Non brethren also wore tabbards but of different colours such as dark blue and with intricate embroidery, some of them with inscriptions like S.Iohan to denote their allegiance to the Order.

    Before the loss of the island of Rhodes by the Order in 1522, the Hospitaller nuns wore a long-sleeved red robe with a plain white cross on the breast. After that time, as mourning for the loss of the island, the robes were black. Over the robe was worn a black mantle, with an eight pointed cross on the left breast. The face was surrounded by a white wimple, which also covered the neck. The head was covered by a black veil.





    Military Organisation


    The roster of the Knights St John will be split into three parts:


    members of the order (sergeants and knights, very limited in number compared to the other troops)
    local greek, armenian and turkopole auxiliaries (most widely available)
    western colonists and mercenaries (more than the members of the order but less than the locals)

    Local Greek, Turkopoles and Other Christian Auxiliaries



    Turcopoles
    In the crusader states the turcopoles were not necessarily Turkish or mixed-race mercenaries, but many were probably recruited from Christianized Seljuks, or from Syrian Eastern Orthodox Christians under crusader rule. When the Holy Land was evacuated the turcopoles followed the Knights St John in exile in Crete and then in Rhodes. Turcopoles were more lightly armoured than knights and were armed with lances and bows to help combat the more mobile Muslim forces. They served as light cavalry: skirmishers, scouts, and mounted archers, and sometimes rode as a second line in a charge, to back up the Frankish sergeants and knights. Turcopoles had lighter and faster horses than the western mounted troops and wore much lighter armour. Usually this comprised only a quilted aketon or jerkin and a conical steel helmet. The turcopoles were not officially members of the order and had a lower status than the Frankish sergeants, and were subject to various restrictions, including eating at a separate table from the other mounted soldiers. In the Order the turcopoles were led by the turcopolier who was always from the tongue of England.
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    Cretan Archers
    The Cretans were widely recognized as among the best archers in the world in ancient times and as such found employment as mercenaries in many armies ranging from the armies of Alexander the Great to the armies of the Diadochii and beyond. Throughout the centuries they have retained their ancient reputation as mercenary archers. Ever since the Venetians took control of the island in 1205 they realised the potential of the Cretan archers. The local Cretains lived in the mountains and came to the coast to fight whenever the island was threatened by an Ottoman fleet. They also fought at many famous battles such as the Siege of Constantinopole in 1453 where the Cretan guardsmen were amongst the last defenders on the walls. The Venetians had strained relations with the Knights St John and had forbidden them to take service with the order. Nonetheless 800 Cretan mercenaries were present at the Siege of Rhodes in 1480. They each have their own bow and arrows, as well as a sword and knives. Protected by leather armour and chainmail they have a lot more endurance than other archers and are able to spend more time in the line of fire to unleash their deadly arrow volleys. These men are the elite archers of the medieval world and are only available in limited numbers.
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    Greek Militia Spearmen
    Reltaionships between the Greeks and the Hospitallers were dominated by two factors: the religious gulf separating the dominant Catholic and the subordinate Orthodox Greeks, and their mutual concern for defence. In the city of Rhodes for example the local population was expelled to a neighbouring suburb which was, however given a strong defensive wall. All the Greek subjects were integrated into a feudal and defence structure that the Hospitallers imposed upon the islands controlled by them. Although the Greeks were somewhat subjugated by the Hospitallers they did rally to the common cause of defending the islands from Islamic invaders. A partial roll call from the Siege of Rhodes of 1522 shows that several thousand Rhodian militia served alognside the Knights and their mercenaries in defence of the island. These men are simple Greek villagers that are lightly armoured with nothing more than brigantines or thick woolen clothing and a shield and are armed with spears or javelins. These men are not trained and have a low morale so they should only be used as a last measure or to plug gaps in the defensive line. They will likely scatter if faced by a formidable foe.
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    Greek Militia Archers
    The bow was not a weapon of choice of the Knights St John and the mercenaries employed by them usually used crossbows as long range weapons. As such besides the Turkopoles the local Greeks provided the best supply of archers for the armies of the Hospitallers. As other Greek militias these men are conscriped in times of emergency to defend the islands from hostile invaders. The archers provide a longer range then the Hospitaller's crossbowmen and a faster reload rate. These men have been using the bow as a hunting and defensive tool for centuries and as such are skilled in the use of it, however not as skilled as the neighbouring Cretans. However, these are poor subjects and can not afford any protection besides their traditional clothing. They are not trained for battle so they should only be used as skirmishers, to harass enemy lines or as defenders of a city's battelements. If engaged in close combat they use their hatchets, however they will not be able to hold their line for long.
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    Greek Light Cavalry
    The Hospitallers insisted that the local Orthodox Church recognise the authority of the Pope. The rural Greeks refused to do so but the urban Greeks eventually accepted this. As such some local Greeks received a higher status from the Knights and even received estates but they were still below the Latins in the social ladder as seen in the size of the estates. When the Hospitallers evacuated Rhodes in January 1523 some of the local Greeks chose to follow them and some even followed them all the way to Malta participating in the siege of 1565. As these Greek men had larger estates they can afford to buy better equipment and they ride horses into battle. They serve as a type of light cavalry which complement the heavier cavalry of the knights. They should be used to harrass enemy infantry and retreating foes and to act as a screen for the advancing Hospitaller armies.
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    Rhodian Crossbowmen
    Unliked the other Frankish or Crusader States the Knigths St John had a better relationship with their Greek subjects and remained on good terms with them throughout their rule. This has been cited many times as being the major reason for the Order being able to hold Rhodes against the Mamlukes and Ottomans for so long. Even though the Greeks were not allowed to live inside the actual main city they enjoyed certain freedoms and rights. The Rhodians were called upon to serve on the Hospitaller ships as part of the 'servitudo marina' and also provided militias in times of need such as the sieges of 1480 and 1522. Traditionally, the weapon of choice of the Rhodians since ancient times was the sling. However, during medieval times the sling was eventually replaced by more efficient weapons. The crossbow was introduced in the Greek world by the Frankish crusaders. The Rhodians learned the use of this Western weapon and served the Knights as militias against pirates and muslim invaders. These men are mostly Rhodian peasants who are dressed in loose traditional clothes and have limited protection. They do not have professional military training however they can quickly assemble and provide a numerous fighting force in times of need.

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    Marinarii
    When they took over Rhodes the Knights St John realised the value of the local population both as a militia but also to man their war fleet. They instituted a compulsory marine service for the local Greeks and Rhodians known as the 'servitudo marinariorum' or 'servitut de la marine'. Through this system the members of the native population called 'subiti marinarii' provided hereditary naval service for part of the year. The natives which had the highest social standing were exempt from this service. The marinarii served on the hospitaller gallyes as rowers as well as emergency militias during sea or land battles. The servitudo was established by the Knights in the early 14th century and was based on the old Byzantine theme system. It guaranteed the Order a ready supply of reliable seamen who only had to be paid when they were serving. The marinarii of each district were grouped into a 'squadre', each squadra constituting the crew of a galley and serving in turn on a rota basis. Due to the fact that they serve on ships these men wear are dresed in loose clothing and wear very little protection except the occasional helmet. They are armed with large poleaxes which can reach the enemy from a safer distance. These men should only be used in emergency battle situations as although they are hardy seamen they are no match for better armed and armoured opponents.
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    Members of the Order



    Hospitaller Sergeants
    The statutes of the order first differentiated between the brother knights and brother sergeants in the statutes of Master Alphonso of Portugal of 1203-1206. The sergeants are warriors of the Order which have not been knighted yet. Sergeants who joined the order could hope to be knighted however this was a very long process and could take up to 15 years. The sergeants (or servants) were of two types, sergeant-at-arms who fought but with less expensive equipment than the knights and sergeants who served as serving brothers who worked as blacksmiths, carpenters or shepherds. In the XII, XIII and early XIV century these men formed the majority of the Order. Unlike the Order of the Temple the Hospitaller sergeants were allowed to wear the same red tabbards with white cross as the knights did. The Hospitaller sergeants are protected by light mail and gambeson as well as large oval shields and are armed with either swords or polearms. Although they have less training than the knights the sergeants are still professional soldiers capable of holding their own as they do their duty towards God and the Order.
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    Hospitaller Brother in Arms
    Historically the Knights Hospitaller have provided powerful units of cavalry for the Crusader Armies. However, after the retreat from the Holy Land the tactics of the Order changed. The Knights tactics involved raiding enemy outposts, jumping from island to island, naval battles and naval landings. The Order changed from a predominantly land force to a combined land and naval force. As such, the role of the cavalry decreased compared to earlier centuries. However, the Hospitallers still maintained a small cavalry force to assist in land battles. The brothers in arms supplied the Order's need for medium cavalry. They are protected by chainmail, helmets and wooden shields and are covered by the traditional red tabbard of the order. They use a cavalry spear in battle and can be used to charge the enemy but also to harrass and pursue retreating forces. Due to their medium equipment they are reasonable fast and are more flexible than their heavier counterparts being able to last in battle for longer before tiring.
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    Dismounted Hospitaller Brother in Arms
    These men are the fighting class of the Hospitallers that are trying to reach the knighthood. They are higher in the Order's hierarchy than the sergeants as they are of noble birth and as such can attain higher ranks in the knighthood. In the XII and XIIIth century the Order was dominated by Frenchmen and this continued for most of the XIVth century. The need for additional manpower led to an increase of men from other Catholic lands such as Italy, Germany, Spain, England and Hungary. However, most of these men are still from Western European and are of noble blood. They are young men devoted to their faith and ready to prove their valour in battle. Due to their families' wealth they can afford better equipment than the sergeants such as chainmail and heavier helmets. They use a shield and spears or swords in battle. They are well trained men with very good morale who are ready to give their life on the field of battle in the name of Christendom.
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    Hospitaller Brother Knights
    The most iconic image of a Hospitaller is of the brother knights riding their warhorses into battle. Although the times for large Hospitaller cavalry armies is gone the brother knights still provide one of the most famous and well respected cavalry units of the religious orders. These men occupied the highest positions within the Order and as such had the best trained steed being only eclipsed by the knights of the grand cross. All the brothers are commanded by the Grand Marshall in battle and they ride at front of all the lesser ranks of the order and the auxiliaries. The brother knights were alloted horses and pack animals and their squires had the duty of taking care of the horse and making sure it is ready for marching or for battle. Protected by heavy armour in the Western fashion and using long cavalry lances these knights provide a powerful charge which can break any infantry formation.
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    Dismounted Hospitaller Brother Knights
    The brother knights are the most high-profile members of the Order. They enjoyed the highest status within the Order and occupied all the leadership positions. Upon receiving their knighthood every brother had to go through the process of initiation by sitting before an altar holding the Gospels and being accepted in the Order by a preceptor. New members were generally assigned a house under the preceptors obedience and were often alloted a squire, two servants, a horse and a pack animal. The knights were respected as doughty and pious warriors. As they were also religious, bound by monastic vows, they were regarded as more honourable and trustworthy than secular knights. As a religious order, they were not allowed to become involved in the normal pursuits of knighthood such as hunting, tourneying or couring ladies and when not involved in fighting the enemies of Christendom they were supposed to pray in the chapel or perform the work of the order. During naval operations, sieges or landings the brother knights fought dismounted. Protected by heavy armour and large shields and using polearms or warhammers into battle these men act as a shock troops and can turn the tide of battle. Enemis of the Order have been known to retreat at the sight of the armoured knighs approaching.
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    Knights of the Grand Cross
    These men are the elite bothers of the knighthood, having served for a minimum of fifteen years under of the flag of St. John. These knights provide the guard of the Grand Master in battle and ride by his side when he is personally present on the battlefield. The core is formed of the elite brother knights, the commanding generals and their lieutenants. The knights of the grand cross are protected by full plate armour and use a sword and lance in battle. Their numbers are very due to their rigurous admittance criteria, however this ensures that only the best members of the Order are admitted. They should only be thrown in battle at critical moments to inspire the Order's troops and turn the tide in favour of their holy cause. They are a force to be reckoned with and few knights in the Western or Eastern world can match their skill and prowess.
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    Dismounted Knights of the Grand Cross
    The veterans, guards, and lieutenants protecting the Grand Master, these are the hardest and most experienced brothers in the whole order. Only the most elite and experienced knights in the order form the guard of the Grand Master and they are considered amongst the most pure, loyal and chaste brothers. In order to be admitted into the the guard a knight would have had to serve faithfully for years and prove his faith and dedication to the order. The knights of the grand cross are amongst the very few fighting brothers that did not fall under the command of the Grand Marshall who is the commander in chief of the army as they report directly to the Grand Master. These men are decked out in full plate armour, the most expensive and heavy protection available to the order. In melee combat they use large two handed swords or war hammers that can penetrate any armour and crush the man within it. These knights form the core of the Grand Master's entourage in battle and will give their lives to protect him.
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    Western Colonists and Mercenaries

    Genoese Crossbowmen

    The Knights St John clashed with Venice in the Aegean sea as both powers wanted to acquire various islands and strongholds in the region. That is why Genoa was a natural ally for the Order. The Knights St John supported the Genoese and the city state provided the Order with mercenaries. The Genoese are famous for the marksmanship of their mercenaries which served both in native Genoese armies but also in other European armies such as the French, other Italian states and Hospitallers. The Genoese crossbowmen came to prominence during the First Crusade, when the Genoese commander Guglielmo Embriaco used them in the course of the siege of Jerusalem and again at the Battle of Jaffa in 1192 during the Third Crusade. The Genoese crossbowmen remained one of the most respected military corps until the 16th century, well after the introduction of black-powder weapons in Europe. These crossbowmen come from all parts of Liguria but are trained and organised in Genoa. Apart from the crossbow, they were equipped with a dagger, light metal helmet, a gorget, a hauberk, and a large shield called a pavese which was used while reloading the crossbow. A groom often supported the shield during the reloading. Commanders of the companies usually came from the noble families of the city, the Genoese that served with the knights generally came from the families that were heavily involved in Greece such as the Giustiniani.
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    Latin Handgunners

    As well as mercenaries drawn from its eastern territories the Order also employed European mercenaries on a regular basis to complement the ranks of the knights. The woodcuts of the Ulm edition from 1496 Caoursin's chronicle show handguns mostly (but not entirely) in the hands of men not wearing the order's supraveste. This would suggest that most of the Order's handgunners were hired specialists although by the XVIth century the knights started using gunpowder weapons themselves as seen in the siege of Malta. These mercenaries were professional troops, highly skilled and well-equipped who were more valuable in the field than a feudal host. The only disadvantage was that they had to be paid and when conditions were paid they demanded a higher rate of pay.
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    Latin Crossbowmen
    During the Knights' tenure of Rhodes many westerners came to the island and settled on the land allotted to them. Many of these Westerners came in search for a better life, to serve as mercenaries or purely for religious and faith reasons. The crossbow was a popular weapon in the West and many of the mercenaries that served in the Hospitaller armies carried it. The Hospitallers engaged in mainly naval operations and crossbow could be used to great effect during naval battles and also landings and sieges. Each Hospitaller galley had approximately a quarter of its fighting men armed with crossbows. For example for the XVth century campaign against the Mamluks of Egypt the Knights employed a force of 1,000 knights and 4,000 crossbowmen to serve for 5 years.
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    Italian Militia
    The Order frequently hired large numbers of Western mercenaries to supplement its forces, especially in times of great need such as during the Sieges of Rhodes of 1480 and 1522. For example at the Siege of Malta in 1564 the Order had 1,200 Italian and Spanish mercenaries compared to only 541 brethren. Foremost among the Western mercenaries are the Italian militias. These men hail from all corners of Central and Northern Italy and are veteran soldiers that have been battle hardened in the frequent battles between the Italian city states and also during the Italian wars of the late XVth and XVIth centuries. Armed with spears and protected by large pavise shields the Italian Miltias will provide a good force to fight alongside the less numerous members of the Order.
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    Frankish Knights
    Ever since the creation of the Latin Empire during the Fourth Crusade several Frankish states existed in the Aegean Archipelago such as the Principality of Achaea or the Duchy of Athens. These states attacated many Frankish noble families in pursuit of richness and glory. However, some Frankish nobles held higher ideals of chivalry and defending Christendom, ideals which were behind many of the motivations of the Crusaders. By the XIVth centuries the Crusades were all but over. As such the expeditions of the Knights Hospitaller offered one of the last remaining outlets for young idealistic Frankish knights. Many of these men heeded the regular calls for help from the Hospitallers and the Papacy to help in the defence of their faith. These knights are not officially part of the order, however some have settled in the Hospitaller islands and have received land and titles becoming landed nobles. Being quite wealthy they are armoured with heavy Western armour and weaponry. Armed with heavy cavalry lances these man pack a powerful punch when charging, however if caught in prolonged hand to hand battle they be at a disadvantage due to their heavy armour which restricts movement and tires the rider.
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    Dismounted Frankish Knights
    Traditionally the frankish knights fought mounted on their steeds. However, when the situation the franks were known to dismount their horse and fight in the form of heavy infantry. The frankish knights fought side by side with the Hospitallers in events such as sieges, naval battles or landings. As these men are primarily used to fighting mounted they may not be as versatile as other types of heavy infantry however they will provide a reliable force to complement the ranks of the brothers. The franks are armed with powerful swords and they are masters of swordsmanship. Due to their heavy armour these knights will tire quickly and will not be able to sustain long marches. They should be used as shock infantry and supported by lighter infantry and should not be thrown too early into battle.
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    Skinning and moddeling

    Hrobatos

    Assisted by

    Giacomo Colona & phoenix[illusion]


    Historical research and text writer

    Wallachian

    Roster Concept

    The_Bulgar_Slayer


    Mapping

    il_duce!




    Special thanks to

    Mattheus
    King of The Ring
    Rusichi Total War
    M&B mods:
    Narf's Men-at-Arms Armour Pack
    Narf's Plate Armour Pack
    Narf's Transitional Armour Pack
    Arms and Armour
    Medieval helmet pack
    ​Madtao: Pavise's mesh and Crossbow's mesh from BALTS
    dome: Lanza-longa from Magyar Mod(the first version)
    Disgruntled Goat: Milicia shirt(from 1066 mod)
    Lord Hamilton: for the hood's mesh.




    Our team's goal is to release a first beta of Tsardoms by the end of the year, in order to achieve this we have reduced some of our goals and ambitions and plan the release of a first version with a smaller map and less factions. Our team has recently received two welcome additions in the 3D and 2D departments which ensures that the work is going at faster rate. However, in order to achieve our goal we are still looking for coders and mappers to assist us with finalising the map, family trees, building trees and EDU. If you are willing to help please contact any of our team members or post in the recruitment thread.
    Last edited by Hrobatos; June 25, 2013 at 04:35 AM.

  2. #2
    AnthoniusII's Avatar Μέγαc Δομέστικοc
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    Default Re: Tsardoms Total War - FACTION PREVIEW: Knights of St. John

    Very nice job...My only sugestion will be -again-the use of Rusichi animation pack.
    Its is unfair for the horse work you have already done.
    TGC in order to continue its development seak one or more desicated scripters to put our campaign scripts mess to an order plus to create new events and create the finall missing factions recruitment system. In return TGC will give permision to those that will help to use its material stepe by step. The result will be a fully released TGC plus many mods that will benefit TGC's material.
    Despite the mod is dead does not mean that anyone can use its material
    read this to avoid misunderstandings.

    IWTE tool master and world txt one like this, needed inorder to release TGC 1.0 official to help TWC to survive.
    Adding MARKA HORSES in your mod and create new varietions of them. Tutorial RESTORED.


  3. #3
    Wallachian's Avatar Citizen
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    Default Re: Tsardoms Total War - FACTION PREVIEW: Knights of St. John

    Bravo! After a lot of work it is finally here!

  4. #4
    DobroVece's Avatar Senator
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    Default Re: Tsardoms Total War - FACTION PREVIEW: Knights of St. John

    Ta-daaaaaa!

    Gorgeous!

  5. #5
    Stath's's Avatar Protector Domesticus
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    Default Re: Tsardoms Total War - FACTION PREVIEW: Knights of St. John

    Beautiful and very detailed!! as always!

    Thanks


  6. #6
    Miszel's Avatar Domesticus
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    Default Re: Tsardoms Total War - FACTION PREVIEW: Knights of St. John

    Stunning :3

  7. #7

    Default Re: Tsardoms Total War - FACTION PREVIEW: Knights of St. John

    Congratz to all team members. It is such a great effort!

    -------------Leader of the AP mod-----------------

  8. #8
    Darios's Avatar Ex Oriente Lux
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    Default Re: Tsardoms Total War - FACTION PREVIEW: Knights of St. John

    Cretan archers and Rhodian slingers (now using x-bows) are back!
    Last edited by Darios; June 01, 2013 at 09:53 AM.
    Under the Patronage of PikeStance


  9. #9
    NikeBG's Avatar Sampsis
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    Default Re: Tsardoms Total War - FACTION PREVIEW: Knights of St. John

    This reminds me how annoying previews can be - seeing all this and not being able to use it! Great work, team!

  10. #10
    Mega Tortas de Bodemloze's Avatar Let's Get After It
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    Default Re: Tsardoms Total War - FACTION PREVIEW: Knights of St. John

    .....Wow!!!!! +Reppers all around ASAP. Fantastic job everyone....
    A Lion serves in Winter, then perhaps a Unicorn for the Spring.


    ****************
    If you cannot stand behind what you say.... then do not speak. If your words are taken out of context,
    then the weight of the evidence will still fall in your favor and carry the day

    The Casual Tortoise: Mega's Guide to Fast Turtling

  11. #11
    stoogeofstooges's Avatar Decanus
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    Default Re: Tsardoms Total War - FACTION PREVIEW: Knights of St. John

    Oh...my...god.

  12. #12

    Default Re: Tsardoms Total War - FACTION PREVIEW: Knights of St. John

    You forgot to credit Kuauik for some of the shield textures, though I doubt he's given permission to use them.

  13. #13

    Default Re: Tsardoms Total War - FACTION PREVIEW: Knights of St. John

    looks good!

  14. #14
    Miszel's Avatar Domesticus
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    Default Re: Tsardoms Total War - FACTION PREVIEW: Knights of St. John

    Sir, it would be much easier for Hrobatos to correct his mistake (if he really used someones textures), if you had pointed out which exactly do you mean.
    Last edited by Miszel; June 01, 2013 at 01:03 PM.

  15. #15
    ShockBlast's Avatar Protector Domesticus
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    European Union , Romania , Constanta
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    Default Re: Tsardoms Total War - FACTION PREVIEW: Knights of St. John

    Outstanding work people.

  16. #16
    Hrobatos's Avatar Praeses
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    Default Re: Tsardoms Total War - FACTION PREVIEW: Knights of St. John

    I PM'd him.
    Last edited by Hrobatos; June 01, 2013 at 01:08 PM.

  17. #17
    gary's Avatar Domesticus
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    Newcastle Upon Tyne. North of England.
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    Default Re: Tsardoms Total War - FACTION PREVIEW: Knights of St. John

    Absolutely outstanding work.
    My Granfather Frederick Avery.Battalion Boxing champion. Regiment.The Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. dorcorated D.C.M. M.M.
    campaigns

    (India.1930) (Norway 1940) (Fontenay le Pesnil) (North-West Europe1944-45) (Argoub Se!lah)
    (Sicily, 1943 Salerno) (Minturno) (Anzio Gemmano Ridge)
    "Burma, 1942"
    My grandfather was a hero, modest, quiet and wounded twice, in hand to hand combat at Casino Italy.

  18. #18
    Polycarpe's Avatar Back into action!
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    Default Re: Tsardoms Total War - FACTION PREVIEW: Knights of St. John

    Superb work gentlemen!

  19. #19

    Default Re: Tsardoms Total War - FACTION PREVIEW: Knights of St. John

    This is Beautiful
    Nice Job Guys .

  20. #20

    Default Re: Tsardoms Total War - FACTION PREVIEW: Knights of St. John

    FOR ALL THAT IS GOOD AND HOLY!!!! WOW! I think I know what faction I will be playing with now. I love island nations and going around conquering island after island will be so much fun!

    GREAT JOB TEAM!

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