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Thread: Tsardoms Total War - FACTION PREVIEW: The Catalans and Aragonese

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    Default Tsardoms Total War - FACTION PREVIEW: The Catalans and Aragonese


    Team Proudly Presents

    Crown of Aragon
    Kingdom of Sicily
    Duchy of Athens and Neopatria (the Catalan Company)



    Factions Overview

    Tsardoms Total War will include three Aragon related factions which will share certain units but will also have their own uniquely flavoured faction rosters. The Kingdom of Sicily (Trinacria) is an Aragonese ruled kingdom in Italy and will have access to a base Italian roster including Italian pavisemen, crossbowmen, handgunners, as well as Italo-Aragonese nobility and higher tier Aragonese units such as the pikemen, the rodeleros and the Spanish arquebusiers. The Duchy of Athens and Neopatria represents the Catalan Company which will have acess to a base roster of several Greek units, Vlach units from Thessaly, Albanians, Turk mercenaries, Navarrese mercenaries, Frankish and Italian mercenaries but also a large selection of elite Almoghavers and Aragonese nobility and other Aragonese units. Finally, the Crown of Aragon will be invading Naples in order to overthrow the Angevin rule. The Crown of Aragon will have access to the highest tier Aragonese units such as the Alabarderos but also to local Italian mercenaries.

    Duchy of Athens and Neopatria (the Catalan Company)

    Historical Backgorund:

    After have been sacking Trace and Greece for several years, the known as the "Venganza Almogavar" or "Venganza Catalana", since the killing of its beloved captain Roger de Flor at hands of Miguel the treacherous son of the emperor Andronicus II Paleologus in Adrianapolis in 1305, the "Gran Compańía Catalana" entered at the service of Gautier of Brienne the duchy of Athens which hired them to fight against the Despotate of Arta and to recover some thirty castles.

    However altough the company accomplished satisfactoraly its mission, like what happened with Andronikos II, also for Brienne enlistment of the Catalans proved a double-edged sword. Indeed, the Company, worn on his long journey through Greece accused fatigue. That's why when Brienne invited them to deliver the castles and garments conquered by his predecessor. Nevertheless both the Catalan-Aragonese almogavars as their Turkish allies answered that they would not deliver them because they did not know where to go. In fact they were very tired of fight after years and years of continuous struggle. But Gauthier de Brienne, on the contrary, once achieved its goals had wanted to get rid of the uncomfortable auxiliaries. The result of this confrontation was the battle of Cephisus or Halmyros river, also called Almyros in 1311, in which the French were totally defeated.

    So it was as the the army of Almogávares alone, because their Turkish allies saw their low possibilities of victory decided to dessert, faced a force of 3000 Frankish knights, the best of Greece known as the "Golden Spurs", and 12,000 infantry. Fortunately for the Arago-Catalan cause in Greece the Almogavars had the smart idea of standing with his back to the lake Copais overnight diverted the water of the lake such that samped the strip of land in front of them with the aim that the heavy armored cavalry of the French sank into the mud, where they were easy prey for the Catalan infantry how as it was. And with the oppportune return of their Turkish allies when they saw how turned the tide to their favour the battle degenenerated in an authentic carnage of Frankish! That day died the cream of Burgundian cavalry of Athens and other Frankish states along the count Gautier of Brienne, becoming so the Almogávares the lords of the Duchy of Athens.

    Here took place a curious paradox because as the Almogavars lacked of the necessary administrativeknowledges and about the internal organization of the Duchy they decided democratically, of course with their own statutes, elected the old ambassador of Gautier de Brienne the Catalan from the Rosellon Roger Deslaur, the same who had negotiated the hiring of Catalan and one of the few survivors of the Burgundian side, as the new leader of the Company.

    Among the first consecuences of the battle took place a sudden and significant transformation: the violent insertion of the Catalans in the local Frankish-Greek society, of course with their interest of the spoils. The new chief, Marshal and rector of "universities" (units of people with their own representation), led the mercenaries in the occupation of Thebes and regulated distribution "of all the cities and castles of the duchies".

    Defined and consolidated their own situation in the duchy, the Catalans faced the problem placed under the aegis of a great lord, who in his name regularized the international situation of the Company. Therefore, he turned to King Frederick II of Sicily, which, at his request, Duke of Athens named his second son, Manfred, five years old. The acceptance of the Aragonese-Sicilian regime by the Company was negotiated by Roger Deslaur in early 1312.

    The "Capitula" stipulated by the court of Frederick, show above all the will of the Company not to recognize the authority of Frederick II, but maintain their own autonomy, with the election of their own lord himself. The relationship also to join "faithful and vassals" would be of the same nature as the one in Aragon and Barcelona. Meanwhile, Federico II, on behalf of his son, undertook to defend and hold the Company and each of its members in such a state, trade and feud as "he then had," although they acquired in Attica and Beotia such feudal rights and royalties as obtained in the kingdom of Aragon.

    Federico, given the young age of the infant Manfredo sent Berenguer Estanyol of Ampurias as Vicario General. He proved to be a capable ruler and under his regime the Catalans could consolidate its position in Attica and Beotia. Protected them against the hostility of the Venetians of Negroponte, the Greeks of Thessaly and Epirus, and against the supporters of Brienne's family in Argos and Nafplion (Morea). However in 1316 he died after a prolonged illness and the Catalans chose Guillem Thomas as captain and vice-regent until the arrival to Athens of the natural son of King Frederick II, Alfonso Fadrique, who had been appointed as vicar general of the infant Duke Manfredo. But again in 1317 Manfredo died after falling from his horse, so his younger brother, Guillem II became Duke of Athens (1317-1338). Therefore, Alfonso Fadrique took the top job in the duchy of Athens, which would be lately remebered as the most splendid for the Catalan domain, in which reaches its maximum expansion.

    Alfonso Fadrique married Marulla, daughter of Boniface of Verona, patriarch of Negroponte, and as a dowry obtained castles of Larmena and Karystos in Negroponte, the island of Aegina and "thirteen good castles on the mainland". In 1318, the death of sebastocrator Ioannes II Angelos opened the way of Thessaly. So he could easily conquer Neopatria, Siderocastron, Loidoriki, Domokos and Fársala, which added Zeitounion and Gardiki, that corresponded by his wife. The managed territory (1319) was organized in a new duchy that took the name of the stronghold of Neopatria.

    The Catalan presence in Greece, by subverting the balance of forces that were established in the Balkan Peninsula during the thirteenth century, raised new problems for the coexistence of the Crusader states. So the enemies of the Company at different times were: the Emperor Andronikos II Paleologos, his imperial governor in Mistra; Greek sovereign Ioannes II Comnenos of Thessaly and his relative the Spine Joan of Epirus; the Frankish barons of Achaia, vassals of Prince Philip I of Taranto; the Venetian mayor of Negroponte and the Venetians feudataries of the Archipelago and finally the Pope in Avignon, the jealous vigilant of Latin legitimacy in the East as elsewhere.

    Venice, had preferred in the East, rather than territorial gains possession and control, much more important for the purposes of its traffic in a string of strategic bases. From Kefalonia to Modon, Coron, the islands of Cythera, Crete, Santorini, Naxos, Andros and Negroponte. For it his attitude to the Catalan Company, sitting in the center of this network of possessions was waiting. However, the Catalans, together with the Turks, were implementing a series of piratical raids that caused despair in the Adriatic republic. So after detailed negotiations, in 1319 a truce was signed between Alfonso of the Company, and the Venetian mayor Francisco Dandolo, for what the Catalans agreed not to build any other existing ship, and which they still had to be brought to port and disarmed. Besides as alslo ceased their alliance with the Turkish states of Aydin and Mentese (altough they would be again allied with them lately.) Venice obtained such that in peacefully way the Catalan waiver of their fleet could only represent a real danger to their possessions.

    It is also consistent the pposition assumed by the Papacy respect to the Company position. After the battle of Cephisus, Clement V, at the request of Philip of Taranto, had strongly protested against the Catalan residents "in partibus Romaniae" who he considered as usurpers of the rights Brienne and invited them to leave the duchy. The anathema against the "societas" put the Catalans, Catholics, in the same plane as schismatics and Muslims. But nothing was obtained; In addition, the papacy and its allies, France and Naples, we will not be able to promote an action of force, and this is also due to succeed not exceed moderate policy pitfall of Venice.

    The pressure forces Alfonso Fadrique moves from east to west, towards Achaia, putting in serious difficulties the French principality. In view of the situation, 1321, the authorities and inhabitants of Morea offered the control of it to Venice but rejected.

    In 1324 and thereafter took place a resumption of military and diplomatic activity of the Franco-Angevin states. So it was in view of an expedition of Juan de Gravina, Robert of Anjou went to the Venetian republic to try to obtain their support, but Venice reminds the king that is at peace both with the Emperor of the East and with the company. On other hand the intervention in Morea of Gravina reduced to a hurried and easy takeover of the Principality.

    For his part, John XXII strongly supports the claims of Gautier II de Brienne, son of the late Frank Duke of the Duchy of Athens. In 1330 gives the Bull of Crusade against the Catalans, which however only adhered Robert of Naples. In 1331 Gautier gathered an army that landed in Epirus. But he didn´t found support among native Greeks. The expedition was a failure and returned to Brindisi in the summer of 1332. During the years of 1334 and 1335 considered making another attack. John XXII reiterated his excommunication on the Catalans. The Lordship of Venice Gautier returned to refuse and never returned to Greece, but always thought of doing.

    Shortly after the issuance of Brienne in 1331-1332, the Catalans Greece enjoyed a period of relative peace and prosperity; when around 1330 (or perhaps 1326) Alfonso Fadrique was removed as vicar general, perhaps because of the insistence of the Venetians, as the price of neutrality, Catalan expansion policy came to an end. The Turks became a threat to not less Catalans for Venetians Negroponte. On the death of Alfonso Fadrique in 1338, the Catalans relations with the Venetians became even more friendly.

    Through these military and diplomatic life experiences of the duchy it was consolidated at the international level. But this, at the same time began a process of decay, because just at this time, the Company, to transform internally entity in the prevailing militarily to an exclusively political reality, it began to lose that strength that had become in a solid instrument of war.

    With the death of the King Frederick II of Sicily in 1337; William II was confirmed in the Catalan duchies of Athens and Neopatria. The disease of the young Duke and confusion that followed the death in Sicily Federico II prevented him to make a trip to Greece. In 1338 he died; his younger brother, the Marquis of Randazzo, was Duke of Athens as John II. Finally in 1344 he thought of recruiting an army of 600 knights and 4,000 almogávares in Aragon for an expedition against the Turks in the East which never took place due the most pressing events in Greece.

    Current Situation

    Altough the current situation of the Duchy of Athens and Neopatria is fairly quiet one must not be fooled. The state of the Company is under the eye look of all its neighbours who ambitioned it.

    For one hand the Romans had fresh in their memory the brutal destruction and sacks made for the Company after the assesination of his leader and how they fooled several times the imperial troops such in land as in the sea.

    On other, the Frankish states of Greece have several pending counts witht the Arago-Catalans who massacre so many of their sons, brothers and fathers in the battle of Halmyros in 1311, so also for their continuous raids of their ports and sentlements and the conquest of their castles with the occasional help of the Turks!

    However, the Turks neither are in good terms with the Company after to break officially their alliance with them. So now they don´t hesitate in attack and sack the Arago-Catalan territories alltough still exist the possibility of restablish the old good relations with them with another alliance "Contra Natura".

    Any ways this could not be very recommendable in a near future due the relations of the Company with the "Holy See" are even worse and the Pope is always eager to help the Angevins of Naples and Greece in their machinations against us. However if the Pope call again the Christian states to participate in a Crusade against the Turks maybe the Arago-Catalans could arrive to some kind of truce with him with which lift up the excomunion that the Company still has for its "past sins".

    So with the exception of the Venetians, with which the Company has achived to establish a solide alliance, and the brother Aragonese kingdoms of Sicily and the far away Aragon which maybe could send them from time to time some reinforcements, altough also to incorporate the Duchy under its total control, the Arago-Catalan state is surrounded by unfriendy nighbours should be careful and choose wisely with which power establish profitable alliances or to conquer for more gloy of the Company and Aragon!

    UNITS

    Almoghaver Long Spearmen

    The Almughavars were farmers and shepherds originating from the countryside, woods and frontier mountain areas between the Christian Kingdoms of Spain and the Moorish Kingdoms. They lived in the harshest conditions in the mountains where the land did not provide many resources for them. These men organised themselves into small bands of outlaws that which would penetrate deep into Moorish territory to gather supplies and live off the land. With time these shepherd communities forged a warrior spirit which was used in the fights of the Reconquista. They formed a numerous host with up to 15,000 Almoghavers being led by Pedro III of Aragon in his expedition to Tunisia and Sicily. After the War of the Sicilian Vespers a large number of them formed mercenary companies which enrolled in Guelph armies in Italy, in various Balkan states such as Serbia or Ragusa, in Roman armies in Anatolia or joined the Catalan Company. The Almoghaver spearmen used a long double handed spear as their main weapon in battle called the coutell. Unlike other spearmen when fighting cavalry they actually targeted the horse forcing the rider to come crashing down and easily defeat him. Such tactics were used to successfully defeat the heavily armoured knights of the Frankish states in Greece. Although they use the long spear and fight in a relative formation they are not as organised as the later pikemen and may break rank in the heat of battle. Due to the fact that they are less mobile compared to the skirmishers they use chainmail as protection.



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    Almoghaver Archer



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    Pilliards Infantry

    This was kind of auxiliary fighter that along a server or a page formed part of the retinue of each "cavall armat" or knight. So their function was provide support to their knights in the middle of the battle as their companion in arms and whose situations in which were necessary a largest speed or ability of maneuver as for example in the envelopment of an enemy wing, during cavalcades to sack or obtain supplies, to explore and to pursuit the defeated opponents. Because of that they armed slightly in comparison with the knights which made precisely the pilliards excellent supporters for their lords in the middle of the confusion of the battle. Besides if the situation required it, how during the frequent sieges of castles and well fortified villages that the Aragonese and after unified Spanish armies had to conquer in the kingdom of Naples, they could dismount and put their feet in the ground to fight shoulder whit shoulder along their lords.



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    Catalan Crossbowmen

    The 'balistarii catalanii' were reputed to be the best crossbowmen in Christianity. Muntaner explains that Catalans do not consider anyone a crossbowman until he knows how to make everything from the beginning to the end of what pertains to a crossbow. And so he carries all his tools in a box as if he had a workshop. And no other people do this but the Catalans learn this at their mothers' breast. The Catalan crossbowmen were used both in marine warfare and also in land operations. They are said to not have discharged a shot without killing or disabling the man they attacked. Moreover, the balistarii were well equipped with an iron cap, a cuirass and a short sword in addition to the two crossbows they carried.



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    Peones Men-at-Arms

    From the middle of the XIV century the old units of infantry known as "Peones" integrated by low trained men who were recruited from the feudal lands of the crown and their noblemen, experienced a gradually transformation passing to be integrated for true soldiers with a solid trainement and well equipped with the best weapons and armours that their could afford with their salary. In fact the crown didn´t allow anyone to be part of their expeditionary infantry units (crosbowman, spearmen, etc.) that had not a equipment of a proved quality and whithout a certain previous experience in combat which many of the recruits obtained in the raids against the muslims of southern Spain and after against also the castillians in their border wars. Hencefroth they were authentic professional men of arms with the necessary means to have a complete armour and weapons as in this case a hammer war perfect to make your away across the enemy lines. Finally they were normally recruited in the main cities of the kingdoms of the crown (Zaragoza, Barcelona, Valencia, Mallorca, etc.) being enroled for the seasonal mediterranean's campaigns in recruitment points along the rest of the infantry known as "taules d`accordament".



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    Navarrese Infantry

    The Kingdom of Navarre was formed in the Basque lands of Northern Iberia. The Navarrese fought against the muslim invaders and also against the other warring states of the peninsula maintaining their small kingdom. The Navarrese were also involved in the Balkan and Greek campaigns of the XIV and XVth century. They formed mercenary companies from Navarre and Gascony and fought as mercenaries for the Angevins of Naples, for the Aragonese, for the Hospitallers and eventually in their own right. The Navarrese formed a mercenary company which eventually supplanted the Catalan company as overlords of Athens and Achaea. Armed with polearms and protected by brigantines and chainmail these warriors are reliable infantry which can be used to hold the line or wreak havoc against enemy infantry.



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    Rodeleros Sword and Buckler Men

    Rodeleros ("shield bearers"), also called espadachines ("swordsmen") and colloquially known as "Sword and Buckler Men", were Spanish troops in the early 16th, equipped with steel shields or bucklers known as rodela and double-edged razor sharp Toledo made swords (usually of the side-sword type). Originally conceived as an Italian attempt to revive the legionary swordsman, they were adopted by the Spanish and used with great efficiency in the Italian Wars during the 1510s and 1520s, but discontinued in the 1530s. When the Spanish adopted the colunella (the first of the mixed pike and shot formations), they used small groups of sword and buckler men to break the deadlock of the push of pike, as the Swiss and Germans used halberdiers, comparable to the role of the German Doppelsoldner during the same period. The rodeleros typically stayed inside the hollowed out squares of the pike formations and broke away at the right moment. At the Battle of Ravenna in 1512, they proved to be deadly at this tactic; however, when facing a fresh, well ordered pike square, they were vulnerable, as at the Battle of Seminara. They were also very vulnerable to attack by cavalry. As battlefield tactics evolved during the early 16th century, the Spanish ultimately concluded that the vulnerability of the rodeleros on the battlefield outweighed their strengths, and they were dropped as a troop type when the Spanish infantry were reorganized into tercios in the 1530s. Renowned for their swordsmanship, these infantrymen are protected by good breastplates and an open helmet and are capable of breaking pike formations and wreaking havoc among less well armed and trained units.



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    Colunella Pikemen

    The defeat of the Spanish armies by the French at the Battle of Seminara in 1495 forced the Spanish to undertake a reorganisation of their armies and tactics under Gonzalo Fernandez de Cordoba also known as El Gran Capitan (the Great Captain). Realizing that he could not match the sheer offensive power of the French gendarmes and Swiss pikes, Fernández de Córdoba decided to integrate the shooting power of firearms, an emerging technology at the time, with the defensive strength of the pike and to employ them in a mutually-supporting formation, preferably in a strong defensive position. At first, this mixed infantry formation was referred to as a colunella ("colonelcy"), and was commanded by a colonel. It interspersed formations of men in close order armed with the pike and looser formations armed with the firearm, initially the arquebus. The Spanish colunellas continued to show valuable flexibility as the Great Italian Wars progressed, and the Spanish string of battlefield successes continued. The tactics of the Spanish colunellas eventually led to the collapse of the Swiss dominance on the battlefields of Europe. The colunellas were eventually replaced by the famed tercios in the 1530s by order of Charles I of Spain (Charles V of the Holy Roman Empire). The tercios were originally made up of one third pikemen, one third arquebusiers and one third swordsmen. Tercios were administrative organizations and were in charge of up to 3000 soldiers.

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    Spanish Arquebusiers


    The introduction of the arquebus as a mass infantry weapon concided with the reforms introduced by Ferdinand of Aragon and Isabella of Castille in the Spanish armies of the late XVth century. Gonzalo de Cordoba 'El Gran Capitan' was the Castillian general who reformed the Spanish armies and reducing the reliance on polearms and instead bringing more guns to the pike formations that could operate independently to take advantage of their increased firepower. The arquebusiers (and later musketeers) were usually split up in several mobile groups called sleeves (mangas) and deployed relative to the pike square, typically with one manga at each corner. By virtue of this combined-arms approach, the formation simultaneously enjoyed the staying power of its pike-armed infantry, the ranged firepower of its arquebusiers, as well as the ability to conduct assaults with sword-and-buckler men. In addition to its inherent ability to repulse cavalry and other units along its front, the long-range firepower of its arquebusiers could also be easily reorganized to the flanks, making it versatile in both offensive and defensive evolutions, as demonstrated by the success of the pike and shot formations at the Battle of Pavia in 1525. Groups were typically arrayed in dragon-toothed formation (staggered—the leading edge of one unit level with the trailing edge of the preceding unit). This enabled enfilade lines of fire and somewhat defiladed the army units themselves. Odd units alternated with even units, respectively one forward and one back, providing gaps for an unwary enemy to enter and outflank itself, where it would become subjected to the combined direct and raking cross fire from the guns of three separate formations. These well trained men are capable of firing deadly volleys with their latest version of the modern arquebus. If fired at close range the weapons are capable of penetrating almost any armour and also intimidate enemies due their smoke and noise.



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    Alabarderos Guardsmen

    Originally the "Guardias de Alabarderos" were established to protect the kings and generals of the unified spanish crown. So was as already in 1504 "Fernando el Católico" king of Aragon and Castilla founded how his own guard the "Real Cuerpo de Alabarderos". Anyways this unit of "infantes" armed with halberds had several tasks as to penetrate in the forest of pikes of the enemy in a simmilar way to the rodeleros and so break the enemy line, as well as the could also left the formation to aid a section of the "espingaderos", and later the arquebusiers, that had separeated from the rest of their unit. So this role as elite troops in first line of the battle explain that they were equipped with a full armour composed among other pieces by a "sallete" a helmet of german origin with a elevable visera and a "gorguera" a piece of metal to cover the throat, shoulder pats, armguards, struts, armbands and still during certain time before to be abandoned lower defenses: thighbands, kneepads and greaves.



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    Jinete Skirmishers

    The Jinete (also spelled ginete or genitour) are a Spanish light horsemen armed with a javelin, a sword and a shield, a troop type developed in the early Middle Ages in response to the massed light cavalry of the Moors. Often fielded in significant numbers by the Spanish generals, and at times the most numerous of the Spanish mounted troops, they played an important role in Spanish mounted warfare throughout the Reconquist until the sixteenth century. They also served successfully in the Italian Wars where Gonzalo de Cordoba's army in 1495 had 500 jinetes to a mere 100 men-at-arms. Dashing skirmishers, they carried the heart-shaped Moorish leather-covered shield, and used Moorish tactics—feigned retreats and throwing javelins at enemies. Some had plate armour, but most had mail shirt or brigantine, steel caps and odd bits of arm or leg armour.



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    Pilliards Cavalry

    This was kind of auxiliary fighter that along a server or a page formed part of the retinue of each "cavall armat" or knight. So their function was provide support to their knights in the middle of the battle as their companion in arms and whose situations in which were necessary a largest speed or ability of maneuver as for example in the envelopment of an enemy wing, during cavalcades to sack or obtain supplies, to explore and to pursuit the defeated opponents. Because of that they armed slightly in comparison with the knights which made precisely the pilliards excellent supporters for their lords in the middle of the confusion of the battle.



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    Sicilian Nobles

    The nobles of Italy were known as signori and their families formed powerful ruling classes all over the peninsula. Unlike other European states the nobles established their own signorias and in many places ruled the state. In Sicily Aragonese nobles mixed with the local Italian nobility to form a ruling class but there was constant friction between the local Italian nobility such as the Chiaramonte family and the Aragonese nobility. Other Italian states had their own nobility and as some houses rose to the heights of power others were extinguished. These lords or signori from all over Italy could afford the most expensive equipment of time and are heavily armoured with the latest Italian plate armour, shields and helmets and fight with swords, maces, warhammers and cavalry lances. In battle they deploy in two or three lines and charge with devastating power alongside famed condotierri and the broken lances.



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    Aragonese Bodyguard


    The Kingdom of Aragón gave the name to the Crown of Aragon after the dynastic union in 1150 of the Queen of Aragon (Petronilla of Aragon) with the Count of Barcelona (Ramon Berenguer) their son inheriting all different territories in the House of Aragon and House of Barcelona. The Kings of Aragon had also the title of Count of Barcelona and ruled territories that consisted of not only the present administrative region of Aragon but also Catalonia, and the kingdoms of Majorca, Valencia, Sicily and Sardinia and also later the Kingdom of Naples too. The King of Aragon was the direct King of the Aragonese region, and held also the title of Count of Provence, Count of Barcelona, Lord of Montpellier, and Duke of Athens and Neopatria. Each of these titles gave him sovereignty over a certain region, and these titles changed as he lost and won territories. Sicily was ruled as an independent kingdom by relatives or cadet branch of the house of Aragon until 1409 after which it became part of the Crown of Aragon. It was later split again from the other Aragonese possessions until it was finally united under the one rule. In Romania the Catalan Company conquered the Duchy of Athens and offered their allegiance to the King of Sicily which appointed his son as Duke of Athens. The Ducal title remained in the hands of the House of Aragon but their authority was in practice exercised by vicars-generals. These men represent the bodyguards of the Kings of Aragon, the Kings of Sicily, the Vicars-generals and other high ranking Aragonese and Catalan officials throughout the land. They accompany their liege at every step and as their protectors and heavy cavalry in battle.




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    Sicilian Bodyguard



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    Duchy of Athens Bodyguard



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    Late Period Aragonese Bodyguard



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    CREDITS


    Tsardoms Team Contributors


    Bardas Phokas -
    modelling, skinning
    Jurcek - modelling, skinning
    Moravexxx - modelling, skinning
    Hrobatos
    - unit materials, models, skins
    Miszel - unit materials, models, skins
    phoenix[illusion]
    - unit materials, models, skins
    Wallachian - research, unit texts & preview organisation
    Rampante-Cid - unit texts


    Special Thanks to

    Cesco
    Hyretic
    Yamabusi OSP (Surgeon and Highland Warrior)
    Shredzorz (OSP medieval weapons)
    Mackie's OSP Weapons Pack

    Lord.Calidor(Venetian Units)
    Lord.Hamilton(Medieval Hood from his Stainless Steel Submod)
    Dejawolf OSP armor
    Narf OSP armor
    Ninja
    Madtao Baltic Total War
    Disgruntled Goat's 1066 mod
    Broken Crescent
    Burreck
    Magyar Mod 1.0
    Art of War(Joedreck and Salty)

    Rusichi Total War
    Lithuania Total War
    HELP Team
    Last edited by Wallachian; August 20, 2016 at 01:35 AM.
    "There is nothing more conductive to the destruction of a nation, whether it be republic or monarchy, than the lack of men of wisdom or intellect."
    -John VI Kantakouzenos, Roman Emperor

  2. #2
    Miszel's Avatar Domesticus
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    Default Re: Tsardoms Total War - FACTION PREVIEW: The Catalans and Aragonese

    Great job!

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    demagogos nicator's Avatar Domesticus
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    Default Re: Tsardoms Total War - FACTION PREVIEW: The Catalans and Aragonese

    Amazing looking units, great work on preview

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    Dusan Silni's Avatar Tiro
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    Default Re: Tsardoms Total War - FACTION PREVIEW: The Catalans and Aragonese

    It is just perfect! Really amazing work m8s

  5. #5

    Default Re: Tsardoms Total War - FACTION PREVIEW: The Catalans and Aragonese

    Looks amazing!!!

  6. #6
    Hrobatos's Avatar Praeses
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    Default Re: Tsardoms Total War - FACTION PREVIEW: The Catalans and Aragonese

    Good work boys!

  7. #7
    SerbianWOLF's Avatar Semisalis
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    Default Re: Tsardoms Total War - FACTION PREVIEW: The Catalans and Aragonese

    Awesome as always !
    No freedom was ever given by any request, nor good speech. Freedom is what you conquer !



  8. #8
    BarnicleBill1's Avatar Centenarius
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    Default Re: Tsardoms Total War - FACTION PREVIEW: The Catalans and Aragonese

    Fantastic!!!

  9. #9
    Wallachian's Avatar Citizen
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    Default Re: Tsardoms Total War - FACTION PREVIEW: The Catalans and Aragonese

    Please note the review is not complete there are still more texts and a few images to come.

  10. #10
    Darios's Avatar Ex Oriente Lux
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    Default Re: Tsardoms Total War - FACTION PREVIEW: The Catalans and Aragonese

    Well done guys! This pleases me to no end!
    Under the Patronage of PikeStance


  11. #11
    demagogos nicator's Avatar Domesticus
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    Default Re: Tsardoms Total War - FACTION PREVIEW: The Catalans and Aragonese

    I can not help myself not to visit this page on regular basis and rechceck this preview over and over again. I epecily like the combination of plate neck protection and open faced bascinets on unupgraded bodyguards. To put in some light well ment criticism, it is just me or the armour of the captain/officer on the first picture (Almoghaver Long Spearmen) looks unrealisticly bright and shiny in comparation to the armours of the other soldiers?

  12. #12
    Hrobatos's Avatar Praeses
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    Default Re: Tsardoms Total War - FACTION PREVIEW: The Catalans and Aragonese

    Thats because I did that normal map, and I make metal lots shinier than my teammate. I find it howover to be more realistic that way. Metal needs to be somewhat shiny.

  13. #13
    Wallachian's Avatar Citizen
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    Default Re: Tsardoms Total War - FACTION PREVIEW: The Catalans and Aragonese

    The preview has now been updated with the Late Period Aragonese Bodyguard and the Upgrade of the Bodyguard with 16th century Maximilian armour.

  14. #14
    Jurand of Cracow's Avatar History and gameplay!
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    Default Re: Tsardoms Total War - FACTION PREVIEW: The Catalans and Aragonese

    I keep my fingers crossed for this mod to be finalized. Keep going, guys, many players await the mod!

  15. #15
    Aneirin's Avatar of flowing verse
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    Default Re: Tsardoms Total War - FACTION PREVIEW: The Catalans and Aragonese

    Nicely done!
    It seems you find the wappenwiki.org very useful, too
    Proud son of Aikanár and brother of Iskar

  16. #16
    Wallachian's Avatar Citizen
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    Default Re: Tsardoms Total War - FACTION PREVIEW: The Catalans and Aragonese

    Thank Yes indeed wappen wiki is an amazing resource we use to the full!

  17. #17

    Default Re: Tsardoms Total War - FACTION PREVIEW: The Catalans and Aragonese

    Impressive and authentic pieces of art!

    DESPERTA FERRO! and SANTIAGO Y CIERRA ESPAŃA!



  18. #18

    Default Re: Tsardoms Total War - FACTION PREVIEW: The Catalans and Aragonese

    So close, keep up the work guys

  19. #19
    Kjertesvein's Avatar Remember to smile
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    Default Re: Tsardoms Total War - FACTION PREVIEW: The Catalans and Aragonese

    Now that's a nice choice of armour for the bodyguard and the maxymax unit.

    ~Wille
    Thorolf was thus armed. Then Thorolf became so furious that he cast his shield on his back, and, grasping his halberd with both hands, bounded forward dealing cut and thrust on either side. Men sprang away from him both ways, but he slew many. Thus he cleared the way forward to earl Hring's standard, and then nothing could stop him. He slew the man who bore the earl's standard, and cut down the standard-pole. After that he lunged with his halberd at the earl's breast, driving it right through mail and body, so that it came out at the shoulders; and he lifted him up on the halberd over his head, and planted the butt-end in the ground. There on the weapon the earl breathed out his life in sight of all, both friends and foes. [...] 53, Egil's Saga
    I must tell you here of some amusing tricks the Comte d'Eu played on us. I had made a sort of house for myself in which my knights and I used to eat, sitting so as to get the light from the door, which, as it happened, faced the Comte d'Eu's quarters. The count, who was a very ingenious fellow, had rigged up a miniature ballistic machine with which he could throw stones into my tent. He would watch us as we were having our meal, adjust his machine to suit the length of our table, and then let fly at us, breaking our pots and glasses.
    - The pranks played on the knight Jean de Joinville, 1249, 7th crusade.













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    Quote Originally Posted by Finn View Post
    This is the only forum I visit with any sort of frequency and I'm glad it has provided a home for RTR since its own forum went down in 2007. Hopefully my donation along with others from TWC users will help get the site back to its speedy heyday, which will certainly aid us in our endeavor to produce a full conversion mod Rome2.

  20. #20
    tomySVK's Avatar Campidoctor
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    Default Re: Tsardoms Total War - FACTION PREVIEW: The Catalans and Aragonese

    Amazing preview!

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