Navarre Work/Research Thread

[FuzFuzFuz]

Regnum Navarrae / Nafarroako Erresuma

Kingdom of Navarre is a relatively small kingdom in the Pyreenes, surrounded by powerful enemies that desire it's lands. In the West, Castille grows restless. Alphonso VII had invaded and occupied the western provinces of the country 12 years prior, reclaim them for the glory of Navarre! In the East, the power of Aragon grows. Currently they are busy participating in the Albigensian Crusades, take their lands before they can fight back! The Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa has brought about some co-operation among the Spanish powers, and no longer are the Almohads a threat. But do not be complacent, as rule of the Iberian peninsula will be decided after their total defeat! Show them that we will be shackled no longer, but instead we are the ones who will bring the shackles and chains!


I made this thread to compile research on Navarre. I have found less than a handful of pictures related to Navarre and virtually no written information, therefore I implore anyone with knowledge on the faction to present your ideas.


I was thinking about making this faction infantry-based (since it's like the weakest Spanish faction, horses are scarce :p). Main Navarre units with Basque Auxiliaries/Guerrilla Units (Basque Highlanders etc), Tier 1 (1212-1299) units Spanish-influenced, Tier 2 (1300-1399) and Tier 3 (1400-1499) more French-influenced since they were ruled by kings who came from French noble houses. Tell me what you think!

Tier 1:

Light Spearmen

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Armoured Spearmen

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Javelinmen

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Navarrese Knights (Early)

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Sancho VII "Azkarra", Nafarroako Erregea

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Tier 2: (House of Capet)

Halberdiers (High)

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Navarrese Knights (High)

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

King's Bodyguards (High)

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Tier 3:

Navarrese Company Knights

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Navarrese Company Crossbowmen

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

[warman222]

Okay... I just changed the thread title. Units look nice but I don't want to confuse anyone... including me.

[Filips Augustus]

Just wow...

[sobaos]

If you need more information about the Kingdom of Navarre I could help you, I have a "two-year" course of History of Navarre.
I show some of the most important symbols of the Kingdom of Navarre in the XIII Century the mod should introduce:
1. KINGDOM'S EMBLEMS AND SYMBOLS:

Half-moon with the star (sometimes with a central Carbuncle). This star is still present in some cities of Navarre/Basque Country:





The main emblem of Navarre. Both for the battle and for the Kingdom:

(XII - XIII Centuries):


(XIII Centuries - ...):





Other emblem of the Kingdom:



The Black Eagle, Symbol of the King Sancho VII of Navarre (1194-1234) (called " Arrano Beltza" in Basque):





Cultural Symbols of the Vascons in Navarre:

Lauburu (four-heads in basque). It represents life. Reversed it means Death.
Nowadays we can still see this symbols in cemeteries or houses.





The main emblems of the Kingdom and the Black Eagle should appear in both battle-flags and shields.
The Lauburu and the half-moon with star should appear only on shields.

2. ARMY/SOLDIERS/SHIPS (LOOK):





Ship Navarre S.XII
Navarre ships extended the new rudder/oar-system. It was the rudder which replaced the viking-norman stearing oar, placing the rudder in the aft of the ship.
This is always mentioned in the ancient texts as "bayonnese" and "Navarresque".
3. DIFFERENCES BETWEEN NAVARRE AND ITS NEIGHBOURING KINGDOMS:

SOME RELEVANT POINTS FOR THE HISTORICAL ACCURACY:The people of Navarre were not spanish (iberian or celtiberian's descendants), neither germanic. They were not latins neither celts.They were "Vascons", differentiated ethno-culturally from the "spanish" and frankish people. They spoke a pre- Indoeuropean language (today known as "basque", evolution of Vascon) which was called by themselves, the Vascons, in XII Century as "lingua Navarrorum" (King Sancho VI of Navarre ).

Therefore designations about soldiers, buildings and even names must be defined according to "navarre" and "Vascons"or "Wascons" and certainly not as spanish, iberian or aragonnes. This has been a constant mistake in Total War and in particular in a Attila Age of Charlemagne, where soldiers of Navarre and also Gasconia are considered like "spanish". In fact, this denomination would be as incorrect as telling lapps (Lapland) were germans or picts were romans. This must be the most important point to consider when developing this Kingdom.
4. NAMES:

In order to improve the historical accuracy I find interesting to list some Warrior/King names in Navarre.
It is important to note that these names are different from hispanic and frankish names (as I mentioned before at point 3). Most of them are vasconic.
These must be the names for the game characters (kings, warriors, etc.). Another important point to take into consideration if we
want to approach to the "historical true".

KINGS:
ENEKO
SANCHO
GARÇEA
LABRIT
MENDITARRA
IÑIGO
OTSOA
LUPO
FORTUN
THEOBALD
XEMEN

WARRIORS & OTHER IMPORTANT MEDIEVAL NAMES IN NAVARRE:
DOMIKU
GERAXAN
OBEKO
OIER
ZURI
JAUNTI
IANIZ
BIHOX
AZNAR
UNAI
ANTSO
SUGAAR
BERNAT

FEMALE NAMES:
CATHALINA
URRIKA
MUNIA
LEYRE
MARGARITA
KATTALIN
OTSANDA
AINES
ESTIBALIZ
MAIDER
MADDALEN
JURDANA

This was posted by Altunenberg two years ago, I think it would be of help.

[FuzFuzFuz]

Yep, already seen it, Tier 1 Navarrese Knights is based on of those pictures. Now I need military structure eg. What kind of armour and weapons they used, any unique troop type I can add, stuff like that. I have looked around the internet and found a few, but its not really not much to go on.

[Kjertesvein]

From several Medieval 2 Mods, a robust javelin unit seem to be a staple unit for this faction. The can some times hide.

Without knowing their basis for this, the mod 1143 for Medieval 2 Kingdoms based on the *Reconquista*, gave the Kingdom of Navarre the following strength and weakness.

Faction Strenght:Good light infantry.

Faction Weakness.
Fields poor variety of units.

From Druzhina's web page, a noteworthy mention as far as inspiration for early tier.

This has simple drawings and the figures are mostly unarmoured. There are a large number of shield patterns shown - The Hebrews tend to have flat-topped kite shields and their enemies round shields.
http://www.warfare.altervista.org/12/Navarre_Bible.htm

~Wille

[sobaos]

I think that should chage the name Sancho VII "El Fuerte", Rey de Navarra to Antso VII "Azkarra", Nafarroako Erregea. Because the spanish was only spoken in castilian zone and no in the kingdom of navarre where the navarro-aragones and the euskera were the spoken lenguages.

[Slytacular]

Fuz, you're giving the 14th century banner guys some 13th century kettles. Please keep in mind that Spanish factions look very different from Central Europe during the 13th century. Don't apply the ye typical spangen helmet for ye typical Frank method.

[FuzFuzFuz]

I think that should chage the name Sancho VII "El Fuerte", Rey de Navarra to Antso VII "Azkarra", Nafarroako Erregea. Because the spanish was only spoken in castilian zone and no in the kingdom of navarre where the navarro-aragones and the euskera were the spoken lenguages.

Changed. Ill keep the name Sancho as we all used Anglicized names for our monarchs. Would you mind translating the other unit names for me?

Fuz, you're giving the 14th century banner guys some 13th century kettles. Please keep in mind that Spanish factions look very different from Central Europe during the 13th century. Don't apply the ye typical spangen helmet for ye typical Frank method.

Alright me matey, herr be changed asap.

[sobaos]

Changed. Ill keep the name Sancho as we all used Anglicized names for our monarchs. Would you mind translating the other unit names for me?

Thanks, and I dont mind to do a translation job for this

[Maroni_The_Bat2]

*bump*

Just wanted to know if there is any progress on this faction?
Ive been hyped about this one since the threads arrival, and it pains me to see no progress.

[FuzFuzFuz]

Soon™

[Visarion]

Awfull colours for tier 1... tier 2 much better... tier 3 so so