Iberian Rider

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"How quickly the Moors move! and they rearm themselves,
 from the sound of the drums the ground was about to crack,
you would see Moors arming themselves, quickly entering into formation."

Cantar de Mio Cid

In game[edit | edit source]

Iberian Rider
Iberian Rider — Vital statistics
Iberian Rider

Light cavalry unit which is faster but weaker than normal Javelin Cavalry.

Prereq: Build time HP LOS Attack Attack speed Movement
speed
Upgrade of Upgrades to
Level 3: Heraldry and Code of Honour Military
15s
(225t)
65 9 15 2.3s
(35t)
36

Basic unit

Jinete ico.png

Cost Created from Armour Weapon range Specialty
Base Ramp Pop
Timber: 60;
Wealth.jpg: 40
Timber: 1;
Wealth.jpg: 1
1

Stable/Rise of Kings

1 0–5

Can attack units whilst pursuing.

Moors.jpg

Overall strategy[edit | edit source]

The Iberian Rider mates the speed and rate of fire of normal bow cavalry with the attack of javelin cavalry. Although the result is a hard-riding and harder-hitting javelin cavalry unit, it suffers from the Horse Archer's lack of armour and hitpoints, and the poor range of javelins. Still, the extra speed of this unit should result in a highly flexible and fast offensive unit, capable of decimating melee infantry and harassing other cavalry units. Just remember to stay away from missile weaponry or melee cavalry, though — it will do no good to be caught by heavy lances or even bullets.

The high-octane light cavalry tactics of Iberian Riders aren't limited to Spain and Africa alone, but are also practised farther afield, with the Lithuanians being one of the major proponents of this form of lightning warfare. Renegade Bajorai share the same stats with Iberian Riders, and can be trained fairly quickly compared to the original Iberian Rider unit by Poland and Russia, Wealth willing, should the need for them arise.

Unit summary[edit | edit source]

  • With the Speed of Summer Lightning — Being fast and nimble, Iberian Riders are capable of decimating melee infantry and harassing other cavalry units.
  • Tin-Thin Armour — Due to its lack of armour and low hitpoints, keep this unit as far away from melee cavalry and archers as possible.
  • Renegade Bajorai — Although weak and somewhat outclassed in the Imperial Era, this mercenary version of the Iberian Rider is still cheap enough to be used by Poland and Russia in later eras.

History[edit | edit source]

The terrain of Iberia which varied between arid deserts and deadly mountain passes meant that whatever military cultures in that area had to be as flexible and innovative as possible. It was in this environment that the jinete (named after the Zenata, a people which supposedly lived in North Africa) or Iberian cavalry skirmisher first came to the fore, following cavalry traditions in Africa that reached back to as early as Roman times. Of course, javelin cavalry however are not confined to Iberia in Europe — specialised javelin troops, the Cossacks, trained and drilled following Turkic lines, can be recruited as mercenaries by Poland and Russia in later eras.