Iberian Rider

"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

Iberian Rider — Vital statistics
	Light cavalry unit which is faster but weaker than normal Javelin Cavalry. Strong versus melee infantry and melee cavalry Weak versus missile cavalry, missile infantry
Prereq:	Build time	HP	LOS	Attack	Attack speed	Movement speed	Upgrade of	Upgrades to
	15s (225t)	65	9	15	2.3s (35t)	36	Basic unit
Cost			Created from	Armour	Weapon range	Specialty
Base	Ramp	Pop
: 60; : 40	: 1; : 1	1		1	0–5	Can attack units whilst pursuing.

Overall strategy

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

• 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

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.