Greetings Europa Barbarorum fans.
Today is the day for another Europa Barbarorum II preview! We would like to show you more of the astonishing work of our historians, modelers and skinners, who combined have produced these beautifully crafted units. We will show you renders of three infantry units: the Hoplite, the Thureophoroi and the Peltastai Makedonikoi. We will also show you renders and animations of our latest specialty: our first siege engine for Europa Barbarorum II: the Oxybeles.
Click on the renders to watch a PowerPoint presentation of these units!
In addition, we have new Europa Barbarorum signatures for you, and a little contest with a little prize for the winner. Scroll down to find out!
And last but not least, we have another surprise for you, this time from our Greek Voicemod experts.
Enjoy!
The Hoplitai
These troops were the symbol of Hellenic liberty and devotion to the polis. These highly motivated citizen soldiers were once the dominant form of fighting in the Hellenic world. During the later Hellenistic period, these troops, while still present on the battlefield, lost the protagonism they had enjoyed during older times. After the introduction of new ways to do war on the Hellenic mainland, these troops underwent a continuous modification of their equipment, in an effort to adapt to these emerging conditions. Consequently, they were outfitted with good quality linen armour, helmets of various designs,
doru spears,
xyphos shortswords and their ever-present
aspis shields. They underwent a progressive lightening of their equipment, in line with the Hellenic tendency of producing more mobile troops, whilst still maintaining a degree of protection enough to enable them to be troops of the line.
They still fought as their fathers' fathers had done, in a tightly welded shield wall that traded mobility for mutual protection. This formation was the epitome of Hellenic selflessness,
esprit de corps and sacrifice, for each hoplite entrusted his protection to the soldier on his right, while covering his brother on his left. However, this formation was being rendered progressively obsolete by the third century BC, by the prevalence of more mobile troops like the
Peltastai and the
Thureophoroi.
Despite of the fact that the Hoplitai represented an ageing fighting style, their motivation was second-to-none, and they still personified the Hellenic military ethos displayed by their ancestors.
In 3rd century Hellas, these troops still defended their motherland from both external and domestic threats with the same merit, virtue and patriotism as that which had been exhibited by their elders.
Renders:
The Thureophoroi
The deployment of the
Thureophoroi (
Thureos Carrier) was one of the many aspects in which the Hellenic warfare adapted to the new conditions of the third century BC battlefields. These units were named after their shields, the
Thureos, an elliptical shield massively adopted in Hellas after the Galatian invasions of the third century BC. These shields were made of wood and covered in leather, and had a central horizontal grip. Thureophoroi also wore good quality reinforced linen armour and helmets of various designs. They were armed with a
doru spear and a
xypho shortsword, and had a clutch of javelins that augmented their hitting power. They were also equipped with Macedonian boots, which gives us a clear hint about their role in the field of battle.
These highly disciplined and courageous troops embodied the principle of mobility on the battlefield, and fulfilled the role of being flexible units that had the initiative to react to the changing conditions on the battlefield, something that a hoplite or a Macedonian phalangite could not. For instance, a
Thureophoroi unit could quickly mobilize and reinforce a faltering wing, and thus prevent the breaking of the line. Their light but sturdy equipment allowed them to perform quick flanking actions, and to anchor and exploit breaches in the enemy line. However, they were not assault troops, and their armour, while of good quality, was not so heavy as to enable them to confront the heaviest and best-equipped enemy troops.
The key word to define these troops is versatility; but, like every Jack of all trades, they were master of none.
Renders:
The Peltastai Makedonikoi
The need of heavy, steadfast and sufficiently mobile assault troops in the Hellenistic kingdoms was fulfilled by units like the
Peltastai Makedonikoi. This unit's name ressembles that of the unarmoured and
pelte-equipped Thracian skirmisher of the fifth century. However, these troops, aside from their name, have little in common with that extremely mobile light infantry unit. They were equipped with reinforced linen and leather
thorakes, a heavy shield 60cm in diameter, richly adorned helmets, greaves, good quality blades and a clutch of javelins.
These units were richly adorned, and were made up of the best men the kingdom had to offer: noblemen's sons in their prime physical condition, relentlessly trained to become an elite special unit.
Mindful of the fact that such a heavily outfitted, highly trained unit could not run around the battlefield performing the simpler task of the older
Peltastai, the
Strategos of the
Diadochoi utilized these troops in fortress assaults, where their javelins could pepper wall defenders and their equipment enabled them to fight in such lethal environments. They were also utilized to carry out special tasks, such as exploiting gaps in the enemy line and hitting the enemy hard from their rear or their flank. They were some of the best assault troops available, and could be used as such if the situation called for it.
However, these troops were not as heavily armoured as their cousins, the
Hypaspistai, and while both were considered as
Agema and belonged to the
Basilike Ile or royal squadron, it should not be confused as to what function corresponds to who in the battlefield.
Renders:
The Oxybeles
The ΚΑΤΑΠΕΛΤΗΣ ΟΞΥΒΕΛΗΣ (
Katapeltes Oxybeles) was an arrow-shooting engine, akin to its stone projector sibling, the
Katapeltes Lithoboloi. It was used primarily in sieges, by both the attacking and defending side.
This siege engine represented an evolution from the earlier flexion-based
Katapeltes, such as the
Gastrophetes or ''belly bow'', The
Oxybeles stored the energy to fire its projectiles by the twisting of the ropes installed on its frame. This means that the energy storing mechanism relied not on the flexion of the bow, but on the torsion of sinews or ropes located inside its frame. The energy, after careful aiming of the weapon, was then violently discharged by the
katapeltaphetes (catapult operator) by releasing the ratchet's brake. The box over which the arrow rested was then thrown forward, transferring the momentum to the projectile. This differed from other shooting mechanisms where the cord directly impelled the projectile, like the
Lithoboloi or Stone Projector.
This machine was designed as a precision shooting
Katapeltes, one that could be aimed by the
katapeltaphetes at individual soldiers. This precision, along with its potency, was one of the hallmarks of this weapon. Megas Alexandros was reputed to have been knocked down by a projectile launched from such an engine, and Antigonos Monopthalmos owed his surname to one of these devices.
Along with its bigger brothers, such as the
Talantaioi Lithoboloi, or ''One Talent Stone Projector'', the
Oxybeles formed a substantial part of the siege weapon echelon of assaulting armies, and was instrumental in the defence of cities and fortresses.
Renders:
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