Preview: Etruscan League

Etruscans

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Not much is known about the peoples now called the Etruscans. But from what we do know we see a civilization that dominated northern Italy for more than 500 years. They created beautiful artwork in the form of bronzework and frescoes. They also built large and powerful cities such as Veii and Curtun. Using large hellenistic armies they managed to control not only Northern Italy, but early Rome and Corsica as well.

The origins of these peoples are not well known, and the exact account of their origin is lost in prehistory. It is assumed however that they were either indigenous, possibly originiating in Villanovan culture or as the product of an invasion from the near east.

Expansion was focused in the north and in Campania. The aristocratic nature of Etruscan society led to larger cities that swallowed up smaller towns in their expansion. The Etruscans quickly dominated these areas and became quite wealthy from the mining of copper and iron in northern Italy. The mining they did and wealth accumulated greatly increased their influence all across Italy, and even to norther Africa in Carthage.

The Etruscans were noted for their beautiful bronzework in chariots and sculptures, such as this well-known statue of a man with his wife and the Monteleone chariot:

http://faculty.evansville.edu/rl29/a..._cerveteri.jpghttp://www.metmuseum.org/toah/images/h2/h2_03.23.1.jpg
Their interests soon collided with those of the Greeks in Magna Graecia. Later, in a union with Carthage the combined Etrusco-Carthagnian army defeated the Greek forces at the Battle of Alalia and conquered Corsica which fell into Etruscan hands.

After the victory, Carthage expanded its influence at the expense of both Greeks and Etruscans. The Etruscans moved north after losing their southern provinces and went into decline. Soon after the Carthaginian were defeated by a Syracusian coalition that also beat the Etruscans at the Battle of Cumae. Etruscan influence declined and it began to lose cities to the Romans and Samnites. It lasted until 500BCE, when it was assimilated by Rome.

The Units
Infantry

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Hoplites

Hellenism reached all across the Mediterranean world. Accompanying artistic and architectural influence was militery influence and hoplite armoes began cropping up everywhere. The Etruscan hoplites wear italo corinthian helmets and wear muscle cuirasses and carry etruscan round shields. Althouh not as potent as hoplites from mainland Greece they are still a potent force on the field and are difficult to break apart.

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Swordsmen

Etruscan warriors had carried swords for hundreds of years even before the Greek peoples came to Italy. Aside from the sword they have a bronze Etruscan shield, a simple pot-like helmet with a crest and a simple round breastplate.

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Noble Swordsmen

Armed in a similar manner to the swordsmen these noblemen are more heavily armored with a muscle cuirass and italo-corinthian helmets. These would be the men who are above the middle class in terms of wealth and can afford good armor but cannot afford a horse or chariot.

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Spearmen

Etruscans spearmen are, aside from the hoplites, the main aspect of the Etruscan army. They are lightly armed and armored and carry a scutum that was later adopted by the Romans.

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Axemen

Although the Etruscans made use of more modern weapons and tactics such as hoplite warfare, they maintained the use of ancestral weapons such as axes. These axemen. although relatively unarmored they are very effective shock troops and in large numbers may be able yo create a gap in the enemy phalanx

The Cavalry

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Light Cavalry

These horsemen are lightly armed with a few javelins and a dagger or short-sword for melee combat. They are by no means shock cavalry and should be used as skirmishers.

These men would come from the lower aristocratic classes who can afford to own a horse but cannot buy the heavier armor.

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Chariots

The best cavalry the Etruscans field (aside from the bodyguards), these chariots carry up to 3 riders who are armed with swords that they use to hack apart the enemy as they ride down on them in their heavy wooden chariots.

https://img101.imageshack.us/img101/...uardchario.jpg

General's Bodyguard Chariots

These are the cream of both the aristocracy and army of the Etrusci. These men carry javelins for skirmishing and swords for the shock charge. They also ride he heavy bronze chariots much like the Monteleone Chariot uncovered at at Monteleone di Spoleto.

Wow, especially the general's chariots look very nice.
The way you make them stand out from the ordinary chariots:2thumbsup:

thanks :)