Quote Originally Posted by Steppe Merc
Perhaps. But Cataphracts, and other heavy horsmen should be there. The only heavy horse mercs I've seen so far was the Sarmatians (at least there in the game, though they don't have their rightful faction). I just think that almost any unit, admidetly with a few exceptions, would be willing to be bought out. After all, the Vargarian Gaurds of the Byzantines were mercanaries, and they were an extremely elite guard unit.
Most elite units were rather factionstrong, meaning they might not like their leader, but they were all for their home.
The Varangians started out as mercenaries, being actively hired in Russia, or Rus as it was known then. But as time went by, quite fast, it was widely known that the Byzantine Empire employed such warriors as they just came by themselves. It became more of an internal unit with the warriors recruited externally. Not really a mercenary position.