Guess the unit names! (Portugal screen shot)

[MadKow]

The Order of Christ was in fact what the Templars became in Portugal after they were outlawed by the Pope. King D. Dinis recognzed their role in the Reconquista and so transfered all templar titles and properties to the Order of Christ. There is a magnificent Templar Castle in the City of Tomar.

The order of Santiago was also present in Portugal from the very start, both of the order and the country so it's not inconsistent at all, and yes, that is a Cross of Santiago on the Shield.

Just for general culture Santiago is short for Saint Iago, Iago being the original spanish name for the Apostle James, in english language tradition, Jacob being his Jewish name.

Tiago became a common name in portuguese by misreading Santo Iago as San Tiago.

Ill come back to this topic after i get home and get hold of my Portuguese Military History, vol 1.

[hoetje]

What is an Almughavar?

[econ21]

Almughavar was a kind of light infantryman from Valencia and Murcia - often fought as mercenaries for the Byzantines. They were mainly armed with spears and javelins. There's a nice report by Muntaner about one defeating five mounted Frenceh men-at-arms in succession.

They were in MTW - dunno about M2TW, but they are a characterful unit. I doubt (2,7) is one - it looks all wrong. But the unit seems to be a skirmisher of some sort.

[MadKow]

Don't know if it is the right thread for this, but it would be nice if dismounted lance cavalry could act as pikemen, because thats what they did.
(i was reading some history of portuguese battles looking for army compositions of the period and found this to be a common tactic after 1380, when being on the defensive, of course).

Another interesting feature of the period was the difference in morale of the troops, namely those recruited from the population, between defensive campaigns and ofensive. Portuguese almost aways beat the spanish even outnumbered and poorly equiped, while later, when they took the battle to Spain the opposite ocurred, the bigger better equipped (with the spoils of previous battles) portuguese army was forced to retreat on the siege of Coria, in Castille. Would be nice to have this modeled into the game, perhaps.

Portuguese should have a dependable crossbow militia. King D.Diniz created these units, based on local craftsmen and small farmers. They had to have the income to support their weapon. They where reported to pierce armour at 70 meters.

And access to English longbows, as mercenaries.