The Kingdom of Corinthia

[Taranaich]

The Kingdom of Corinthia

“Five hundred years later the kingdoms of the world are clearly defined. The kingdoms of the Hyborians – Aquilonia, Nemedia, Brythunia, Hyperborea, Koth, Ophir, Argos, Corinthia, and one known as the Border Kingdom – dominate the western world.” – The Hyborian Age
Capital: Corinthia (Nemedia)
Current Ruler: King Murillo

Corinthia is one of the first generation Hyborian Kingdoms. Founded during the original Hyborian drift, they are an ancient realm which exploited the trade between Acheron and Zamora to make them a rich and important nation. The canny diplomacy and then strong military allowed Corinthia to be a vassal to Acheron while still maintaining a semblance of autonomy, which was the only thing keeping them from outright absorption into either the Acheronian or Zhemri empires. During the fall of Acheron, Corinthia chose this time to assert her independence, and with the uprising of other vassals Acheron crumbled, and the Hyborian Age began in earnest.

In the 3,000 years that followed, Corinthia's military and cultural might was gradually overtaken by the younger Hyborian realms, and it's military, once the apex of Hyborian power, became anachronistic in the face of new technologies and discoveries. It is also a troubled realm, wracked by civil conflicts and insurrections, and the taxing of the populace is so extreme that many of Corinthia's brightest and strongest seek employment and fulfillment elsewhere. Indeed, Corinthian mercenaries are particularly renowned, whole divisions of them being employed in mercenary wars.

Corinthia is thus in a precarious position: like Zingara, it is torn apart by war and incompetent leadership, and must rely on mercenaries - even their expatriates - to supplement their devoted but unreliable militia. A strong enough king might be able to pull Corinthia out of the disastrous situation it found itself in at the time of Conan - perhaps enough to stop the habitual exodus of Corinthia's fighting men, and create a state military that does justice to this once mighty kingdom.

Units


Citizen Hoplites
The Corinthians are a proud race, and the citizens who choose to remain in their home city rather than find mercenary work abroad are the proudest of all. The poorest citizens of Corinthia fight in a surprisingly coherent and effective fashion which would be impossible for a normal Hyborian militia, trained as they are in the ancient ways. Coupled with the fact that they are only usually called to fight in defense, and they are probably the most dedicated and courageous levy units in the Hyborian Age. They are armed with hefty bronze shields and short spears, and can be supplied with linen armour.


Phalanx Spearmen
While most Corinthian citizens are strongly trained in the Corinthian manner of warfare, most are farmers and traders by occupation. However, some citizens form a local watch to augment the professional garrisons and provide a swift defense against bandits and outlaws who dare to prey on their fine cities. These citizens are organised in the Phalanx, a particularly ancient formation that served Corinthia well in the days of Acheron. Although they are considerably anachronistic, they are fortuitously the equivalent of more modern Hyborian spear infantry, and are arguably superior to these younger troops due to historical experience and prestige. Although Corinthia relies on it's cavalry as much as any Hyborian nation, their spearmen are considered in a somewhat higher regard than those of other kingdoms: rather than the fodder sent in to clear the way for the cavalry, Corinthia's phalanges have a sense of pride inferior only to the mighty Gundermen, though they are rarely utilized effectively by their foolish generals.


Phalanx Pikemen
A new innovation in Corinthian warfare inspired by western pikemen, this is a variation on the traditional phalanx incorporating extremely long spears. Created primarily to combat the pikemen of other nations as well as cavalry, these soldiers are largely unaccustomed to using such an unwieldy weapon, and so are not as effective as those nations with a pike tradition. However, the famous Corinthian pride makes up for lack of training and experience, and their lack of heavy plate armour makes them faster and more maneuverable than most other pikemen.


Archers
Although Corinthia tends to use levied crossbowmen and arbalesters for their missile infantry division, there exists a small number of traditional bowmen among the Corinthians, though most of these have long departed their home country. They are generally composed of hunters and archery enthusiasts among the citizenry, making them rare but well equipped and strong units.
Corinthian archers have a certain notoriety for bad behaviour, mostly because they are the least appreciated branch of the military and the most poorly paid. Rather than finding honest work in mercenary armies, they are more frequently found raising hell on the Vilayet sea as pirates, or as Kozak bandits in the east. However, if they are employed effectively and treated well, they can be a very effective part of a Corinthian force.


Sacred Guard
“And since the royal guardsmen were not knocking at his door, it was certain that the priest had said nothing to the king, so far.” – Rogues in the House
Perhaps the most dangerous and powerful Corinthian troops, the Sacred guard are the extremely well-paid and equipped guards of Corinthia's nobility, patrolling the temples, villas and mansions of their cities. They are formed from retired mercenaries, veteran guardsmen and even a few generals and captains, and are extremely devoted to their home city. Because their wagse are paid by their individual employers rather than the state, they are very cost-effective soldiers for settlement defense, although taking them out of a city for military duty means that their extremely high upkeep falls into the royal treasury's lap, making them too expensive to be useful for military campaigning. Armed with a high-quality halberd and magnificently crafted bronze armour, they are a vital addition to the defense of a city.


Hypaspist Swordsmen
"At that a great clamor arose, some siding with Aratus, some with the Corinthian, whom they called Ivanos. Oaths flew thick, challenges were passed, hands fumbled at sword-hilts..." - Iron Shadows in the Moon
Hypaspists, or "shield-bearers" in the Corinthian tongue, are extremely versatile and mobile swordsmen, used to guard a phalanx's vulnerable right flanks, or indeed any point on the battlefield where they are needed. They are among the proudest of Corinthia's warriors, and are usually composed of more hardened and tough soldiers than the phalanx. Due to the need for good infantry, most Hypaspists depart Corinthia as mercenary swordsmen, and would have to be paid well to consider fighting at home.


Diplokleruch Soldiers
“When I served with the mercenaries of Corinthia we swilled and wenched all night and fought all day – aye, blood ran down the channels of our swords...” – Rogues in the House
The Diplokleruchoi, or double-soldiers, are a relatively new innovation in the Corinthian Army. These soldiers are veterans who fight on the front line away from the relative security of the phalanx in return for double the already generous salary of the average mercenary. Similar to the Nemedian Adventurers, these soldiers wield a huge two-handed sword, though due to the infancy of the division they are not as skilled in their use as their western neighbours, though their ferocity and doggedness more than compensate for their lack of finesse. Their primary use on the battlefield is to break an enemy spear infantry line, their gigantic swords breaking the spears and pikes to splinters.


Peltast Skirmishers
Named for the Pelta, their small round shield, these soldiers are from the northern reaches of Corinthia, where the people are slightly less civilized than their southern countrymen. This makes them less favourable scholars or statesmen, but highly championed soldiers. Their mountain home has made them especially adept at guerrilla warfare: millenniums of bothering Acheron, Zamora and rival Corinthians has made them talented ambushers and skirmishers, harassing the enemy with javelins before retreating in the blink of an eye.

Other units (coming soon):

Bronze Shields (elite phalanx spearmen)
Silver Shield Swordsmen (elite swordsmen)
Companion Cavalry (Medium-Heavy Cavalry)
Mounted Peltasts (very strong light cavalry)
Cataphract Cavalry (A Corinthian variation of knights)
War Dogs (hopefully these are still possible)