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  1. #1
    Arrogant Ashigaru Moderator Ludens's Avatar
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    Lightbulb Re: Tarantine Cavalry

    Quote Originally Posted by anubis88 View Post
    The Tarantine cavalry were originaly from Tarentum only... In time the description as Tarantines became known for a type of soldier, much like the Cretan archers. But in 272 i guess the Tarantines were still only cavalrymen from Tarentum.
    You are broadly correct, apart from that last bit. Unlike the cities of Hellas proper, the Greek colonies in southern Italy were quick in developing effective cavalry forces. In Greece the emphasis on the hoplite-ideal meant that the hit-and-run tactics of cavalry were frowned upon, but presumably colonists could not afford such impractical idealism.

    As warfare in Greece became more intense, the mothercities also started employing light cavalry in the "Tarentine" fashion. These would have been ordinary hippakontistoi; the actual Tarentine cavalry was still in a class of its own. The confusion is down to the usual muddle of Hellenistic military nomenclature. In any case, Hellenistic factions do get an elite skirmisher cavalry unit in the the form of the Hetairoi Aspidophoroi, so I am not sure why you would want Tarentines to become available everywhere.

    [ETA: just to be clear: I think EB's Tarentines represent the cavalry of Magna Grecia in general, not just of Tarentum.]
    Last edited by Ludens; 11-17-2010 at 15:29.
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  2. #2
    EBII Hod Carrier Member QuintusSertorius's Avatar
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    Default Re: Tarantine Cavalry

    Quote Originally Posted by Ludens View Post
    In any case, Hellenistic factions do get an elite skirmisher cavalry unit in the the form of the Hetairoi Aspidophoroi, so I am not sure why you would want Tarentines to become available everywhere.
    I must admit, I was thinking exactly this. As befits an "elite" unit, the Tarentines are only marginally better than the Aspidophoroi. A couple more javelins, longer range, better (by a point) with the sword and better (again by a point) morale.

    Another very similar unit to the Aspidophoroi are the Campanian Equites, who are slightly heavier armoured.
    Last edited by QuintusSertorius; 11-17-2010 at 16:28.
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