Citizen Cavalry

Recruitment Cost 540
Upkeep Cost 100
Melee Attack 37
Weapon Damage 26
Bonus vs. Large 10
Charge Bonus 28
Melee Defence 28
Armour 70
Health 75
Base Morale 45
Strengths & Weaknesses
  • Good attack
  • Average defence
  • Low damage but average armour penetration
  • Average morale
Description

The early Greek cavalry took roughly the same form throughout the city-states, being comprised of citizens able to afford and maintain a horse. After the Greco-Persian Wars, city-states such as Athens founded more permanent cavalry funded by annual grants. Right through the Peloponnesian War however, this volunteer cavalry continued to be few in numbers, and was used principally to chase skirmishers and fleeing hoplites. It was not that cavalry were ineffectual in Greek warfare, as shown by the Theban victory at the Battle of Delium in 424BC, but until this time they had been underused and lacked the numbers to make a decisive impact. Often wearing a metal helm and a mailed cuirass reaching down to their knees, they were equipped with a long sword and a spear, usable as both a lance and a javelin. However, a lack of saddle and stirrups, unused by the Greeks of the time, made them relatively easy to knock from horseback.