Thracian Sica Cavalry (AOR) (0.6.7) | Unit Browser for RTR: Imperium Surrectum

Thracian Sica Cavalry (AOR)

Light Cavalry(0.6.7)

Faction:

Weapons

AttackLethalityChargeTypeTechMin. DelayMissile TypeMissile RangeAmmo

Weapon AttributesPrimaryThrown before chargingSecondaryArmour-piercingAttack AttributesFire Delay0Modifiers

Primary14125ThrownBladed25javelin502

Secondary120.4926MeleeBladed25---

None

Defence

TotalArmourDefence SkillShield

Primary224126

Secondary----

Soldier Stats

SoldiersMass

30?

Mental Stats

MoraleDisciplineTraining

14LowUntrained

Health

Hit PointsExtra HP

Formation

FormationsDepthCharge Dist.

Spacing
Side / Back

CloseLoose

Square440

2 / 4.83 / 7.2

Cost

RecruitmentUpkeepWeapon UpgradeArmour UpgradeCustom Battle

1388559033527

Recruitment

Turns TakenAI Priority Offset

215

Terrain Modifiers

Attack ± in ScrubAttack ± in SandAttack ± in ForestAttack ± in SnowHeat Modifier

1-3-200

Unit Data

Unit Type (ID)Dictionary StringUnit ClassUnit Category

aor thracian sica cavalrythracian_sica_cavalryLightCavalry

Attributes: Can embark, Can hide in forest, Not available in custom battles, Mercenary unit, Hardy

Ownership:

AOR Unit

Short description

Thracian Sica Cavalry is a reform unit that is very deadly in close combat, as its curved swords can easily cut off the unprotected limbs of the enemy.

Description

The Thracian Sica Cavalry is a reform unit for Thracian factions. They are protected by Chalcidian and Attic helmets, thureos shields, and greaves. Wearing Thracian patterned tunics, their offensive equipment consists of javelins and the iconic sicas: sharp curved swords that can easily cut off the limbs of any person on the receiving end! These men are a very effective melee unit that can stay in prolonged combat much longer than either lancers or hippakontistai.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

The Thracian sica was a curved sword, slightly shorter than the romphaia. The word was probably the Roman name for curved swords and knives in general, as they also called the swords of Thracian gladiators and Celtic knives sicas (Webber, The Gods of Battle (2011), ch. The Sica – Sword or Romphaia?). Similar to the romphaia or the falx, the curve of the sica allowed it to easily cut through limbs. Valerius Maximus (III. 2. 12) says a Thracian rider in the service of the Pergamene usurper Aristonikos cut off the head of the consul Crassus with a sica in 130 BC, and according to 2 Macc. XII, 32-35, in the battle of Marissa in 163 BC, a Thracian horseman in Seleucid service cut off the arm of a Jewish rebel, probably with his sica. It was less unwieldy than a romphaia and thus allowed for better usage on horseback.

The adoption of the thureos (oblong shield) must have happened before the Celtic invasion of Greece in 279 BC, as it appears in earlier sources (Webber (2011) ch. New Shields). A Thracian cavalryman on a tombstone from Abdera is armed with a thureos (Sekunda, Seleucid Army (1993), fig. 22) and Thracian cavalry continued carrying oval shields well into the time of their Roman service (tombstone of Rufus Sita, RIB 121). For clothing, the Thracian sica cavalrymen wear white tunics with black underlayers, and are additionally equipped with greaves (Plut. Aemilius 18, 5), and javelins. Their Chalcidian and Thraco-Attic helmets were widespread in Thrace at the time, as can be seen on the tomb painting of the royal necropolis in Kazanlak and in Thracian findings (Chalcidian helmet in the grave of Seuthes III: Marazov, Philomele's Tongue (2011), p. 174).