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Short description

Libyan Light Infantry are hardy skirmishers from North Africa.

Description

The Libyans were one of the closest people from Carthage, and as such, one of their closest allies. Although they had been reluctant ally in the early years, centuries of cohabitation and numerous inter-community marriage had turned them into the most trusted one.

Carthage had always drawn soldiers from Libya; the Libyan are tough, brave and hardy, but otherwise most of the time little trained. That's why they are mostly fighting with spears, which require little training to use.

The light spearmen were especially useful, since their light equipment and great stamina make them reliable soldiers in the hot summers of Africa; where over more heavily armoured troops would be tired in seconds.

Hannibal used Libyan Spearman a lot during his invasion of Italy. Around 12,000 when entering the Italian Peninsula, they quickly became invaluable along with the Iberian mercenaries. Hannibal even went to great lengths to try to preserve them as much as possible, thinking he would lose if he lost them.

Hadrusbal Barca also used the Libyan Spearman, like in the Battle of Dertosa. 25,000 Carthaginian infantry, of which 15,000 Libyan and 4,000 cavalry opposed over 30,000 Roman legionaries and nearly 3,000 cavalry. Although the Carthaginians were defeated, the Libyan soldiers were not responsible; indeed, outnumbered by Roman infantry, they still managed to push them back. And when the center of the army, composed of Iberian mercenaries, collapsed, they stood firm. They even kept fighting near the end of the battle, all alone, attacked by the whole infantry and the remaining Roman cavalry.

They finally routed, but what could have been a total disaster turned into a costly victory for the Romans, with thousands of them killed by the Libyans.