Unit Browser for RTR: Imperium Surrectum

Short description

Extremely effective cavalry that Caesar himself utilised. Quick, tough and loyal.

Description

Coming directly from the skilful trainers and veteran cavalry, the Treveri cavalryman will sometimes have need for better protection, such as helmets and larger shields, when going off to war. When they equip themselves in this manner, the medium cavalry wing is born. Their helmets are of true Gallic make and model. Such superior helmets of Gallic make and design were adopted by the Romans eventually. The Gallic saddle enables a more effective strike from the rider's weapons as they are extremely secure and firmly placed in the saddle than riders in common saddles. For the sake of speed, these horsemen do not wear armor, instead they rest all hopes of victory on their skill with their javelins, raining them down upon their targets, and when those are used up, they bring their close combat spear to arms and continue the fight in that manner.

Though these riders can travel rapidly across the field of combat, the best Belgic generals will not risk these men in fighting heavily armed infantry or cavalry front the front, but would have them charge the back of these formation in order to achieve the best killing rate possible. This wing of Treveri cavalry can handle lightly armed troops with ease, though with any cavalry, spearmen can mean trouble.

The Treveri were reported to have boasted of their Germanic origin. Their very name appears to be of mixed origin (Celtic, Germanic, etc.), and may mean "river crossers." The presence of hall villas of the type in northern Germanic territory, alongside Celtic types of hall villas, corroborates the idea that they may be Celto-Germans. Also the Eburones and Condrusi were dependants of the Treveri and were identified by Caesar as Germani. The German element among the Treveri may have arrived there in the third or second century B.C. The Treveri also had the largest complement of horse warriors in Gaul and provided Julius Caesar with his best cavalry. After Caesar's successful campaigns in Gaul, the Treveri were forcefully integrated into the Roman Empire, thereby losing not only their political independence but their cultural identity as well. Following the failure of the uprising of 54/53 BC the leading families of the Treveri are reported to have crossed the Rhine, to settle among the Germanic tribes.

Along with the Gauls of times past, Celtic tribal cavalry were apart of all the major expeditions and invasions that came out of the Celtic realms and onto the scene of the classical world. In 391 B.C. at Clusium forces of Lingones and Senones crushed the Romans which was followed by another victory at Allia in 390 B.C. Tribal cavalry forces and chariots fought bravely with their spear wielding kinsmen, the Gaesatae, at Telamon in 225 B.C. Thousands of cavalrymen fought as mercenaries under Hannibal of Carthage at Trebbia in 218 B.C. and in 217 B.C. at Lake Trasimene. They rode with Brennus by the thousands into Greece in 279 B.C. These warriors would find employment as freemen up until the time of the fall of Alesia and Uxellodunum in Gaul. In the east, free Celts could still be found in Galatia, serving as mercenaries in Asia Minor. After that, they would fill Roman ranks as auxiliaries and cavalry.