Warfare in Ancient Ultmar

Warfare in Ancient Ultmar covers military structures and norms in Northern and Western Levantia up until 1000 AD, including Antiquity, the Classical Era, and the Early Medieval period.

Tribal Warfare

In the Ninerivers

In the Ninerivers, in modern southern Faneria, the typical soldier (known as a Ceiternin) was armed with a sword (deamhbah), javelins (gah), and various daggers. They generally favored no armor or padded cloth, as tribal tactics focused on skirmishes and ambush over pitched fighting. These troops were organized into rough units collectively referred to as Ceiternn, or warbands, which numbered anywhere from thirty to four hundred men depending on the size of the populations from which they were raised. The leader of each warband was either elected or lead by charisma and was referred to as a Ceiternna, and responded directly to the commanding noble or official, assuming they themselves were not operating autonomously. Many local bands fought against invading forces both foreign and native without a call to arms, often boiling the distinction between soldiery and highwaymen down to a matter of loyalties. This made colonization by Latin settlers in the region incredibly difficult, as they could not rely on local auxiliaries.

Latin Invasions and Innovations

Latinized Ceiterninn

Though heavy infantry existed in the Ninerivers for centuries in small numbers, the formation of large contingents of heavy infantry was supposedly popularized by Prince Eleglass of the City of Daingean in the 730s. During his generalship of a coalition of Gaelic states, 'Ardceiterninn equipped in the Latin fashion' appeared during the Gothic War and subsequently were mentioned in writings until roughly the 900s. Archaeological digs have shown that these troops were not outfitted specifically as the old Legions, but instead wore chain hauberks and heavy shields, with larger spatha swords meant for hacking and cutting more than stabbing. They also lacked javelins, though the light infantry retained them. Such heavy infantry were considered 'Latinized' namely in their role as line units, replacing gallowglasses in most Fhainnin states. Regardless, they were fewer in number than the mounted Ardceiterninn, and were later indistinguishable from men-at-arms of various makes during the High and Late Middle Ages.

Introduction of Horses

The introduction of horses into Gallia, in particular, was a major shock to warfare in the region. Initially, Latin cavalry held a huge advantage over Faeskt troops, who rarely used ranged weapons, as well as the lighter and less organized Fhainnin skirmish troops. This would lead to an arms race by Gaelic tribes and states to capture, buy, and breed warhorses of their own, which inadvertently lead to Gaelic mercenaries such as the Leukahippoi being scattered across Levantia and even Sarpedon in search of suitable horses worth more than their weight in gold or spices.

Ardceiterninn

In Faneria, horses became an enormous status symbol. Earlier breeds had been seen as mere amusements, but draft horses became crucial to farming and trade quickly, and the effect of Latin cavalry was readily apparent. From the Gallian War onwards, Fhainnin city-states and principalities sought to obtain horses, eventually being able to field full wings of cavalry. Simple spear and javelin cavalry were essential in the Gothic War in the 700s, but mercenary experience fighting Audonian invaders in Sarpedon, along with the natural evolution of warfare in Levantia itself, gave rise to a professional class of soldier called Ardceiterninn, who served as part of an Adrceitern in battle. These soldiers continued to use javelins and swords, but additionally took up shortbows along with rounded wooden shields and metal armor (most commonly mail coats or lamellar designs copied from Latin and Coscivian designs). Most also trained to fight on foot as their Ceiterninn auxiliaries did, largely replacing both other cavalry and heavier foot skirmishers by the tenth century. While not bearing the same degree of social prestige or the full plate of later Latin knights, these soldiers typically fought with similar discipline and pride, earning a reputation as competent bodyguards and cavalry mercenaries throughout the Occident.