Black Horse Troop numbers

From: Svechin_at_...
Date: Mon, 30 Dec 2002 14:45:48 EST


I think there is a slight missing of the point and history of the Black Horse troop with the speculation on numbers. The BHT is not a place with an army rather it is an army with a place. They have been mobile before and will no doubt be again (in my Gwandor campaign they move into Rist in 1634 to escape the anger of the Argrathi and to maintain their contract with the Empire).

The BHT is a mercenary force, the HW material points out that they recruit from many sources, slaves, malcontents, adventurers, escaped Vendref, Ormsgoni looking for the high life etc so their population base is not relevant when discussing numbers. The wealth that they accumulate through these lucrative contracts is such that they can support a large armed force far in excess of one their tiny population could support. In effect the people of Black Horse County are camp followers who have been in one place for a long time and have settled down while Ethilrist muses his past glories and prepares for new ones.

There are parallels for such a mercenary unit in the RW, the company of Hawkwood and other Condotierri prior to and during the Italian wars, the Catalan Grand Company is another good example. Some merc units lasted 20+ years, and numbered in the thousands, mostly men at arms and were very cohesive.

As for stuirrups, they exist in Glorantha, they are canon. They originated in the west and have been around since the Second Age. Ethilrist certainly uses them IMO.

Martin Laurie

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