Re: Black Horse Troop numbers

From: Mikko Rintasaari <mikrin_at_...>
Date: Tue, 31 Dec 2002 09:25:17 +0200 (EET)


On Mon, 30 Dec 2002 Svechin_at_... wrote:

> 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).

Yup, but they still have to eat. Occasionally they hire out, and use the money to bring in grain and cattle, but the place still should have a functional economy. Especially since Sir Ehilrist seems to mostly sit about writing his memoirs of late.

> 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.

It is an interesting viewpoint. But I have some trouble seeing how thousands of demonhorse riders would have just sat there for most of the 70+ years that Ehilrist has inhabitet the place. I'd think he'd have overrun Sartar and sacked boldhome by now...

When he needs to, I bet he has ways to swell the ranks.

> 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.

600 heavy horse and up to 4000 infantry. That's an army by my standards. What more, it's an army the population can support.

> 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

To each his own, I think.

        -Adept

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