GAULS CIVILISATION PROFILE

UNIT DESCRIPTIONS

INFANTRY

  • Generic Name: Celtic Spearman
  • Specific Name: Gaeroa
  • Class: Spearman.
  • History: The main weapon of most Celtic warriors was the spear. Spears came in great variety with many specialized heads for fighting various types of enemies, hunting, and parade decoration. A spearman in a Celtic society was not inherently low class though; spears were associated with numerous deities and heroes. Spearmen are noted several times of fighting in phalanxes and Celtic art depicts them sometimes standing in what would later be recognized as a shieldwall, probably for when they were holding a position.
  • Garrison: 1.
  • Function: Melee Infantry, anti-Cavalry (3x).

  • Special: -.

  • Generic Name: Skirmisher

  • Specific Name: Baguada
  • Class: Javelinist.
  • History: Baguada means 'guerrilla'; an irregular combatant. Skirmishers, raiders, pirates, etc., would fit under such a designation. Such men were extremely common in Celtic armies. While positions were best held by dedicated spearmen standing in an ordered line and wall, the duty of softening an enemy, and even breaking weaker enemy positions, such as militia, would go to men carrying huge numbers of additional javelins. So many javelins did Celts bring with them, they were said in at least one instance in Galatia to 'charge following a black shadow so great sunlight is emptied from the sky', a poetic description of the enormous number of missiles they would put into the air preceding their main attack.
  • Garrison: 1.
  • Garrison: 1.
  • Function: Short-ranged Infantry. Fast Moving.

  • Special: -.

  • Generic Name: Celtic Slinger

  • Specific Name: Iaosae
  • Class: Slinger.
  • History: Sling bullets are found in enormous numbers in Celtic sites, made of lead, though clay bullets would also have been used. Slings figure prominently in Celtic myth, and were not associated with any sense of shame. To the contrary, the great skill needed to use a sling well was highly rewarded and favored, so they found much more use in Celtic society for a ranged weapon than bows, outside of specific tribes. The god Lugos, in Irish myth Lug, is associated closely with many weapons, among them his sling. Slings were the primary weapon of Celtic hunters as well. In battle, men with slings would mainly be of the middle class, so better equipped than most slingers in other societies for melee. However, the heavy lead bullets so common to them makes their range shorter than average, compensated for by the puncture power of well-made bullets.
  • Garrison: 1.
  • Function: Long-ranged Infantry.
  • Special: -.

CAVALRY

  • Generic Name: Celtic Cavalry
  • Specific Name: Epos
  • Class: Cavalry Swordsman.
  • History: Owning a horse was a sign of aristocracy. Although the primary unit in the Celtic army was the infantry, they had great respect for their horses. They honoured their speed and their bravery. They actually assigned two warriors to one horse. When one warrior was tired in battle, they would run back to camp and the other warrior would get on and go fight. Another method was to take their mount and tether it to a stake in the ground then go fight on foot and run back to their horse when they needed to flee. They fought as mercenaries in the Punic wars. Primarily used in ambushes and hit and run tactics. After the fall of Gaul, the Romans used the Gallic warriors and horses to greatly strengthen their army.
  • Garrison: 2.
  • Function: Good vs. Siege Weapons, Ranged, and Support Units.

  • Special: -.

  • Generic Name: Raiding Cavalry

  • Specific Name: Gaisaredos
  • Class: Cavalry Javelinist.
  • History: Celtic horsemen drawn from the lower- and non aristocratic warriors were usually not expected to engage in a direct melee while mounted. They would be used to harass enemy columns on the move, supply lines, or foragers, to hamstring enemy movements. This was shown to great effect against Julius Caesar in Britain, where the light British horsemen would harass his operations to forage and his supply. With his own Gallic horsemen stuck in Gaul due to weather, he could not effectively chase them off or prove much threat to these harriers. Their prime use, as such, is hit-and-run attacks, softening an enemy position for superior cavalry and infantry assaults.
  • Garrison: 2.
  • Function: Good hunter and raider.
  • Special: -.

SUPPORT UNITS

  • Generic Name: Celtic Woman
  • Specific Name: Bodu
  • Class: Female Citizen.
  • History: Being a woman in Celtic society was remarkable better than any other social society at this time. Women were viewed largely as equals to men. The woman had control over every piece of property she owned as she came into marriage. If a man was a noble or king, it was also not uncommon for women to take leadership positions if the husband died. Celtic women were said to be fair to look upon, but also as strong as their husbands. Celtic men wealthy enough could have several 'wives', but only he and his 'chosen' wife held duties and rights. For example, children from any secondary spouse were cared for by the husband and his first wife, and the actual blood mother had no legal obligation to the child, since it was considered born of the union of the first two.
  • Garrison: 1.
  • Function: Quick food gatherer. Slow miner.

  • Special: Inspiration Aura (+10% citizen-soldier productivity - Range of 10m).

  • Generic Name: Druides

  • Specific Name: Same
  • Class: Healer.
  • History: A druid may be one of many different professions; priest, historian, lawyer, judges, teachers, philosophers, poets, composers, musicians, astronomers, prophets, councillors, high craftsmen like a blacksmith, the classes of the 'men of art', and sometimes kings, chieftains, or other politicians. Druids were very hierarchal, with classes and ranks based on the length of their education and what fields they practiced. They learned their trades through mnemonics by way of poetry and songs, as writing was rarely used by Celts outside of prayers on votive objects, or lists of names for migratory records.
  • Garrison: 1.
  • Function: Heals organic units.

  • Special: -.

  • Generic Name: Merchant

  • Specific Name: Reros
  • Class: Trader.
  • History: Celtic merchants possessed a high place in society. While mainly ignoble, the very successful merchants often had a level of wealth that could challenge that of lower nobility. Many even had small private militias to defend their shops. Celtic merchants reached as far as India, and some of their coins even are found as far as west China. Wealth in Celtic society was paramount, and even nobles often had a cadre of merchants personally loyal to them, selling their goods, to keep them rich through various avenues. Key among what they sold to others would be slaves, sold in enormous numbers, as well as metalwork, weaponry, livestock, grain, salted meats, alcohol, linen, stone tiles, ore, gemstones, and wood.
  • Garrison: 2.
  • Function: Sets up trade routes between friendly markets.
  • Special: -.
  • Generic Name: Fishing Boat
  • Specific Name: Manea
  • Class: Fishing Ship.
  • History: In contrast to hunting, fishing was taken far more seriously by the Celts and was generally viewed as work. All the same, fishing for play was not unheard of.
  • Garrison: Cannot.
  • Garrison Capacity: 1; support, infantry
  • Function: Only method of collecting meat from fish.

  • Special: -.

  • Generic Name: Trading Ship

  • Specific Name: Curach
  • Class: Merchantman.
  • History: These very small boats were used mainly for fishing, but they were also used to transport goods and personnel. The shell is wickerwork, covered with animal hides. The boat is round, and can close during a storm. They were used at times for boarding enemy ships, though such work was typically better left to larger all wood ships. Their resilience to ill sea conditions made them good for long travel, but their hide construction could be easily punctured by a weapon, explaining the rarity of their use in combat, even for boarding.
  • Garrison: Cannot.
  • Garrison Capacity: 15
  • Function: Sets up trade routes between friendly Ports.

  • Special: -.

  • Generic Name: Medium Warship

  • Specific Name: Venetic Ponti
  • Class: Trireme.
  • History: Despite lacking the shipbuilding skills of the "civilized" Mediterranean powers, the flat-bottom ships of the Celts were quite sturdy. The Veneti made especially large vessels, and these were encountered by Caesar during his campaign in Gaul.
  • Garrison: Cannot.
  • Garrison Capacity: 40
  • Function: Medium ranged war ship.
  • Special: No fighting capabilities unless boarded by enemy ship.

SIEGE

  • Generic Name: Covered Ram
  • Specific Name: Brado
  • Class: Battering Ram.
  • History: Celtic assaults on fortified positions were relegated largely to three methods. Creating a shell of shields and setting fire to gatehouses, sapping, at which they were noted as being most expert by Caesar, and rams, known only from votive inscriptions and some Celtic art.
  • Garrison: 2.
  • Garrison Capacity: 10
  • Function: Siege weapon.
  • Special: -.

CHAMPION UNITS

  • Generic Name: Gallic Heavy Swordsman
  • Specific Name: Solduros
  • Class: Champion Swordsman.
  • History: The sword among Celts varies in reputation and commonality. Short-swords, essentially truly just long, broad-bladed daggers, were common, but cheaply made, and most likely the swords referred to as bending after a hard strike, and needing bent back into place. The iron construction of longswords, such as used here, was greatly superior, but also much more expensive. The longsword was primarily a weapon of aristocracy and experienced professional soldiers, who could either afford the weapon, have it made for them by their lord as a reward for service, passed down to them by family, or looted from the field.
  • Garrison: 1.
  • Function: Heavy Melee Infantry.

  • Special: -.

  • Generic Name: Gallic Noble Cavalry

  • Specific Name: Brihent
  • Class: Champion Cavalry Swordsman.
  • History: In Gaul, we know of heavy cavalry, possibly predecessors to later knights. They used a Celtic lance overhand, a good shield, and wore good armor. Vercingetorix was famous for having a number of them, but their use long precedes him. Heavy Celtic horsemen are found in graves as early as the 600s, with scale coats. Later, with the advent of mail, their armor would largely change to this. They would be experienced, aristocratic or noblemen, or their retainers equipped in kind. Each man would probably have several personal attendants. Some would be powerful noblemen, such as chiefs and kings. In battle, they would be on par with much of the best heavy cavalry in western Europe, due to superior armor, such as mail armor with additional layers of mail over the vital organs, weapons such as high-quality iron spearheads, swords, and a thong of javelins, giving them versatility, and years of experience and training. Their historical use saw them capable of breaking even well-defended positions, or acting to great effect in flanking maneuvers.
  • Garrison: 2.
  • Function: Heavy Melee Cavalry, anti-Cavalry (1.5x).
  • Special: -.

HEROES

  • Generic Name: Britomartos
  • Specific Name: Same
  • Class: Hero Spearman.
  • History: The story of how Marcus Claudius Marcellus killed a Gallic leader at Clastidium (222 BC) is typical of such encounters. Advancing with a smallish army, Marcellus met a combined force of Insubrian Gauls and Gaesatae at Clastidium. The Gallic army advanced with the usual rush and terrifying cries, and their king, Britomartos, picking out Marcellus by means of his badges of rank, made for him, shouting a challenge and brandishing his spear. Britomartos was an outstanding figure not only for his size but also for his adornments; for he was resplendent in bright colours and his armour shone with gold and silver. This armour, thought Marcellus, would be a fitting offering to the gods. He charged the Gaul, pierced his bright breastplate and cast him to the ground. It was an easy task to kill Britomartos and strip him of his armour.
  • Garrison: 1.
  • Function: Heavy Melee Infantry, anti-Cavalry (3x).

  • Special: Preparation for War (+15% gathering rates).

  • Generic Name: Brennos

  • Specific Name: Same
  • Class: Hero Swordsman.
  • History: Brennus is the name which the Roman historians give to the famous leader of the Gauls who took Rome in the time of Camillus. According to Geoffrey, the brothers invaded Gaul and sacked Rome in 390 B.C., "proving" that Britons had conquered Rome, the greatest civilization in the world, long before Rome conquered the Britons. We know from many ancient sources which predate Geoffrey that Rome was indeed sacked, but in 387 not 390, and that the raid was led by a man named Brennos (which was latinized to Brennus), but he and his invading horde were Gallic Senones, not British. In this episode several features of Geoffrey's editing method can be seen: he modified the historical Brennus/Brennos, created the brother Belinus, borrowed the Gallic invasion, but omitted the parts where the Celts seemed weak or foolish. His technique is both additive and subtractive. Like the tale of Trojan origin, the story of the sack of Rome is not pure fabrication; it is a creative rearrangement of the available facts, with details added as necessary. By virtue of their historical association, Beli and Bran are often muddled with the earlier brothers Belinus and Brennus (the sons of Porrex) who contended for power in northern Britain in around 390 BC, and were regarded as gods in old Celtic tradition.
  • Garrison: 1.
  • Function: Heavy Melee Infantry.

  • Special: Sacker of Rome (+15 metal loot for each unit killed. Range of 60m).

  • Generic Name: Vercengetorix

  • Specific Name: Uerkingetorix (woo-kin-geet-o-rix)
  • Class: Hero Cavalry Swordsman.
  • History: Vercingetorix (Gaulish: Ver-Rix Cingetos) was the chieftain of the Arverni tribe in Gaul (modern France). Starting in 52 B.C. he led a revolt against the invading Romans under Julius Caesar, his actions during the revolt are remembered to this day. Vercingetorix was probably born near his tribes capital (Gergovia). From what little info we have Vercingetorix was probably born in 72 B.C., his father was Celtius and we don't know who his mother was. Because we only know of him from Roman sources we don't know much about Vercingetorix as a child or young man, except that perhaps he was probably very high spirited and probably gained some renown in deeds.
  • Garrison: 2.
  • Function: Heavy Melee Cavalry.
  • Special: Gallic Warlord (+20% attack, +1 capture for soldiers and siege weapons. Range of 60m).

NEW UNIT TRAITS

None

CIV CENTRE UNITS

  • Melee Infantry: Celtic Spearman.
  • Ranged Infantry: Skirmisher.
  • Cavalry: Raiding Cavalry.

FORBIDDEN CLASSES

  • Swordsman.
  • Archer.
  • Cavalry Archer.
  • Bireme.
  • Quinquereme.
  • Onager.
  • Lithibolos.

STRUCTURE DESCRIPTIONS

VILLAGE

  • Generic Name: House
  • Specific Name: Tekes
  • Class: House.

  • History: Celtic homes varied between round wattle and daub homes, common most in the British Isles and northern Iberia, and wood-and-stone longhouses. Later, large tenements and apartments were built. Within a city, houses would be of excellent quality, many having running water. Even the later tenements in cities, intended for poor laborers who worked within the walls, typically had a communal running water connection, all connected to a central cistern that collected rainwater, purified through a granite sieve. These were most common in Gaul, though, as Britain was typically several decades behind in the south, and even a century or more the further north one went, as far as Celtic development went. An underground cess system would also connect these homes, based on modern archaeological findings. However, this is only within the cities. Outside, people lived on maintained, permanent farming estates; small villages built around a powerful aristocrat or low noble's home, with people who worked his fields, or in local shops and businesses catering to the inhabitants of the estate. While in both city and farming village houses often had basements, here they would lack running water, and are often found near running water, or irrigated in streams through the village for ease of water collection and rubbish disposal. Each home typically has a small shrine, to pray to a local god, the spirits of the home, and to the souls of ancestors, as well as cups. If tradition maintained in Gaelic and Brythonic cultures, these were for offerings to spirits, giving them wine or beer in exchange for good fortune, or at least to not be tormented by the less friendly among them. In Gaul, homes would vary between one and five rooms on average, discluding the basement. Upscale homes of the non-aristocratic class may have been fortunate enough to have a kitchen. All would probably have a hearth or firepit, and some simple floor matresses. Beds, while known among Celts, were largely only for the very wealthy, as their construction often included finally crafted wood and metal. There would also be, based on iron bands, be two washtubs, one for bathing, one for clothing, and soap was a common property item, crafted and sold in huge amounts, used for both bathing and washing clothing. The common Celtic family would have a fairly good standard of living; most Celts ate a handsome portion of meat compared to most contemporary societies, even if it was just offal for slaves and 'serfs'. Beer and mead was common, and recent examination even finds 'branding', implying mass production of alcohols from various families and regions, meaning the market could easily have been saturated, making the cost low enough even for a family of debtors able to afford a good cask of beer from time to time. Pets were common among Celts, particularly dogs, who would sleep inside with the family. Livestock would not though, as occured in some medieval societies, as Celts were known to build large, communal barns for the safe-keeping of everyone in the village's livestock, except for the headman and his family, who had their own barns and fields for the private care of their livestock.

  • Generic Name: Farmstead

  • Specific Name: Simbalos
  • Class: Farmstead.

  • History: Farming typically revolved around small hamlets and farmsteads with enclosed rectilinear fields - each having areas of pasture, farmland and wood. Ploughing became more efficient with the arrival of the iron share and a two field rotation was introduced; crops one year followed by a fallow that was grazed by livestock. This lead to surprisingly high yields and fuelled population growth. Storage of crops was either in pits or in raised stores and harvest was over several months - weeds, grain and then straw. Farms would be worked mainly by a combination of freemen who aren't on campaign, 'serfs', male and female, and a huge number of slaves. Nobles would not engage in this activity, as Celtic nobles and other 'sacred' classes were forbidden manual labor, unless it was for war, or was a 'high craft'.

  • Generic Name: Field

  • Specific Name: Varmo
  • Class: Field.

  • History: Wheat and barley were the main crops of the bronze age being grown for flour, straw, animal feed and malt for alcoholic drinks. Hay was grown for animal feed while straw was used for bedding, thatching and winter fodder. In the iron age, the range of crops grown had widened considerably since the early bronze age. Although the most important were wheat and barley, oats, tic beans, vetch, peas, rye, flax and fat hen were regularly grown. Celts also notably created many new strains of old crops, some now extinct, some still in use. Celts were excellent farmers, and the idea of them as savage barbarians has little bearing in many cases, farming particularly. Examining Celtic farming techniques, one finds a people who knew how to crossbreed strains, or enhance existing strains to adapt to new conditions. Celts particularly grew huge amounts of wheat, both as animal feed and for many breads they ate with their meals, or as entire meals combined, such as sausages and vegetables baked into bread, good for one on the move. A wealthy Celtic farmer could even potentially buy his way into nobility by selling his crops. Key to Celtic farming though were two classes. The Celtic equivalent of 'serfs' were not so constrained as later feudal equivalents, but were indebted to the farm's owner, and worked his fields to pay off these debts, which were increased by the farm's owner paying for their home, and a small pay for which the worker could buy necessities. The other would be slaves. Celtic slaves could not be harmed excessively, had to be fed, clothed, and housed, but could be traded as any other commodity, though while in service, they were paid, if only a tiny amount. Slaves' children would be 'part-slaves', and work the fields when grown enough, until they paid off their life price, then allowed free, though presumably most merely became serfs, and it'd be several more generations before they were freemen of the tribe.

  • Generic Name: Corral

  • Specific Name: Cavalidos
  • Class: Corral.

  • History: Woven fences made from coppicing which are the tender shoots regrown from the stool of a tree after you chop it. Bronze age: Cattle, sheep, goats and pigs. Cattle had always been important with pre-historic farmers but through the bronze age there was an increase in the importance of sheep and goats. These would have been kept for wool, milk and meat. The type of sheep were very similar to the Soay breed of today. Pigs and wild boar remains have been found in farmsteads. In the iron age: sheep, goats, cattle, pigs, poultry, geese and ducks. Horses were a new arrival in the farmsteads but they were not used for work so much as symbols of status. Most Celtic ranched equines were actually ponies. Large horses were for war or travel by established, wealthy people. Ponies were used for farming, as well as for war by the lower classes, who could not afford actual horses. Celts were also notable for crossbreeding 'similar' animals, creating the earliest mules in Europe, probably for farm labor and as pack animals.

  • Generic Name: Mill

  • Specific Name: Sengula
  • Class: Mill.

  • History: In southern parts of the country, most of the wildwood had been cleared and given way to farming or coppice management. In northern parts, or where the ground was particularly unsuitable for agriculture, wildwood remained, but under constant threat. Land around the farmsteads was usually enclosed by hazel fencing or hedging. A major part of Celtic soldiery was derived by guards of stock buildings, barns, ranches, and fields. All of these were under threat from neighboring tribal raids, so trained combatants, not having wars to go to fight in, would work to guard them, and run off raiders. Further, these acted as doles during famines or wars. In a famous example of them being stretched between the two purposes, Vercingetorix retreated to Alesia, but their stores had been almost emptied to feed his army, and food was already scarce due to a poor season. The inability to provide food for the army and the city led to a terrible fate for the city's inhabitants, who were sent out to the Roman siegeworks, hoping to be taken by the Romans, possibly enslaved, but at least given food. The Romans left them to starve, hoping the defenders would reopen the gates, allowing an assault, but the Celts under Vercingetorix realized the plot, and they too left the non-combatants to starve to death. The soldiers were starved out before a second relief force could come to aide them due to the low stores, already earlier being bled so much, and Vercingetorix surrendered as to save them from the fate that had already met the citizens of Alesia.

  • Generic Name: Celtic Tower

  • Specific Name: Tur
  • Class: Scout Tower.
  • History: Towers have a great mythic element in Celtic societies. Towers are found, fragmented as they may be, sometimes. The largest towers were the great caps to fortresses in Britain and Ireland, but towers are found in Celtic art on the continent. The most common were probably just to keep watch on places, as most remains are found along trade roads.

TOWN

  • Generic Name: Civic Centre
  • Specific Name: Briga
  • Class: Civic Centre.

  • History: Briga in the language of the Gauls and southern Britons meant both 'hill' and 'town'. This is not mere coincidence; Celtic towns were built on hills for natural defenses, enhanced by earthworks and walls. The center of the town was typically at the hilltop. It would be a dwelling for the local leader, as well as lodging for his servants, his small private armory, an audience hall for discussing matters; political, legal, military, and economic.

  • Generic Name: Dock

  • Specific Name: Nembalos
  • Class: Dock.

  • History: Major Celtic ports existed in Armorica, two in southern Britain, two in Ireland, and several in southern Gaul.

  • Generic Name: Temple

  • Specific Name: Nemeton
  • Class: Temple.

  • History: Celtic temples were complex affairs and seperate from hospitals and asylums. However, if this is meant to be a temple, the Gallic temple should appear similar to a Hellenic temple, but made of stone and oak wood, and wood pillars, but no walls, elevated about four feet off the ground, with a votive pool near it. A maintained grove would be within the complex as well, which would be fenced off and surrounded with a ditch. A maintained British temple was typically a round wood building with an opening in the center through which grew an oak or yew tree.

  • Generic Name: Barracks

  • Specific Name: Gwersyllty
  • Class: Barracks.

  • History: All able-bodied male Celts were expected to heed their liege lord's call to battle when need arose.

  • Generic Name: Blacksmith

  • Specific Name: Amoridas
  • Class: Blacksmith.

  • History: Figured to have it represent an armory; these were common, and not all Celts (truthfully, not even most) had to provide their own weapons. Just, they had to provide their own GOOD weapons and armor, but mass-produced spears and javelins and shields were distributed freely at need. The possession of a armory by the local lord was considered quite prestigious among the Celts, especially the larger examples found in Gaul that could maintain armies.

  • Generic Name: Market

  • Specific Name: Merras Tekesa
  • Class: Market.

  • History: Efficient farming led to food surpluses and a developing social hierarchy through the period with administration and power centred on the hill forts. Trade would have been buoyant with Europe; exported corn, cattle hides, tin, gold and iron in exchange for wine and olive oil. The first coins appeared although they were more items of wealth and status than trade. There is evidence too of standardised pottery and this suggests that weights and measures were controlled to provide consistency in trade.

  • Generic Name: Gallic Wall

  • Specific Name: Visila
  • Class: Wall.
  • History: The Romans called this wall "Murus Gallicus". Translated, it means "Gaulish wall". It was extremely resistant to assault by battering ram. Julius Caesar described a type of wood and stone wall, known as a Murus Gallicus, in his account of the Gallic Wars. These walls were made of a stone wall filled with rubble, with wooden logs inside for stability. Caesar noted how the flexibility of the wood added to the strength of the fort in case of battering ram attack.

CITY

SPECIAL STRUCTURES

  • Generic Name: Flour Mill
  • Specific Name: Melonas
  • Class: SB1.
  • History: The Celts developed the first rotary flour mill.
  • Requirements: Farmstead.
  • Phase: City.
  • Special: Farming Bonus Aura (+25% farming rate - Range of 60m).

NEW STRUCTURE TRAITS

See special structures.

FORBIDDEN STRUCTURES

  • Wall Tower.

CIV BONUSES

Structures have -20% hit points and capture points, -20% construction time.

TEAM BONUS

  • TB1
  • Name: Druidic Wisdom
  • History: The Druids of the Celts maintained an organized religion that advanced the technology of their people even during wartime.
  • Effect: Allies -10% research time speed.

SPECIAL TECHNOLOGIES

  • Missing