Spain (M2TW Faction)

Overview

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Spain are one of the harder factions, in the early (and the start of the high) period the completly lack spearmen except for the weak spear militia, which are at best, a sacraficail unit used to protect more important troops that cannot take a charge. This makes Spain quite weak when facing Catholic factions which rely on knights unless of course the Spanish crown buys some mercinary spearmen. In the late game, Spain lack heavy armour pericing infantry, which will take its toll on spanish armies fighting against other catholic factions, however, as most of their troops only have light armour and are used to fighting in hot weather, Spain have an advantage when fighting Muslim armies aswell as the Aztecs. Spain also has an effective navy, being able to feild grand carracks instead of the normal carracks. Iberia itself, is contested by 3 factions, and Spain are in the fairly weak position of having a portuguese province either side of it. However, their is also great oppertunities with nearby rebel provinces, and lots of nearby muslims to gain Papal favor.

Infantry

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Spanish infantry is at best, average, until the high period, where Spain are one of the few factions that gain acess to Sword and Buckler men, aswell as Terico pikemen, who are both effective and unique to Spain. They also have acess to dismounted conquestidors, who are trainable in the new world only, and are well suited to fighting its natives. If playing with a mod which allows dismounted knights of San Tiago, they are highly effective swordsmen, offering spain a unit of heavy infantry which is a niche it underperforms in.

Cavalry

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Spain make use of the average knights avaliable to the other catholic factions, but also gain Jinites, who can be trained in cities with a bullring. Jinites are excellent light cavalry that can protect the main spanish army from other catholics knights if used correctly (work in pairs, draw off units of knights from the enemies main army with the jinites' javlins, then charge into the rear of the unit, and if nessasary, charge with the second unit of the pain, though this tactics will likely get your cavalry killed if the enemy have a good amount of effective missile troops) Spain is one of two factions that also get Knights of San Tiago, who are a match for all other knightly orders. Spain also gets to use Gerdemenes, which are professional heavy cavalry of the late period.

Missile

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Spain make use of the average crossbow armed missile units avaliable to all factions, but also used Javlinmen and Almulgahas (spelling isn't correct...). At a stretch they can also enter melee and give a good account of themselves, however, neither is a match for true melee units.

Spain also uses musketeers, who, although weak in melee, have a long range and are quite effective at neutralising the foot knights used by Spain neighbours.

Spainish artillery is also of the highest quality, with acess to the fearsome Basalisk cannons

Conclusion

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Spanish forces give the feel of commanding a light, fast, and flexable army that is well suited to ambushes and skirmishing against heavier catholic knights, however they also posess units that are capable at seige assault, aswell as a powerful navy. Due to their ability to train cavalry in cities, its possible to take all of Iberia and defend it with only 2 castles, making the faction a potentail economic powerhouse, especally when considering the relative closeness of Timbuktu and all the riches that provinces possesses. Spain are unfortunitally a long way from the Holy Land, so any crusades will almost certantly have to travel by sea.

Although they rely on light troops, Spain should in no circumstances be underestimated as an enemy.