Nizam-I Cedit Infantry (ETW Unit)

Nizam-I Cedit Infantry are the Ottoman Empire's answer to European Line Infantry in Empire: Total War.

Overview

Fighting in formal order with tight control and disciplined fire is a new idea for Turkish forces; the traditional method has usually involved heavily armed and very brave men hurling themselves pell-mell at the enemy. The nizam-I cedit fight just as bravely, but with much more organisation. This “new model” army is such a break with the past that it has even adopted Western-style military dress for the most part.

Historically, the Nizam-I Cedit reforms were made vital by the repeatedly poor performance of the Ottoman armies against the Russians. The Empire’s inability to defend itself against a growing Slavic threat, and European predatory moves, was the reason why Turkey became the “sick man of Europe”. The French Revolutionary Republic (anxious for any allies at the time) provided much of the starting expertise that the Ottomans required for retraining their army in modern tactics and methods. The process was not without problems, though. The janissaries resented their loss of privileges and position and eventually the corps had to be disbanded.

Details

Nizam-I Cedit infantry are, statistically, some of the best line infantry in the game, comparable to Prussian line infantry in terms of firepower but also with superior melee statistics. Their downside is their intricate technology requirements; it will be quite some time before the Ottoman Empire may field these troops.