Palestinian Auxiliaries (ETW Unit)
These musket-armed regulars are good soldiers and, as garrison troops, are well able to keep order among the ordinary folk.
Overview
Palestine is an ancient land, although it has rarely enjoyed independence from outside control. After the Ottoman conquest of Palestine in 1516 the name dissapeared from the maps, and the area was referred to as the vilayet or province of Sayda, now Sidon in modern Lebanon. The idea of a Palestinian people however persisted. The Palestinians were loyal to the idea of the Ottoman Empire and fought hard in its defence. Under Jezzar Pasha, the Palestinians were among the few who stubbornly held out at the Siege of Acre in 1799, forcing Napoleon Bonaparte and his French army to withdraw. This helped to bring his schemes of conquest in the Middle East to a halt.
Details
Palestinian Auxiliaries are an elite unit available only to the Ottoman Empire. They are a highly trained Militia unit and easily outclass their Militia counterparts. They are capable of firing off volleys or fighting in melee. However they are outmatched by better equipped or trained Line Infantry and are especially vulnerable to cavalry, as they are unable to form Square Formation. They should be used to combat other Militia units or to help out friendly lines.