Faction Preview: Rajahnate of Hoysala

[Metal.Pigeon]

The Tiger Slayers

A major hub for the spice trade along with the maritime Silk Road between the Middle East and China, Hoysala was a wealthy and powerful kingdom on the southern tip of India. Its name is drawn from Kannada folklore, which tells of a man named Sala who saved his guru by killing a tiger with his dagger ("hoy" being Kannada for strike, thus "strike of Sala"). One of the strongest Hindu kingdoms, Hoysala (and its successors Vijayanagara and Mysore) fiercely resisted the Muslim sultanates of the Deccan plateau, as well as the mighty Delhi sultanate.

The backbone of the Kannada army are its deadly swordsmen and longbows, supported by fearsome war elephants. Though the humid climate of southern India means most Kannada are lightly equipped, they are highly mobile and no less skilled than their rivals. Hoysala will also have access to units from other Hindu states, who can be seen wearing heavier Muslim-influenced armour. A unique feature on the campaign map is the presence of Wootz steel weaponsmiths in nearby Tamil Nadu, allowing for units' weapons to be upgraded once captured.

Units unique to Hoysala will have Kannada names, while those that will be shared with the Hindustanis will either be named in English or Sanskrit, or simply the caste that the unit belongs to. Some assets are a work in progress, and the late-era models in particular are still being worked on.

Melee Infantry:

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Levied Sudra: The lowest class of Indian society, levied into armies to make up numbers during times of crisis.

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Itigararu ("Spearmen"): Medium spearmen wearing peti gambesons, forming the main defensive line.

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Siddhis: Descendants of the Sub-Saharan soldiers during the Muslim conquests, communities of Siddhis can be found across India. After throwing their javelins, they fight as heavy spearmen.

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Sainya ("Army"): Better-equipped militias with light armour, armed with swords and shields.

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Yodharu ("Warriors"): Professional medium swordsmen, forming the backbone of Kannada armies.

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Vanniyaru ("People of fire"): An elite warrior caste from southern India, the Vanniyars are exceptionally skilled, able to take on most foes despite their light equipment.

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Khandayat ("Sword-bearers"): The traditional sword-wielding warrior caste of eastern India, highly trained and clad in heavy plated mail.

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Rajaputra ("Sons of kings"): The finest warriors in all of India, able to cut through all but the strongest with ease.

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Missile Infantry:

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Javelinmen: Commoners levied into the army as light skirmishers, protected by large shields but completely lacking armour or the appetite for melee.

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Levied Hunters: Peasant archers accustomed to using their self-bows for hunting, though only useful against lighter targets.

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Dhanurdhara ("Archers"): Part-time militias armed with the powerful Indian longbow, able to give even armoured foes a nasty surprise.

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Gurikararu ("Marksmen"): Highly skilled longbowmen protected by gambesons and shields, perfect for keeping the Muslim horse archers at a safe distance.

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Garudaru: The bodyguards of Kannada royalty, these elite warriors are excellent archers and just as capable in melee.

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Shataghni ("Thousand-killing flames"): Named after a mythical weapon from ancient Hindu scripture, these arquebusiers can inflict massive damage to even the heaviest of foes.

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Melee Cavalry:

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Gavundagalu ("Landowners"): Commoners wealthy enough to afford a horse, fighting as light cavalry.

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Nayakar ("Lords"): The nobility of southern India, able to cover themselves and their horses with thick layers of cotton.

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Raja Asvaka ("Princely horsemen"): Well-equipped heavy cavalry made up of rajputs.

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Missile Cavalry:

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Gosains ("Masters of passion"): A caste of ascetics who roam across India, often safeguarding merchants along trade routes. They are lightly equipped with javelins and swords.

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Komarapanths: A southern Indian warrior caste renowned for their skills at archery, horsemanship, and sometimes both as light cavalry archers.

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---WIP---

Other:

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Sinhala Rathas (Sri Lankan chariots): The armies of Sri Lanka continued using chariots longer than those in India, usually for transport but occasionally for battle.

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---WIP---

Elephant Longbowmen: The most common elephantry in Indian armies, with a howdah of archers on top.

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Elephant Rocketeers: The fire rocket was quickly adopted by the Kannada after its introduction to the subcontinent, and used to great effect.

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General's Nagavarika ("Royal elephants"): The trusted elephants of Indian royalty, providing the general an excellent vantage point as well as battle mount.

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Credits:
-Age of Tigers OSP
-Asia Empires
-Broken Crescent
-Europa Barbarorum II