Thureophoroi

Thureophoroi (Thureos bearers) were a type of Infantry extremely common in the Greek world of the Hellenistic age, particularily between 250-150BC. Named after their large oval shield, the "Thureos" meaning "Door" due to it's shape, Thureophoroi developed as a response and by influence to the Celtic Galatian invasion of the Greek world in 279BC, where Hoplites proved too inflexible. Thureophoroi acted as a kind of versatile intermediary between the rigid hoplite and pike phalanxes used by the Greeks, and the peltasts and javelinmen used as light infantry, as Thureophoroi were able to form up with shields into a reasonably rigid formation to create a battle line, or skirmish and harass the enemy with javelins. This was a critical development in the Hellenistic age where the powerful Pike phalanx was not only limited in its maneuverability and flexibility but was also generally unavailable to smaller Greek states unable to fully equip and train a large body of Pikemen, while the traditional hoplite was also becoming increasingly obsolete against the more manueverable Celts, Barbarians and various cavalry forces being encountered. Therefore the Thureophoroi provided a cheap but effective Jack-of-all-Trades unit.

Thureophoroi generally appear unarmoured in the sources available to us, which makes sense if they are to be able to effectively skirmish. It may seem strange that the linothorax does not appear as part of their panoply, but linothoraxes are were heavier and stronger than is generally implied by their name, often weighing as much as a mail shirt. They were generally equipped with a helmet, spear, several javelins, probably a backup sword, and of course their iconic shield.

Thureophoroi became one of the dominant mercenaries across the Hellenistic World, simple to equip and train, it was the Go-To regular troop type of the age. In Ancient Empires, almost all Greek and Hellenistic factions have access to "Foreign Thureophoroi" as a core part of their roster, this unit refers to the fact that the majority of Thureophoroi used in the Greek world were generally not a national levy of citizens, but foreign salaried infantry coming from across the Greek world, particularly Greece and Anatolia, to fight for whichever state would pay. The Ptolemaic Dynasty in particular made extensive use of these troops recruited from their Anatolian holdings, using them as a regular garrison force, however all states of the eastern Mediterranean made us of this general pool.

Therefore in Ancient Empires you will find Thureophoroi as its own unique troop type, as unique and independent as Spear Infantry or Bow Cavalry, whereas in other games and modifications they will simply be grouped in with spearmen, Ancient Empires believes they deserve their own category. Thureophoroi are available through Area of Recruitment as poor quality levies or with more high quality training, they're available as mercenaries, and many factions have their own state version of Thureophoroi such as Cretan or Rhodian Thureophoroi, alongside the generic Foreign Thureophoroi from regular barracks.

In terms of gameplay, Thureophoroi are all capable of forming a tight formation and a loose formation,while they are also all equiped with a base amount of 4 javelins, while their primary melee equipment is a spear and their large thureos shield offering good missile protection, while the majority lack body armour. Their stats vary depending on the specific unit, but you will generally find them to be a capable and versatile unit always welcome in a force, though their lack of armour means they can lack the decisive punch needed to break through a line or launch a successfull assault on enemy walls.

Thureophoroi should not be confused with Thorakitai, which are a futher development of the Thureophoroi concept but with armour, typically mail, leaning more towards the Roman infantryman concept.

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