Cuman Auxiliary
The Cuman Auxiliary is a cavalry archer available to Austria with the policy decision Hausmacht. Cumans are weak, but wicked fast, and they shoot several arrows in one attack (with each extra arrow dealing 3 points of damage). They have characteristics similiar to mercenaries, i.e. they only cost silver and are produced quickly. They can be upgraded to the Mongol Auxiliary.
Unit Statistics
Vital
Type: Cavalry Archer
Available to: Austria (requires Hausmacht)
Trained at: Archery Guild
Century: 14th
Cost: 85 Florins
Combat
HP: 40
Attack: 4
Armor/Pierce Armor: 0/1
Range: 4
Accuracy Percentage: 65
Reloading Time: 3
Special: +2 vs. spearmen. Fires multiple arrows per attack.
Upgrades
Upgrades to: Mongol Auxiliary
Upgrade century: 15th
Upgrade cost: 950 food and 950 florins
Attack, Range: Fletching, Bodkin Arrow, Bracer, Bow Practise
Attack: Alchemy
Armour: Padded Archer Armour. Leather Archer Armour, Ring Archer Armour
Armour, Bonuses: Plackart
Accuracy: Thumb Ring
Speed: Husbandry
Hit Points: Bloodlines
Training time: Indenture
Commentary
You can run, but you can't hide from the mighty Cumans! Actually, they aren't that mighty, but it's a tad hard to run from them, even if you're a light cavalry unit.
The Cuman Auxiliary is a wicked fast mercenary/UU that makes a very solid compliment for the stronger Austrian light cavalry. Their main strengths are their ability to change places very quickly and their ability to spit out a whole bunch of arrows. (The secondary arrows deals three points of damage each, regardless of armour and bonuses, and it is unknown if they benefit from elevation.) However, as a horse archer, they are vulnerable to skirmishers and pikemen (and lancers too). But that's only if they can be caught. Furthermore, they aren't very strong with an attack of only four (probably six by the time the first of them start to appear) and their high price might limit their numbers at early stages of the game. They are also enabled by Hausmacht, meaning old-timers who prefer the full functionality of priests are unlikely to be using these units.
Overall, this is a fairly solid unit, but its ability to get out of trouble quickly doesn't make it a must-have just yet. When it upgrades, it'll be very, very good.
Historical Background
An auxiliary aspect of the Austrian military came in the form of the Cuman and Mongol horse archers.
The Cumans or Kipchaks were a turkic nomadic people from Cumania, north of the Black Sea, whose warriors exerted an enduring impact on the medieval Balkans. They also played an active role in Hungary, Austria, and other central european countries as the Cumans were sought-after mercenaries. Their swift cavalry archers hired out their services to the highest bidder and were likely to be integrated into a country's elite.
After the Austrian defeat at Mühldorf (1322) the auxiliaries fell out of favour and lost prominence.
Trivia
Based on the Chinese Chu Ko Nu, the Cuman Auxiliary used to be the Bavarian unique unit until V1.51.