Italian Infantry

Italian Heavy Infantry

The Italian Infantry is a heavy mercenary infantry unit unique to Burgundy and available with the Italian Alliance. Though, the Italian Infantry has decent hit points, it still moves faster than most other heavy armoured infantry units and combines outstanding melee armour stats with a comparatively high attack.

Unit Statistics

Vital

Type: Knightly Infantry

Available to: Burgundy

Trained at: Castle

Century: 15th

Requires: Italian Alliance

Cost: 65 food, 40 florins

Combat

HP: 65

Attack: 15

Armor/Pierce Armour: 10/2

Range: Melee

Special: +4 vs. buildings.

Upgrades

Attack: Forging, Iron Casting, Blast Furnace, Swordsmanship

Armour: Scale Armour. Mail Armour, Plate Armour

Speed: Squires

LOS: Pathfinding

Training time: Indenture

Scenario Editor Notes

The "Swabian Knight", an editor-only unit, uses the same stats as the Italian Infantry and the graphics of the former "Teutonic Knight".

Commentary/Strategy

You're likely to remember the Teutonic Knight of AOK when using this. The Italian Infantry has the same strengths (heavy melee armor, very good attack, conversion resistance) and weaknesses (slow, expensive, vulnerable to archers) as its counterpart. That said, this also requires a very expensive technology to begin production - unlike the Teutonic Knight, it isn't available until the 15th century - and it is produced at the castle.

Italian Infantry, when used correctly, can slice through infantry easily and serve as reliable living tanks against cavalry, but it'd be a very good idea to keep them away from anti-infantry units, or archers, for that matter. They serve as a nice protection--and distraction--for the cavalry. A player focusing on defeating your Chevaliers might end up panicking seeing strong infantry accompanying them.

Historical Background

The dukes of Burgundy often fought with temporary or mercenary contingents. A few years before his death, Charles the Bold contacted Italian condottieri, and soon thousands of Italian troops were in his service to augment and diversify the largely cavalry-based Burgundian army. Once again, results were mixed. Although some Italian condottiere remained loyal, the count of Montebasso betrayed duke Charles and killed and captured many fleeing Burgundians after the battle of Nancy in 1477.