Kolba
Here is the dictionary of all not English words, which are appearing in mod.
Battle Units
Singular Name/Plural Name - English Singular Name - Origin - Description
Britons
The plural names and origins are not completely done, because I must study Old Welsh to make them more accurate.
Ardu/Ardu - Briton Skirmisher - The Ardu were the poorest soldiers available to a commander, these levies being made up the lowest members of society. They fought with whatever came to hand: home-made javelins, carving knives, anything they could afford.
Aulue/Aulue - Briton Militia - It was a legal obligation for all men over a certain age to fight when required in Briton kingdoms, indeed most, if not all, saw it as a great privilage and were eager for battle. Many kept their own weapons so men could be rapidly form militia units (or Aulue) when their kingdom needed their service. They often fought surprisingly well, but were quick to turn tail and run if things were going badly.
Milwr/Milwyr - Briton Soldier - From Latin word miles meaning soldier - Despite large numbers being levies, portions of the armies of dark age Britain were professional soldiers.
Campgur/Campwyrau - Briton Champion - The Campwyrau were the champions of the Britons' armies. Although not always nobles, they were professional soldiers who, through their brave deeds on the field of battle, earned prestige, fame and wealth.
Marchoc/Marcach - Briton Horseman - From Briton word marca meaning horse - The Marcach were the standard cavalry soldiers of Briton armies. Like almost all soldiery of the time, the Marca had to provide and maintain their own equipment, including their horse, meaning their ranks were generally made up of wealthy individuals who could afford such luxuries.
Marchoc Mawr/Marchachmawr - Briton Heavy Horseman - The Marchachmawr are made up of men from the richest warrior households who can afford a good horse, a spatha, a round shield, a spangelhelm and chain mail or scale armour. These well armoured powerful horsemen make a formidable opponent, but must be commanded correctly to be truly devestating in battle.
Teulu/Teulu - Briton Mounted Guard - From Briton word teulu meaning literally family - Teulu were the professional noble bodyguards of individual princes and chieftains. Although cavalry are generally not best suited to the rough hilly and mountainous terrain of Britain, the Teulu often rode into battle. Being of the nobility, the Teulu could afford the best of military equipment and were very well armed by Celtic standards: they wore chain or scale mail and helmets, and carried a shield and a lance, making them a pivotal force on the battlefield.
Helwr/Helwyr - Briton Huntsman - From Briton word hela or Cornish helghya meaning to hunt - The Welsh people were keen huntsmen and used the hunt to practice the skills needed in battle. The Helwyr equipped powerful bows, enabling them to kill the toughest of quarry, but very little close combat weaponry, thus should be kept out of melees.
Saethwr/Saethwyr - Briton Archer - From Briton word saeth meaning arrow - The Saethwyr were peasant levies with a skill for archery. Skill with the bow was a way of life during the dark ages, particularly amongst the Britons.
Arwrweision/Arwrweision (?) - Briton Veteran Archer - Literally meaning brave men - the Arwrweision are the veterans of numerous battles, they are the non-noble elite of a British Chieftain’s army. It was considered an honour amongst Britons to be drafted into military service, so all able-bodied men had a weapon and were up for a fight. Carrying similar equipment to their fellow peasants, swords, bows and shields, the defining characteristic of the Arwrweision is that, although they share their comrade’s eagerness for battle, they don’t share their eagerness to run away.
Gaels
Here the situation is better, but still not everything is completed.
Ceithernachti/Ceitherne - Gaelic Skirmisher - From Gaelic word ceitherne meaning warband - Most of the time, the Ceithernachti is just a man called up to form a militia in times of strife, and fight with whatever is on hand; usually hunting spears or solid clubs, accompanied by light, small javelins, often called darts. Later, kerns would become the basic soldier of Irish armies, with superior armaments and outfitting, but in this period are only militia with the poorest equipment.
Fianadi Slea/Fianade - Gaelic Spearman - The slea or gae (spear) is the preferred weapon of most Gaelic soldiers. Accompanied with heavy throwing spears and a solid Gaelic targe, these spearmen form the backbone of any Gaelic army. They are professional soldiers, who either bought their equipment, or were sponsored by a wealthier member of society. They are intended to hold positions, and are often placed around missile troops to defend them from cavalry and any other threats that might occur.
Cliarthe/Cliarthairi - Gaelic Warrior - Cliarthe is a troop, a professional footman.
Curadha/Curadha - Gaelic Champion - Literally meaning champion - These curadha (champions) are intended to inspire their fellows, and use their superior skills to create gaps in the enemy line. They are also likely the ones to start war songs and chants before battle, and usually accompany the first line of soldiers into the fight.
Deaisbard/Deaisbard - Gaelic Guard - From gaelic words deais (meaning chief) and bard (meaning guard) - The private bodyguards of chieftains were the Deaisbard. Excellently trained and outfitted champions supported these men; they were just below the fighting orders and bodyguards of the kings themselves in ability. They were trained in the finest schools, and were all uniformly well-educated. In addition to being bodyguards, they are also meant to act as servants and aides, and are expected to be able to conduct themselves appropriately, and deliver various ceremonies, like presenting wine and tea.
Arras/Arrasi - Gaelic Noble - Gaelic 'nobility' are drawn from numerous places; everyone from the lowest chief to the high king are considered Arras, as well as indepedent, wealthy merchants and traders. They can afford the best training, the best equipment, and the best soldiers to support them. Like other Gaels, they carry javelins to throw at their enemies before charging, and form a tight shieldwall-like formation to absorb an attack. They use long slashing and thrusting swords, which are fairly rare among Gaels. The heavy Gaelic targe, good quality scale or mail armor, and a well-made iron helmet, provide them great protection against their enemies.
Guirran/Guirran - Gaelic Horseman - Gaelic light cavalry sticks to the common methods of Gaelic combat. They are skirmishers by default, meant to ride toward an opponent, throw javelins, and retreat, ad infinitum. Training and experience has made them fairly good at this, and the Guirran (horsemen), later called hobblers or hobilars, became a staple of English and French armies as well. When depleted of javelins, or if the enemy routs, they can also be used to rundown infantry, or to flank an enemy position.
Guirranmor/Guirranmor - Gaelic Champion Horseman - Champions in Gaelic culture are afforded some of the best weapons and equipment. The Guirranmor are the Gaelic equivalent of 'knights'; they have a patron who provides them with equipment, training, and gifts for performing well. On horseback, they form the Guirranmor (great horsemen); Gaels don't tend to use much heavy cavalry, but when they do, they form a powerful reserve on the field for mowing down enemy infantry. Their equipment is somewhat heavy compared to most infantry equipment, with longered handled or longer bladed weapons, reinforced armor, and larger shields.
Fiagania/Fiagani - Gaelic Hunter - Gaels rarely employ professional archers as soldiers, except mercenaries. They, personally, see little value in archers. However, when they do employ their own, they tend to be simple levies of hunters, who, while proficient with their bows, are not soldiers, and easily chased off of a battlefield if not properly defended, or if engaged in a melee.
Maiobhanaghta/Maiobhanaghti - Gaelic Slinger - The sling is still a popular weapon among the Gaels. It is far longer range than a regular bow, and a sling bullet of clay or stone is surprisingly deadly. Slingers in use by the Gaelic often are used to harass an enemy from great distance. Further, they are semi-professional soldiers, not levies like Gaelic archers, and train regularly.
Picts
Dim/Dimpa - Youth - Literally meaning youth - Boys too young to stand in the battle line and fight the enemy face to face would learn the ways of war by accompanying their fathers and brothers and supporting them with a hail of javelins. They are ill equipped and their morale is brittle, but then they should not be engaged in hand to hand combat at all, but rather should use their superior speed to stay out of the way of the enemy while their javelins wreak havoc.
Gairlom/Gairlom - Pictish Spearman - Literally meaning those who carry spears - Most Pictish warriors are portrayed as fighting with bucklers and shields, almost certainly unarmoured. These men are the basic levies of tribal warriors, and while the Picts were renowned as fierce warriors, they cannot be expected to stand for long against professional troops. Nevertheless, deployed correctly they can be useful warriors, especially if their abilities to hide and run like the wind are exploited correctly.
Gairmorlom/Gairmorlom - Pictish Long Spearman - Pictish warriors sometimes seem to have been trained in the use of a long spear, almost a pike, and to fight in a dense formation perfectly suited to resisting enemy cavalry charges. These men are only freemen, and so cannot be expected to stand and fight if the situation is desperate, but they can be expected to hold their formation and give any enemy that tries a frontal attack more than a bloody nose!
Daoer/Daoer - Pictish Warrior - Literally meaning soldier - Pictish raiding parties often seem to have been armed with a simple hand axe and a buckler, lightly encumbered so as not to restrict their movement. These men are good warriors, especially when they charge into enemy formations, but their short weapons and lack of armour meant that if they are attacked their formation will usually crumble into a rout.
Gai Aurmahr/Gai Aurmahr - Pictish Champion - Literally meaning spear masters - These elite Pictish warriors are drawn from the finest of the kingdom’s warriors. Though they are equipped like their poorer brethren with spears and shields, they wear helms and mail shirts, making them a sturdy force on the battlefield, and one to be feared by enemy cavalry. Of course, their armour means that they are not so quick or agile as the lighter troops, but are more useful for holding important parts of the battle line.
Aumue Boai/Aumue Boai - Pictish Fanatic Warrior - Literally meaning Naked Warriors - Famously, some Picts in pagan times went into battle skyclad, trusting in their own skill to protect them from injury. Though such times are now over, the practice has not entirely died out in the lands of the Picts, and some warriors still choose to show their bravery by fighting naked. These men are fanatically brave as well as being fast and brutal on the attack.
Myrchan/Marchan - Pictish Horseman - The Picts were exceptional horsemen, and were exceedingly proud of their horses. Their noblemen fight as light cavalry with their bands of armed retainers who are fed and housed at their expense. They are well able to serve both as skirmishers, peppering the enemy with javelins and as a powerful force of cavalry when they charge in with their spears. Their light armour is compensated for by their skill and speed.
Myrchan Mor/Marchan Mor - Pictish Nobleman - The Marchan Mor are the rulers of Pictish society, and they are supported in battle by noble warbands from their own household, consisting of sons, cousins and hostages from other chieftains, as well as picked warriors from their own lands. They fight as heavy cavalry, armoured in chain mail and hurling their javelins before charging home with their spears to devastating effect.
Saiogdaoer/Saiogdaoer - Pictish Archer - Picts seem to have only seldom raised units of archers for use on the battlefield, but the few that they do have are skilled at finding their mark and ambushing their enemies. Though they will quickly be surrounded and overwhelmed in hand to hand combat, these men are skilled enough to strike only when the enemy least expects it, and to escape swiftly when they get too close for comfort.
Elbharu/Elbharu - Pictish Crossbowman - Pictish huntsmen may have been called up in times of war to provide their kings with a force of useful skirmishers, armed as they were with a form of crossbow, the Roman arcuballista. While probably never present in great numbers their skills at hunting and hiding in their misty homeland would have made them useful scouts with which to threaten the flanks of the enemy or pick off important men.
Angles
(Coming Soon)
Regional Units
(Coming Soon)
Mercenaries
(Coming Soon)
Map names
Britons
(Coming Soon)
Gaels
(Coming Soon)
Picts
(Coming Soon)
Angles
(Coming Soon)
Titles and Offices
Britons
(Coming Soon)
Gaels
(Coming Soon)
Picts
(Coming Soon)
Angles
(Coming Soon)
Feel free to correct me or write new sections.
Battle Units
Singular Name/Plural Name - English Singular Name - Origin - Description
Britons
The plural names and origins are not completely done, because I must study Old Welsh to make them more accurate.
Ardu/Ardu - Briton Skirmisher - The Ardu were the poorest soldiers available to a commander, these levies being made up the lowest members of society. They fought with whatever came to hand: home-made javelins, carving knives, anything they could afford.
Aulue/Aulue - Briton Militia - It was a legal obligation for all men over a certain age to fight when required in Briton kingdoms, indeed most, if not all, saw it as a great privilage and were eager for battle. Many kept their own weapons so men could be rapidly form militia units (or Aulue) when their kingdom needed their service. They often fought surprisingly well, but were quick to turn tail and run if things were going badly.
Milwr/Milwyr - Briton Soldier - From Latin word miles meaning soldier - Despite large numbers being levies, portions of the armies of dark age Britain were professional soldiers.
Campgur/Campwyrau - Briton Champion - The Campwyrau were the champions of the Britons' armies. Although not always nobles, they were professional soldiers who, through their brave deeds on the field of battle, earned prestige, fame and wealth.
Marchoc/Marcach - Briton Horseman - From Briton word marca meaning horse - The Marcach were the standard cavalry soldiers of Briton armies. Like almost all soldiery of the time, the Marca had to provide and maintain their own equipment, including their horse, meaning their ranks were generally made up of wealthy individuals who could afford such luxuries.
Marchoc Mawr/Marchachmawr - Briton Heavy Horseman - The Marchachmawr are made up of men from the richest warrior households who can afford a good horse, a spatha, a round shield, a spangelhelm and chain mail or scale armour. These well armoured powerful horsemen make a formidable opponent, but must be commanded correctly to be truly devestating in battle.
Teulu/Teulu - Briton Mounted Guard - From Briton word teulu meaning literally family - Teulu were the professional noble bodyguards of individual princes and chieftains. Although cavalry are generally not best suited to the rough hilly and mountainous terrain of Britain, the Teulu often rode into battle. Being of the nobility, the Teulu could afford the best of military equipment and were very well armed by Celtic standards: they wore chain or scale mail and helmets, and carried a shield and a lance, making them a pivotal force on the battlefield.
Helwr/Helwyr - Briton Huntsman - From Briton word hela or Cornish helghya meaning to hunt - The Welsh people were keen huntsmen and used the hunt to practice the skills needed in battle. The Helwyr equipped powerful bows, enabling them to kill the toughest of quarry, but very little close combat weaponry, thus should be kept out of melees.
Saethwr/Saethwyr - Briton Archer - From Briton word saeth meaning arrow - The Saethwyr were peasant levies with a skill for archery. Skill with the bow was a way of life during the dark ages, particularly amongst the Britons.
Arwrweision/Arwrweision (?) - Briton Veteran Archer - Literally meaning brave men - the Arwrweision are the veterans of numerous battles, they are the non-noble elite of a British Chieftain’s army. It was considered an honour amongst Britons to be drafted into military service, so all able-bodied men had a weapon and were up for a fight. Carrying similar equipment to their fellow peasants, swords, bows and shields, the defining characteristic of the Arwrweision is that, although they share their comrade’s eagerness for battle, they don’t share their eagerness to run away.
Gaels
Here the situation is better, but still not everything is completed.
Ceithernachti/Ceitherne - Gaelic Skirmisher - From Gaelic word ceitherne meaning warband - Most of the time, the Ceithernachti is just a man called up to form a militia in times of strife, and fight with whatever is on hand; usually hunting spears or solid clubs, accompanied by light, small javelins, often called darts. Later, kerns would become the basic soldier of Irish armies, with superior armaments and outfitting, but in this period are only militia with the poorest equipment.
Fianadi Slea/Fianade - Gaelic Spearman - The slea or gae (spear) is the preferred weapon of most Gaelic soldiers. Accompanied with heavy throwing spears and a solid Gaelic targe, these spearmen form the backbone of any Gaelic army. They are professional soldiers, who either bought their equipment, or were sponsored by a wealthier member of society. They are intended to hold positions, and are often placed around missile troops to defend them from cavalry and any other threats that might occur.
Cliarthe/Cliarthairi - Gaelic Warrior - Cliarthe is a troop, a professional footman.
Curadha/Curadha - Gaelic Champion - Literally meaning champion - These curadha (champions) are intended to inspire their fellows, and use their superior skills to create gaps in the enemy line. They are also likely the ones to start war songs and chants before battle, and usually accompany the first line of soldiers into the fight.
Deaisbard/Deaisbard - Gaelic Guard - From gaelic words deais (meaning chief) and bard (meaning guard) - The private bodyguards of chieftains were the Deaisbard. Excellently trained and outfitted champions supported these men; they were just below the fighting orders and bodyguards of the kings themselves in ability. They were trained in the finest schools, and were all uniformly well-educated. In addition to being bodyguards, they are also meant to act as servants and aides, and are expected to be able to conduct themselves appropriately, and deliver various ceremonies, like presenting wine and tea.
Arras/Arrasi - Gaelic Noble - Gaelic 'nobility' are drawn from numerous places; everyone from the lowest chief to the high king are considered Arras, as well as indepedent, wealthy merchants and traders. They can afford the best training, the best equipment, and the best soldiers to support them. Like other Gaels, they carry javelins to throw at their enemies before charging, and form a tight shieldwall-like formation to absorb an attack. They use long slashing and thrusting swords, which are fairly rare among Gaels. The heavy Gaelic targe, good quality scale or mail armor, and a well-made iron helmet, provide them great protection against their enemies.
Guirran/Guirran - Gaelic Horseman - Gaelic light cavalry sticks to the common methods of Gaelic combat. They are skirmishers by default, meant to ride toward an opponent, throw javelins, and retreat, ad infinitum. Training and experience has made them fairly good at this, and the Guirran (horsemen), later called hobblers or hobilars, became a staple of English and French armies as well. When depleted of javelins, or if the enemy routs, they can also be used to rundown infantry, or to flank an enemy position.
Guirranmor/Guirranmor - Gaelic Champion Horseman - Champions in Gaelic culture are afforded some of the best weapons and equipment. The Guirranmor are the Gaelic equivalent of 'knights'; they have a patron who provides them with equipment, training, and gifts for performing well. On horseback, they form the Guirranmor (great horsemen); Gaels don't tend to use much heavy cavalry, but when they do, they form a powerful reserve on the field for mowing down enemy infantry. Their equipment is somewhat heavy compared to most infantry equipment, with longered handled or longer bladed weapons, reinforced armor, and larger shields.
Fiagania/Fiagani - Gaelic Hunter - Gaels rarely employ professional archers as soldiers, except mercenaries. They, personally, see little value in archers. However, when they do employ their own, they tend to be simple levies of hunters, who, while proficient with their bows, are not soldiers, and easily chased off of a battlefield if not properly defended, or if engaged in a melee.
Maiobhanaghta/Maiobhanaghti - Gaelic Slinger - The sling is still a popular weapon among the Gaels. It is far longer range than a regular bow, and a sling bullet of clay or stone is surprisingly deadly. Slingers in use by the Gaelic often are used to harass an enemy from great distance. Further, they are semi-professional soldiers, not levies like Gaelic archers, and train regularly.
Picts
Dim/Dimpa - Youth - Literally meaning youth - Boys too young to stand in the battle line and fight the enemy face to face would learn the ways of war by accompanying their fathers and brothers and supporting them with a hail of javelins. They are ill equipped and their morale is brittle, but then they should not be engaged in hand to hand combat at all, but rather should use their superior speed to stay out of the way of the enemy while their javelins wreak havoc.
Gairlom/Gairlom - Pictish Spearman - Literally meaning those who carry spears - Most Pictish warriors are portrayed as fighting with bucklers and shields, almost certainly unarmoured. These men are the basic levies of tribal warriors, and while the Picts were renowned as fierce warriors, they cannot be expected to stand for long against professional troops. Nevertheless, deployed correctly they can be useful warriors, especially if their abilities to hide and run like the wind are exploited correctly.
Gairmorlom/Gairmorlom - Pictish Long Spearman - Pictish warriors sometimes seem to have been trained in the use of a long spear, almost a pike, and to fight in a dense formation perfectly suited to resisting enemy cavalry charges. These men are only freemen, and so cannot be expected to stand and fight if the situation is desperate, but they can be expected to hold their formation and give any enemy that tries a frontal attack more than a bloody nose!
Daoer/Daoer - Pictish Warrior - Literally meaning soldier - Pictish raiding parties often seem to have been armed with a simple hand axe and a buckler, lightly encumbered so as not to restrict their movement. These men are good warriors, especially when they charge into enemy formations, but their short weapons and lack of armour meant that if they are attacked their formation will usually crumble into a rout.
Gai Aurmahr/Gai Aurmahr - Pictish Champion - Literally meaning spear masters - These elite Pictish warriors are drawn from the finest of the kingdom’s warriors. Though they are equipped like their poorer brethren with spears and shields, they wear helms and mail shirts, making them a sturdy force on the battlefield, and one to be feared by enemy cavalry. Of course, their armour means that they are not so quick or agile as the lighter troops, but are more useful for holding important parts of the battle line.
Aumue Boai/Aumue Boai - Pictish Fanatic Warrior - Literally meaning Naked Warriors - Famously, some Picts in pagan times went into battle skyclad, trusting in their own skill to protect them from injury. Though such times are now over, the practice has not entirely died out in the lands of the Picts, and some warriors still choose to show their bravery by fighting naked. These men are fanatically brave as well as being fast and brutal on the attack.
Myrchan/Marchan - Pictish Horseman - The Picts were exceptional horsemen, and were exceedingly proud of their horses. Their noblemen fight as light cavalry with their bands of armed retainers who are fed and housed at their expense. They are well able to serve both as skirmishers, peppering the enemy with javelins and as a powerful force of cavalry when they charge in with their spears. Their light armour is compensated for by their skill and speed.
Myrchan Mor/Marchan Mor - Pictish Nobleman - The Marchan Mor are the rulers of Pictish society, and they are supported in battle by noble warbands from their own household, consisting of sons, cousins and hostages from other chieftains, as well as picked warriors from their own lands. They fight as heavy cavalry, armoured in chain mail and hurling their javelins before charging home with their spears to devastating effect.
Saiogdaoer/Saiogdaoer - Pictish Archer - Picts seem to have only seldom raised units of archers for use on the battlefield, but the few that they do have are skilled at finding their mark and ambushing their enemies. Though they will quickly be surrounded and overwhelmed in hand to hand combat, these men are skilled enough to strike only when the enemy least expects it, and to escape swiftly when they get too close for comfort.
Elbharu/Elbharu - Pictish Crossbowman - Pictish huntsmen may have been called up in times of war to provide their kings with a force of useful skirmishers, armed as they were with a form of crossbow, the Roman arcuballista. While probably never present in great numbers their skills at hunting and hiding in their misty homeland would have made them useful scouts with which to threaten the flanks of the enemy or pick off important men.
Angles
(Coming Soon)
Regional Units
(Coming Soon)
Mercenaries
(Coming Soon)
Map names
Britons
(Coming Soon)
Gaels
(Coming Soon)
Picts
(Coming Soon)
Angles
(Coming Soon)
Titles and Offices
Britons
(Coming Soon)
Gaels
(Coming Soon)
Picts
(Coming Soon)
Angles
(Coming Soon)
Feel free to correct me or write new sections.
