Post by Admin on May 9, 2016 19:31:12 GMT
Field armies are expensive to supply, but can live off the land. Professional armies need to be supplied year in year out at peace and at war, whereas levies only need to be supplied when raised.
Retinues below 10,000 men do not need to worry about supply, but will expect to gain a share of any gold you receive. Distributing treasure can attract free units to your retinue, as can winning lots of battles. It is success and generosity that roaming young warriors look for in a lord, so paying retinues even when you don't need to is a good idea.
Generally speaking, every 1,000 cavalry and 10,000 infantry will cost 1,000 Aurei to maintain per year in the field or as professional soldiers. This will at first be taken from the income of the province, and then your own tax income. You can choose not to fully supply an army if you wish them to live off the land.
Any supply needs not met by your treasury or local tax income will be seized from the fields and homes of the province. This will of course have a detrimental economic effect depending on the scale. A very large army with no means of central supply can leave famine in its wake as it marches through enemy (or friendly) territory. An army will always try and supply itself, as men with swords need not go hungry. If they are trapped in a poor or desolate province by an enemy then they could find themselves unable to feed themselves, and may begin to starve, surrender and defect.
When on campaign, you must be bordering a province where you have control, or the sea (and have access to the sea) to supply the army with central resources. An enemy fleet may choose to patrol the coast and prevent some of the supply reaching your army. Likewise, units that are adept raiders may harass supply lines, making supply more expensive than need be, due to losses on the road.
When fleets are operating outside of waters bordered by your lands (i.e. Gallic ships operating in the Syrian coast, or East Roman Ships operating in the British channel) then it will cost 100 Aurei per ship to keep them supplied. If raiding, this can sometimes be taken out of the spoils of war. Ships are also more likely to be lost, far away from ports where repairs can be made.
Retinues below 10,000 men do not need to worry about supply, but will expect to gain a share of any gold you receive. Distributing treasure can attract free units to your retinue, as can winning lots of battles. It is success and generosity that roaming young warriors look for in a lord, so paying retinues even when you don't need to is a good idea.
Generally speaking, every 1,000 cavalry and 10,000 infantry will cost 1,000 Aurei to maintain per year in the field or as professional soldiers. This will at first be taken from the income of the province, and then your own tax income. You can choose not to fully supply an army if you wish them to live off the land.
Any supply needs not met by your treasury or local tax income will be seized from the fields and homes of the province. This will of course have a detrimental economic effect depending on the scale. A very large army with no means of central supply can leave famine in its wake as it marches through enemy (or friendly) territory. An army will always try and supply itself, as men with swords need not go hungry. If they are trapped in a poor or desolate province by an enemy then they could find themselves unable to feed themselves, and may begin to starve, surrender and defect.
When on campaign, you must be bordering a province where you have control, or the sea (and have access to the sea) to supply the army with central resources. An enemy fleet may choose to patrol the coast and prevent some of the supply reaching your army. Likewise, units that are adept raiders may harass supply lines, making supply more expensive than need be, due to losses on the road.
When fleets are operating outside of waters bordered by your lands (i.e. Gallic ships operating in the Syrian coast, or East Roman Ships operating in the British channel) then it will cost 100 Aurei per ship to keep them supplied. If raiding, this can sometimes be taken out of the spoils of war. Ships are also more likely to be lost, far away from ports where repairs can be made.