Imperial Spanish Factbook
Leader: King Juan VII Fernando
Capital: Madrid
Provinces Controlled
Corudoba (or Corduba, whichever is correct): A fertile area covering most of the south of Spain. The area is principally known for growing grapes, olives and wheat. The most multi-cultural of the provinces, this area has many communities of Jews, Muslims and other ethnic groups from all around Europe and Africa. The cities of Seville, Cadiz and Granada hold strong here. This is now the only Iberian province that remains in Spanish hands.
Annual income: 5 credits
Current Treaties/Alliances/Enemies: At war with Tuaregs/Islamic Alliance and France. Trading agreements with Austria Hungary.
Military Commanders
General Franco y Lopez: High Commander of the Kings Army. Advises the Royal Palace on matters of the Military. Currently not serving, but in residence at the Palace in Madrid.
General Julio Montoya: Commander of the 1st army, currently stationed in Castile, outside Saragossa. Infantry: 60,000 Cavalry: 2,000 Cannon: 130
General Francisco Zaracon: Commander of the 3rd army, currently in Castille.
Infantry: 120,000 Cavalry: 2,000 Cannon: 110
General Juan Paolos: Commander of the 4th army, currently in Corduba. Infantry: 100,000 Cavalry: 2,000 Cannon: 80
Baron of Valladolid: Commander of the New Granada Army, Corduba. Infantry: 80,000 Cavalry: 2,000 Cannon: 100
General Raoul Casattera: Commander of the 5th army, currently in Castille. Infantry: 80,000 Cavalry: 2,000 Cannon: 100
General David Roswell (a defector from the British army) Commander of the 6th army, currently in Castille. Infantry: 80,000 Cavalry: 2,000 Cannon: 100
Spanish Military
Infantry: Musketeers
Fusiliers
Grenadiers
Pikemen
Cavalry: Lancers
Dragoons
Scouts
War Dogs
Cannon: Imperial Guns
Mortars
Falconets
Culverins
Mercenaries: Berber Tribesmen
Camel Riders
Catalonian Skirmishers
Portugese Riflemen
INFANTRY
Due to its great colonial past, the Spanish infantry is a disciplined, well-trained solidery. They are flexible and adaptive, a feature well needed when fighting in the jungles, deserts and mountains of the new world. The conquistadors are gone, and Spain now has a sustainable empire, but the training that proved so useful for those first explorers is now incorportated into Spains European armies.
Musketeers: The mainstay of the Spanish army. Musketeers are core troops of young recruits under the command of corporals and a sergeant. The are adaptive and can be moved quickly around terrain. They do unfortunately have mass-produced, rather ordinary weapons, so are not strong in themselves.
Fusiliers: Fusiliers are a step up from the cannon-fodder that is the musketeer. They have long range weapons suitable for sniping and bayoneting enemy troops, and some can even be mounted, should there be spare horses available.
Grenadiers: Grenadiers in the rest of Europe have lost their first purpose somewhat. Spanish grenadiers however, do keep using grenades as part of their first attack, and their long rifles serve excellently well when these have run out. The shock troops of the Spanish infantry, they inspire terror in the lower orders, and are often made captains or majors in order to discipline the younger troops.
CAVALRY
The Spanish have always have successful cavalry on their side, mainly because of the fine horses that they have bred on the plains of Aragon and Castile. This, combined with well trained troops, allows the Spanish to have a flexible and useful mounted army, worth anybody's money.
Lancers: These are the oldest of the cavalry units. Dating from the medieval period, lancers with their long spears and armour have struck terror into the flanks of enemy armies. With the invention of gunpowder, their shine has been taken off somewhat, but they remain a good psychological weapon for the lowly foot soldiers on the opposing side.
Dragoons: Only the best and brightest are allowed to enter the ranks of the Dragoons. They carry a sword and are quick and deadly. No self-respecting European army would be without them.
Scouts: The Scouts do not have a very practical purpose on the battlefied, but they can explore territory, ransack enemy camps, destroy wagon trains and generally make life that little bit difficult. They carry sabres and pistols.
War Dogs: These hulking brutes are looked after by only the most stout-hearted. When released on the battlefield, even friendly troops want to keep out of the way. They cause terror and confusion amongst even the most disciplined forces.
CANNON
As one of the foremost colonising nations, Spain has had a lot of previous experience with guns - when to use them, when not etc. The guns they use are of the highest quality.
Imperial Guns: These large cannons are most often used for battering walls, towers and gates, so that friendly armies can storm a fort or town. It takes a lot of skill and determination to become an Imperial Gunner, and the cannons are so highly prized that they are often given their own names, like 'The Wolf' or 'The Bear'.
Mortars: These long-range guns are perfect for scattering enemy troops. A few quick blasts and enemy generals will have to go for a lie down.
Falconets: These smaller guns are transported by mule-cart. They are useful in attacking the front line of an army, and allowing a friendly army to attack. However, they are not very useful when attacking very large armies, as they do not cause that much damage.
Culverins: These wheeled cannons are easy to manouever and set up, they serve about the same purpose as a falconet, except that they are much easier to use.
MERCENARIES
Mercenaries are just that: mercenary. Over the course of the years, Spain has been able to build friendships with the locals they conquered, so that they have some mercenary armies which follow the field armies around. They are not counted as field armies because they enter combat when and if they choose, and are sometimes likely to side with the opposing nation.
Berber Tribesmen: This ragtag band of fighters are not at all uniform. They can be armed with whatever is to hand; scimitars, pistols, spears, rifles. The tribes come in varying sizes and loyalty to the army that controls them often wavers too.
Camel Riders: These are Berber tribesmen, but mounted. Being richer and less numerous than the tribesmen, they have slightly increased loyalty, but their first loyalty is always to their chieftain, back in North Africa.
Catalonian Skirmishers: These people are mainly hunters and farmers who have been incorporated into a fighting unit. They don't like the Spanish much, but then neither do they like anyone else very much. This attitude allows them to butcher the enemy quite happily with their long knives and pistols (or they may decide, just for fun they might butcher some Spaniards instead!)
Portugese Riflemen: These mountain men are crack shots with their long barrelled rifles. They are the most loyal of the mercenaries, but also the most expensive to keep happy. They are best employed in scouting and raiding parties.