Grenadier

A Grenadier was a light foot artillery unit that is featured in Age of Empires III.

Game Info
The Grenadiers were a type of fairly expensive foot artillery which was basicly a very strong soldier that throws early hand grenades. The Grenadier's many hit points and their deadly explosives were very effective against enemy artillery and buildings. The Grenadiers are able to kill a good amount of infantry, but still die against cavalry or light infantry units. They are also the only artillery that can be trained in a Fort.

Real Info
The idea of Grenadiers probably was used by ancient Chinese warriors when attacked on the Great Wall of China. In the European parts the Grenadiers came from Austria and Spain.

The use of Grenadiers declined a lot in the early 18th century, but that can be attributed to the improved effectiveness of massive infantry line tactics and flintlock technology. Also the need for elite assault troops remained and soon the existing grenadier companies were used for this purpose. As noted above physical size had been considered important for the original grenadiers and, in principle, height and strength remained the basis of selection for these elite companies.

The British Grenadiers were from veterans who were put in one of the Grenadier companies. In the Spanish Army of the early 1800s for example grenadier companies were excused routine duties such as town patrols but were expected to provide guards at the headquarters and residences of senior officers.