Short Swordsman

The Short Swordsman is a unit in Age of Empires, and is not an upgrade of the Axeman but a separate unit. It wields a short sword as its main offensive weapon.

This unit is based on similar terms to the Axeman. They are poor units to use against Cavalry, being slow and not having enough hit points. They have a +5 bonus against Infantry, but usually get massacred by Academy units, due the Hoplite and related units having extremely powerful attack, and very strong armour, this making the Short Swordsman useful only against Tool Age infantry, or the equivalent light infantry in future Ages (this provided that they outnumber the enemy units).

Tool Age

 * Toolworking: Increases attack by 2 points.
 * Leather Armor: Increases armor by 2 points.

Bronze Age

 * Metalworking: Increases attack by 2 points.
 * Scale Armor: Increases armor by 2 points.
 * Bronze Shield: Increases pierce armor by 1 point.
 * Logistics: Decreases population usage by 1/2.
 * Short Sword: Enables Short Swordsman.

Iron Age

 * Metallurgy: Increases attack by 3 points.
 * Chain Mail: Increases armor by 2 points.
 * Iron Shield: Increases pierce armor by 1 point.
 * Tower Shield: Increases pierce armor by 1 point.

Civilization Bonuses

 * Roman swordsmen attack +33% faster.
 * Macedonian swordsmen have +2 line of sight and are more resistant to conversion.

History
The short sword represents an evolutionary step in infantry weapons. The spear, mace, and axe were relatively easy to manufacture and use, but somewhat cumbersome in actual hand-to-hand combat. Following the discovery of bronze during the Bronze Age, it became possible to manufacture swords and shields that were basically enlarged and strengthened knives. These were much easier to wield in hand-to-hand combat and improved the effectiveness of infantry who carried them. Short swords were carried as a second weapon by spearmen or pikemen, such as the Greek hoplites. The most famous short sword of antiquity was the gladius, or Spanish sword, adopted by the Roman legions from the Spanish allies of Carthage. The gladius was especially effective in the dense legion fighting formations that pressed tightly against their opponents and restricted movement.

Related Articles

 * Man-at-Arms
 * Rodelero
 * Barracks