The Sacred Band fight as heavy cavalry, armed with spears and swords and well armoured to boot. They are an elite in Carthaginian warfare and society.

Elite
Disciplined
Hardy
The Sacred Band Cavalry are trained from birth to be a superb heavy cavalry force. Their superbly bred Iberian horses are barded with fine lacquered lamellar and are trained by the finest Iberian horse trainers. The men themselves are picked at birth from noble families to serve the priesthood of Astarot and are trained from the outset as horsemen. Their training and discipline is such that they can be included among the world’s finest heavy cavalry. Armed with finely forged lances and falcate swords they are nearly irresistible in the charge and versatile in melee, though not so versatile as the heavy Iberian cavalry. They usually do not use the shield in mounted combat, preferring to sling it over the shoulder and use both hands to manipulate their fearsome lance. Their lack of a shield is made up for by their superb training and fine lacquered steel breastplates, bracers and greaves. They fight with a level of élan and ferocity that is seldom matched, if ever.

Historically, these men served in small units during every one of Carthage’s major campaigns. They were kept out of the battle of Zama due to the machinations of the anti-Barcid party in the Senate. Had the thousand strong Sacred Band been present, the battle might have turned out very different…