The Coalition Battle Pack features 6 brand new units and contain the Battle of Friedland fought between France and Russia not available in Napoleon: Total War
Battle Description: The Battle of Friedland (14 June, 1807) with Napoleon's empire at its height, he took a chance and defeated Russia in detail, knocking them out of the war and bringing the Fourth Coalition to an end.
Lifeguard Hussars
Lifeguard Hussars are members of Russia's Imperial Guard cavalry, and
all are elite servicemen. Dres... Lifeguard Hussars
Lifeguard Hussars are members of Russia's Imperial Guard cavalry, and
all are elite servicemen. Dressed in impressive uniforms and riding the
fastest of horses, they enjoy a high status in the Russian army, and are
supremely sure of their abilities, sometimes to the point of arrogance.
They have excellent morale and speed, making them exceptional when
charging, and ideal for chasing down skirmishers or attacking artillery
units. However, they sacrifice some strength for speed and are
vulnerable if pitted against heavier cavalry in melee or infantry units
in square.
Czar Paul I (1754-1801) formed his own personal guard cavalry in the
Lifeguard Hussars, Chevalier-Garde, Horse Guards and Lifeguard Cossacks
when he was crowned. These new bodyguards replaced the existing guard
cavalry created by his mother, Catherine the Great (1729 -1796).
Disgusted by what he saw as the decadence and corruption of the old
nobility, Paul I devoted his reign to renewing the medieval notion of
chivalry through a reorganisation of the Russian hierarchy.
Unfortunately, Paul I’s long-held fear of assassination was justified:
he was soon murdered by disgruntled members of the nobility.
Coldstream Guards
The Coldstream Guards are expensive to maintain, but for good reason:
they are superb troops who can... Coldstream Guards
The Coldstream Guards are expensive to maintain, but for good reason:
they are superb troops who can reload quickly, charge home with the
bayonet and then give a good account of themselves in melee. Their
overall competence and excellent morale inspire nearby troops to fight
all the harder. However, in common with ordinary line regiments, the
Coldsteamers are vulnerable to artillery bombardment and skirmishers’
sniping.
At the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, the Coldstream Guards defended
Hougoumont. The farm was important for Wellington’s Anglo-Dutch army as
it protected his right flank. Despite assault after assault, the Guards
and their comrades managed to hold the place against the French. The
Coldstream Guards are still in service today and continue to celebrate
their victory with the ceremony of "Hanging the Brick". A large stone
from Hougoumont is marched through their barracks by the officers while
the junior ranks attempt to steal it. Naturally, these utterly solemn
proceedings involve wearing fancy dress and quite a lot of drinking!
Archduke Charles' Legion
As part of the Archduke’s military reforms, these troops are trained in
the latest military style ... Archduke Charles' Legion
As part of the Archduke’s military reforms, these troops are trained in
the latest military style in a bid to copy the success of Napoleon’s
Grande Armée. This training improves accuracy, reloading and close
combat skills. There is also a morale effect: the men are filled with a
renewed confidence that makes them unlikely to rout. However, as with
most line infantry, they have little defence against units such as
artillery or skirmishing snipers and will be at a disadvantage against
elite infantry.
In 1806, Austria was still reeling from her defeat by France at
Austerlitz. Austrian conservatism and tradition had resulted in an
outdated and outmatched army, and its defeat by the French forced them
to accept the harsh terms of the Treaty of Pressburg. Archduke Charles, a
highly respected field-marshal, recognised that the Austrian army
needed modernising and introduced a number of military reforms. These
improvements were tested during the Peninsular War period when the
Austrians formed the Fifth Coalition against France. It was during this
coalition that the Legion took part in the Battle of Aspern-Essling,
Napoleon’s first defeat in over ten years.
Luetzow's Freikorps
The men of Luetzow’s Freikorps have immense pride in their regiment and
as a consequence exhibit e... Luetzow's Freikorps
The men of Luetzow’s Freikorps have immense pride in their regiment and
as a consequence exhibit excellent morale. These fast, light cavalry are
an effective fighting force whether charging home or fighting in close
quarters. Their flexibility in battle makes them ideal for use against
artillery and skirmishers, but will be of little utility against heavier
cavalry in melee. As with any cavalry unit their biggest threat is
infantry in square formation.
A certain amount of romance is attached to Luetzow’s Freikorps.
Following a crushing defeat on 17th July 1813, the Freikorps began
recruiting in earnest; during this time a large number of intellectuals,
artists and poets were drawn to Luetzow’s regiment. This was thanks in
part to his reputation for personal bravery and the regiment’s
reputation for derring-do. This reputation that was upheld by one of the
Corps most famous members, Eleonore Prochaska: she disguised herself as
a man and fought alongside her fellow soldiers until she finally met
her end at the Battle of Goehrde. It was only as Prochaska lay wounded,
still beating time on a stolen French drum, that she admitted her
deception to her lieutenant. She was removed from the field and lived
for three weeks before succumbing to her wounds.
Life Hussars
Like other light cavalrymen, hussars have speed, "dash" and an elitist
attitude towards their enemie... Life Hussars
Like other light cavalrymen, hussars have speed, "dash" and an elitist
attitude towards their enemies and friends. The Life Hussars are,
without exception, superb horsemen, and all have a certain independence
of spirit that makes them ideal for chasing down widely scattered
enemies and scouting duties. They carry curved sabres and, even though
their charge is a fairly powerful attack, they are relatively weak when
pitted against infantry in square and against heavy cavalry units.
One of Prussia’s most famous generals, Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher,
began his military career as a hussar. Swedish by birth, he joined the
Swedish army at the age of 16 but transferred his allegiance to Prussia
after he was captured in 1760. However, a slight tendency towards excess
meant he was often passed over for promotion, leading him to resign his
commission in 1773. Upon receiving this resignation Frederick the Great
was reported to say "Captain Blücher can take himself to the devil." He
was blacklisted, and Blücher was unable to rejoin the army until after
the death of Frederick. Once back, he distinguished himself, going on to
play one of the key roles in the Allied victory at Waterloo.
Semenovski
Lifeguard
The steadiness displayed by the men of the Semenovski Lifeguard is
amazing, and on the battlefield they inspire nearby troops to hold fast
by their example. These men are incredibly disciplined, and they are
excellent marksmen with fast reloading times, though their close
formations leave them vulnerable to artillery fire and skirmishers.
Being an elite unit, the regiment is expensive to recruit, but the men’s
abilities more than justify the extra cost.
The Russian Lifeguards were famed for their fine appearance. They were
hand-picked for looks and stature, and even had jackets padded around
the chest and shoulders to enhance their impressive physiques. Lady
Burghersh (wife of the Military Commissioner at the Allies’ Headquarters
and a prolific letter writer) believed them to be "the handsomest of
the empire... all gigantic; they are composed of the tallest men in
Russia." Even von Schubert was forced to concede that these men were
"the focal point of the balls and every other kind of society." However,
their immaculate good looks did not imply equally good manners and, at a
banquet held in their honour, Napoleon’s own guards were appalled to
see the Russians tearing meat with their hands, draining glasses of wine
in one gulp, and even vomiting to make room for more gluttony and
drinking!