User blog:SPARTAN 119/Zulu vs Maharlika

The fierce warriors of South Africa, who challenged the might of the British empire

VS

The Maharlika, the Filipino warrior class sometimes compared with knights or samurai.

WHO IS DEADLIEST?!

=Combatants=

Zulu
The Zulu warrior at the time of Rorke's Drift was not a professional soldier, but was a formidable foe nonetheless. The Zulus were a citizen army called up in times of war although all Zulu men were required to do military service when they reached the age of 19 until the age of 40 when they were allowed to marry and went on the Zulu reserve list. The Zulu military organization was far from primiative, with an army, or Impi, made up of regiments called amabutho made up of men of similar age from all over the kingdom. Their most well-known leader, King Shaka (also known as Shaka Zulu) led them to battlefield success as a military superpower across South Africa.

Maharlika


The maharlika were a martial class of Freemen Like the timawa, they were free Vassals of their Datu who were exempt from taxes and tribute but were required to provide military service. In times of war, the maharlika were obligated to provide and prepare weapons at their own expense and answer the summons of the datu, wherever and whenever that might be. They accompanied their ruler in battles as comrades-at-arms and were given a share of the spoils. The maharlika may also occasionally be obligated to work on the lands of thedatu and assist in projects and other events in the community.

=Weapons=

Zulu Axe
The axe used by the Zulu people had a straight handle about 2.5 feet long, with an iron head. The Axe head had a narrow crescent-shaped blade connected the the head by a thin iron bar. This lightweight blade design made the axe easy to swing rapidly.

Dahong Palay (Maharlika)
The Dahong Palay is a Filipino single-edged short sword from 24 to 27 inches in length. The weapon had a high-carbon steel blade easily capable of cutting through flesh and even piercing chain mail. The art of dual wielding weapons such as the Dahong Palay is taught in the Filipino martial art of eskrima and in the hands of a skilled user, a pair of dahong palay can be extremely deadly weapons. The weapon was often laced with King Cobra venom for increased lethality.

119's Edge
The maharlika's Dahong Palay for its poisoned blade, giving it greater lethality.

Iklwa (Zulu)
The Iklwa was the trademark Zulu weapon, a short, stabbing spear designed to for use at close range. The weapon, named for the sound makes as it enters it target, had a shaft about three to four feet long, with a dagger-like metal point, sometimes up the half the length of the spear.

Panabas (Maharlika)
A Panabas is a sword originating the southern Phillipines. The weapon's is characterized by a length of two to four feet, with a heavy curved blade designed for chopping and hacking. The blade was designed like a machete or a meat cleaver- designed to cut through a target with the sheer weight of the blade. For the purposes of this match, the panabas will be about the same length as the Ikwla

119's Edge
The Zulu's Iklwa for its lighter weight and faster attack speed.

Assegai (Zulu)
The Assegai is a longer spear used by the Zulu for throwing. The weapon was had a shaft about five to six feet in length, with a leaf-shaped head. Shaka Zulu pioneered the tactic of throwing a barrage of assegai before moving in close with the ikwla.

Sibat (Filipino)
The Sibat is a Filipino spear typically made from rattan. In this match, the spear will have a metal head. The sibat can be thrown or thrusted.

119's Edge
The two weapons are essentially Even

Brown Bess Musket (Zulu)
The Brown Bess was the standard British musket for the late 18th and early 19th century. The weapon was a muzzle loading, smoothbore firearm firing a round lead ball. The weapon was typically fired in volleys at ranges of 50 meters or less, and was highly inaccurate at greater ranges. While they mostly used melee weapons, some muskets did fall into Zulu hands from Arab traders.

Arquebus (Maharlika)
An arquebus is a crude type of matchlock firearm, using a slow-burning match attached to a crude trigger mechanism to place the burning match against the powder charge in the pan, which in turn ignited the main charge, firing the weapon. The weapon fired a lead ball, with an effective range of about 50 meters.

119's Edge
The Zulu's Brown Bess Musket, for its more reliable flintlock action. =X-Factors=

The maharlika were professional soldiers, unlike the Zulus who were more of a militia, giving the maharlika and edge in training, being highly skilled in eskrima and other martial arts. The Zulus frequently fought, taking control of much of South Africa, meaning the average Zulu could have a level of experience similar to that of a full-time soldier such as the maharlika. The two were relatively even in terms of physical strength. The Zulu's however, were able to execute complex flanking maneuvers. This, along with the combined use of the assegai at long range and the iklwa at close ranges.