These two are brave warriors from their respective highland areas offering a plucky resistance to barbaric invaders whose legacy is immortal. Their names?
The Jacobite.
And the Ethiopian Habesha warrior.
Thistle be a duel, one on one. The Ethiopian is using black powder like the Scotsman and is from the 16th century.
Jacobite[]
The Scottish peoples have had warriors since Ancient Celtic times. Sometimes they were informally called Highlanders after the region in Scotland known as the Highlands. Nonetheless, their arsenal and fashion have changed considerably over centuries despite the enduring pop cultural stereotype of a fearsome embodiment of the Violent Glaswegian trope in tartan and a kilt. This image best fits that of the 16th century and truly became common in the late 17th century with the rise of Jacobitism. The Jacobites resented the rule of William III and his successors including the King Georges and several revolts were launched to restore the Stuart dynasty. Some also sought a restoration of Catholicism in Britain as opposed to Anglicanism though there were some Protestant Jacobites too. They were unsuccessful in the Nine Years War despite backing from France. The Jacobites rose again later in the early 18th century but did not find success. In 1745, they launched another uprising which coincided with the War of the Austrian Succession and achieved initial success at battles like Prestopans but were decisively defeated in the battle of Culloden. After Culloden, Jacobitism would never pose a serious threat to the British monarchy again and would mark the final defeat of military Jacobite uprisings. Jacobite dynastic succession nonetheless continued to the present with the incumbent being Franz von Bayern although he is uninterested in disputing the British throne.
Arsenal:
- Ranged weapon: Firelock. With a range of ~100 meters, this was typical of flintlock muskets of the age. They could sometimes have bayonets mounted for melee, though not this time. They fired one shot and needed to reload for every shot made.
- Polearm: Pike pole. A spear with a hook on it. Depicted in the painting by David Morier An Incident in the Rebellion of 1745. At ~2 meters long this was an effective piercing weapon that could also use hooking motions.
- Sidearm: Broadsword. At about 1 meter long and weighing 1 kg, this sword was about the same weight and functioned almost identically to earlier medieval arming swords but with a 'basket hilt' to protect the hand. A common sword across Europe in the Early Modern period due to its ability to deliver powerful cuts while also able to stab.
- Extras: Targe. The targe was a small, spiked shield made of wood and metal. At up to 55 cm in diameter, it provided some protection against melee weapons while offering an extra clobbering weapon but was useless against firearms.
- Armor: Just...a tam o'shanter, tartan, and kilt. Oh well, at least you'll look snazzy while you're totally vulnerable to bullets and blades!
Habesha warrior[]
The Habesha peoples were native to Ethiopia and compose of Amhara, Tigray-Tigrinya and Tigre ethnic groups of Ethiopia and Eritrea. Most are Oriental Christians.
The Ethiopian realms were once divided until conquests unified them into the Ethiopian Empire in ~1270. The Ethiopian empire ended up prospering under trade and skirmishes for centuries with much of its life being prosperous. The Ethiopian Empire clashed with the Somali Adal Sultanate and the Ottoman Empire during the 16th century which marked a high point for action around the empire. Despite initial successes, the Ottomans were forced to retreat with only small landholdings in the Horn, sparing the Horn from falling to Ottoman control. The Adal Sultanate would eventually fall in 1577 after a long war with the Ethiopian Empire damaged both empires badly and is said to be the beginning of strained Ethiopian-Somali relations today. Ethiopia maintains its cultural traditions to this day.
Arsenal:
- Ranged weapon: Arquebus. Range is ~100 meters with a matchlock action. Powerful rounds fired allowing for armor piercing capability combined with cheapness and relative ease in training made it formidable. It managed to see use in all of Afro-Eurasia even late as the early 18th century despite innovations in firearms technology.
- Polearm: Abyssinian spear. At ~2 meters, this was the polearm of choice among Ethiopians and other peoples and delivered powerful thrusts.
- Sidearm: Shotel. A curved sword at ~1 meter long and a kilogram. Specialized for hooking and piercing but could slash too.
- Armor: Cloth body armor, chainmail, and modest sized wicker/wood shields about 60 cm in diameter.
Imbalances:[]
Training: The Jacobites were not the most consistently trained but did get some degree of military training and could hold their own against Redcoats. The Habesha had built on imperial traditions for a few centuries by the Early Modern era and were trained well-enough to match their Somali neighbors and the Ottoman Empire at nearly peak strength no less.
Experience: The Jacobites were known to have fought the British in several wars like the Nine Years War and War of the Austrian Succession. In the latter they achieved initial success but Culloden was their final, permanent defeat. The Ethiopians fought Adal Sultanate from 1529-1543 ending in stalemate, damaging both empires and against the Ottoman Empire from 1557-1589 with initial defeats but ultimately victory over the Ottomans at least in land while the Ottomans won much of the coastal battles.
Discipline: The Jacobites were focused on breaking enemy formations with psychological warfare with the Highland charge that didn't need much discipline so long as it broke enemy lines. The Habesha warriors were disciplined enough to fight together but could crumble if things weren't going their way.
Martial skill: The Jacobites were generally reliant on crushing enemies through psychological warfare and were more than capable of handling their weapons. The Habesha were skilled at their craft and knew every weapon by heart.
Vote how you feel comfortable and above all, have fun!
Story[]
In a strange world where nothing is as it seems, the Jacobites have splintered and now live in exile because of a cause that seems lost. One made a fateful venture to Sub-Saharan Africa close to the borders of the Ethiopian Empire, in what will become Sudan. Meanwhile, a Habesha warrior is patrolling the area and gets lost on the way home. He spots the Jacobite and glares. The fight is on!
The Jacobite and Habesha both aim their guns with them going off at the same time, bullets bouncing off each other midair. The Jacobite tries for another shot and fires, barely missing the Ethiopian's head and giving him an accidental head shave. The Ethiopian manages to load and fire his arquebus but now this has bought into the Jacobite's game. The Scotsman drops his firelock and takes up his pike pole charging and screaming. It takes all his willpower and a lot of nervous sweating for the Ethiopian to stand his ground and he raises his spear to match, barely blocking a strike. The two clash spears with neither getting an advantage. One time, the Ethiopian makes a thrust drawing blood and the Jacobite grunts, trying to use his pike pole's hook to somehow disarm his opponent. One try sees him get the spear stopped by the Ethiopian's armor but finally, he tries and hooks the spear out of the Ethiopian's hands only to be met with a shotel swing knocking the pike pole out of his hands. The Jacobite thinks "Swordfight time!" He draws his broadsword and readies his targe. The two circle each other looking for an opportunity. The Ethiopian makes his move hooking past the Highlander's targe and getting a cut on his arm. The Jacobite sneers and then slams his targe, clashing with the Ethiopian's shield. The two push until one falls in the dirt. The Ethiopian feels woozy...for a few seconds until he's stabbed through the head with a broadsword. The Jacobite sits down panting and covering his wounds. He rests for a bit then runs. He knows there will be more like this one.
Conclusion[]
The two had similar skill levels and training though the Jacobite had the superior polearm and long gun and the Habesha warrior had better armor and an equally great sword. The Jacobite having the generally superior arsenal managed to allow him to trump his African adversary.