Company Infantry are a type of line infantry in Empire: Total War.
Description[]
Raised in India, these European mercenaries do not fight "for King and Country" but for the great East India trading companies.
Company infantry are professional soldiers drawn exclusively from Europeans, both officers and other ranks. They are members of private armies for the traders, but one that is available to further national needs when required. They fight using European doctrine and equipment as line infantrymen, carrying smoothbore, muzzle-loading muskets. These soldiers are also enforcers, tax gatherers and a potent threat against the local princes in India, even away the battlefield. Native regiments under European officers exist too, but their reliability is doubtful.
Historically, the great European trading companies were often closer to being nations in their own right than business ventures. India was so wealthy that the companies needed armies, not just guards, to protect and expand their interests and prestige. The British East India Company (the “John Company”), the Dutch “Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie” (VOC) and the French “La Compagnie française des Indes orientales” all had their own armed forces; 1 in 5 VOC employees were soldiers!
General Information[]
Company infantry are Line Infantry equivalents recruited in the Indian theatre by most Western factions. They function similarly to Line Infantry; the only differences are their somewhat altered statistics (all Company Infantry have the same statistics--identical to generic Line Infantry--whereas Line Infantry are unique depending on faction) added resistance to heat fatigue and aesthetic appearances.
Great Britain, France and the United Provinces have East India Company Infantry, French East India Company Infantry and V.O.C Infantry respectively instead of company infantry; these are all identical to company infantry in all ways save name.