Not to be confused with Horse Guards (United Provinces).
Horse Guards are a type of melee cavalry in Empire: Total War. They are available with the Elite Units of the West DLC, to Great Britain.
Description[]
Horse Guards are an elite heavy cavalry unit, with a fierce reputation and deadly sabres.
It is the task of the heavy cavalry to break the enemy by shock. Simply put, the Horse Guards are expected to charge home and smash enemy ranks by weight and speed. They are not for chasing down enemies: this is the work of light cavalry forces. Instead, they are a battering ram, hurled over short distances against close-formed enemies in the hope of producing a breakthrough and further confusion. These highly trained cavalrymen lend a further touch of class, thanks to the role as part of the royal household guard, to the brutal business of a cavalry charge.
Historically, the Horse Guards remain a feature of the British Army although they now use tanks. Their name is attached to Horse Guards and Horse Guards Parade. This building complex was designed by William Kent and completed in 1755 and are still used by the Household Cavalry. Horse Guards Parade is the setting for ”Trooping of the Colour”, a practice that dates back to the 17th Century. A regiment’s colours (or flags) were a rallying point in battle and so they were shown to the soldiers so they would be recognised in battle. Today, the ceremony is used to celebrate the official birthday the ruling monarch; at the time of writing Queen Elizabeth attends every year and takes the salute at the end of the parade.
General Information[]
Horse Guards possess very high morale and are, in most ways, a cut above Life Guards. They are some of the best heavy cavalry available to Great Britain.