For the faction in Total War: Attila, see Saxons (Total War: Attila).
For the faction in Medieval II: Total War, see Saxons (Medieval II: Total War).
The Saxons are a minor playable barbarian faction in Rome: Total War: Barbarian Invasion.
Description[]
The Saxons were a people from modern-day north Germany, Denmark and northern Holland. They were a warlike and harsh folk and, like many of the German tribes, under pressure from the influx of eastern nomadic peoples. However, instead of looking to the south, the Saxons looked across the sea to the Roman province of Britannia. Increasing pressure from Saxon raiders, invaders and finally settlers encouraged the construction of a line of coastal forts in Britain. In 410 AD the Saxons provoked the British into appealing directly to the Emperor for help. It wasn't forthcoming. The Saxons proved to be quite vigorous expansionists, adept both as coastal sailors (which is all they needed to be) and warriors. Their style of warfare was typically Germanic in that it emphasised individual heroism rather than an organised military. It was, however, a very effective way of fighting.
A Saxon leader should be able to match the historical achievements of the Saxons in taking most of the old Roman provinces of Britannia. Warfare against the other German tribes should also prove challenging but probably victorious. The Saxons, however, will be at a disadvantage fighting against any people who rely on horses for their military power.
Historically, the Saxons and Angles (a sub-tribe) created the idea of England instead of Britain. Their influence and language has lasted until the present day.
Tactics[]
When not playing as the Saxons, they can either be a minor annoyance or a bigger threat depending on the faction being played. Generally, the Saxons, if they do not expand quickly enough, will be penned into Denmark (their starting settlement) and likely wiped out by one of the other barbarian factions nearby to them, such as the Franks or Burgundii who neighbour them after the rebel settlements are taken. Because the Saxons are one of the few barbarian factions who don't horde when their last settlement is taken, they will be permanently taken out of the game. Alternatively, if they manage to stay alive in Europe, when playing as the Western Roman Empire or the Celts/Romano-British (in Rome Remastered), the Saxons will constantly be attempting to land in Britannia and take it over, necessitating a possible invasion of Denmark to take them out and prevent them from harassing Britannia.
When playing as them, the Saxons were made playable in the remaster with a faction difficulty of 'medium'. This is a fair assessment as the Saxons actually have one of the better starting positions for the barbarian factions. For one, they don't start at war with anyone other than the rebels, who everyone starts at war with. Because of this, the Saxons can plan who they want to go to war with first and can wait until they are ready. Secondly, they neighbour no other faction, as to their south there are just two rebel settlements bordering them.
The Saxons may be temped to gather their army, get into their fleet and sail right over to Britannia turn one, but this is not the best idea. The Saxon victory condition is to hold 18 settlements, including Londinium in Britannia and Samarobriva in Gaul. To the south and south west of the Saxon's starting settlement are two rebel settlements ripe for the taking, and since the Saxon's only settlement is not great, taking these settlements will be important for cementing the Saxons for the early game, both in land and economy, as having even a moderately sized army will quickly bankrupt the starting Saxon economy. Heading south to the settlement above the Franks is a good opening move, as the Franks themselves will also be moving here in their first few turns, so getting there before the Franks can will be a major bonus. Also attempting to get the settlement to the south west in Belgica will be a good idea, as the Western Roman Empire tends to posture to take this in their opening turns. By taking both of these rebel settlements, the Saxon realm will have tripled in size and greatly expanded the economy for garrisons and better buildings/larger armies. These settlements are also all of barbarian culture with Paganism as the majority religion, so unrest should be of little concern other than the inevitable squalor that will occur when the settlements grow. Taking them will possibly anger some of the neighbouring tribes who set their sights on them, but they're not victory settlements for any faction, so they might not declare war to get them.
Spending some time in the early game after expanding into the rebel settlements is a good idea, for building a larger, better army and navy for an invasion of Britannia and also for building ports and markets for a stronger economy. Getting trade deals with the surrounding barbarian factions, as well as the Western Roman Empire itself will help the Saxon economy and allow them to build a bigger/better army or more markets for trade. During this time, the Western Empire will get Western Roman Rebels, who may or may not spawn on the Saxon border, depending on what settlements rebel. The rebels can be good trade partners or allies for fighting the Western Empire later, again depending on their spawning. Having at least one army in Saxon lands is a good idea in case a barbarian tribe (like the Franks) or horde like the Sarmatians pass through and declare war, which will inevitably happen at some point.
Towards the mid game, the Saxons should seek to take control of the entirety of Britannia, Caledonia and Hibernia, taking the Roman settlements as well as wiping out the Celts, doubling Saxon lands and taking the Britannia victory settlement as well as securing the northern Britannia border by removing the Celts. The problem with this lies with the Romano-British, who will spawn close to Londinium when it is taken. They are the reason why going straight for Britannia at the start of the game is not advised, as the starting Saxon army has no hope of taking them out, and if the invasion of Britannia fails, the Saxons will be stuck with their starting settlement, as the rebels will have been taken out by then. The best way to deal with the Romano-British is to take out their faction leader. Since they spawn with just a single army and no settlements, their general is their faction leader and by killing him, the faction will be wiped out, regardless of whether they took a settlement or beat your army (which is highly likely).
Once Britannia is secured, the Saxons can start expanding into Gaul, since the other victory settlement is located there, opposite Londinium. A seaborne landing from Britannia will reach the settlement quite easily, and taking it will link up Britannia somewhat with existing Saxon lands in Germania. By now, the Western Empire is probably starting to get up to strength, fighting their rebels and taking back their settlements while also fixing their economy, so Roman armies will appear more frequently to try and take back the settlement. Barbarian factions will also be appearing in Gaul by now, particularly the Franks who need to take pretty much all of it to satisfy their victory condition, while many hordes and other barbarian factions have to hold Avaricum in Gaul.
The mid to late game for the Saxons will be slow expansion and defence against the hordes. After taking all of Britannia, as well as the settlement in Gaul, the two rebel settlements and their starting settlement, the Saxons will be on a total of 8 settlements out of the 18 needed for victory. Taking all of Gaul will yield another 4 settlements, bumping that number up to 12 out of 18. By now, the barbarian and horde factions will have been/will declare war for land against the Saxons, particularly the heavy sought after and contested Gallic lands. Taking all of Gaul is a good idea, before expanding lands in Germania rather than trying to take out the Western Empire. The reason for this is that it secures Gaul a lot better to take out the barbarians and hordes rather than the Romans. A lot of barbarian factions need Gaul for the victory conditions and the hordes are difficult to deal with. By killing off the barbarian factions in Germania, as well as the hordes like the Sarmatians, Gaul will be secure and have a lot less attacks on it, while also expanding Saxon lands in Germania, giving more provinces. If by the time most of the barbarian and horde factions are defeated the Saxons do not hold 18 settlements, advancing into Hispania or Italia will push the Saxons over the edge to 18 settlements, achieving victory.
Units[]
- Peasants
- Levy Spearmen
- Chosen Axemen
- Saxon Keel
- Saxon Hearth Troops
- Hunters
- Saxon Sea Raiders
- Mounted Nobles
- Warlord
Trivia[]
- The Saxons are one of the few barbarian factions that can't form into a horde when their last settlement is taken, something shared with the Celts to name one.
Gallery[]
