'Proposal Regarding the Royal Army of Meridies'

Unto the fighters of Meridies, Lord Robert Cattanach of Moravia--also known as Frayne--sends greetings and salutations...
Milords and Miladies,
Over the years, I have studied military strategy and tactics from earliest times to now. The words that follow--for your consideration and possible use--are based primarily on written accounts of famous battles, campaigns, and/or commanders.
Please let me know your thoughts regarding them. Looking forward to hearing from you, I remain yours in service...
Lord Robert Cattanach of Moravia

PROPOSAL
Revive the Royal Army of Meridies as a regimental force whose fighters can fight together either offensively or defensively.
Why? War is not a tournament setting and the Meridian fighters who attend war events (Gulf Wars, Border Raids, Pennsic, etc.) need to be trained as units so that group tactics can be decided on and practiced before the battles begin. Indecision in group tactics during battle is usually fatal to fighters who've rarely trained together.

BACKGROUND
Meridies' lack of full-plate armored fighters, archers, and polearms places its fighters in the category of light infantry/skirmishers. Previous emphasis on individual "Highland charges" against shield walls has resulted in many casualties and few victories.
The first two Meridian Maneuvers, the failure at Fools War III, the formation of the Southern Marches, and the success at Border Raids XVI and Fools War IV have shown Meridian fighters the need for--and benefits of--group/unit fighting.
Three training errors during Fools War III changed a feasible plan into a near defeat; victory was attained through Atlantian help--not Meridian strength. Border Raids saw group/unit fighting work; Fools War IV was added proof.

REGIMENTAL COMPOSITION
Baronial
individual fighters living within baronial borders
barony-based households
affiliated cantons
allied shires/households/individual fighters

Territorial
neighboring shires
shire-based households located within their borders
allied households/individual fighters

POSSIBLE REGIMENTAL FORMATION

Baronial Regiments
Bryn Madoc
Iron Mountain
Osprey (includes the Incipient Cantons of Ironstone Springs and Terra Terminus plus the Canton of Sedracas)
South Downs
Thor's Mountain (includes the Incipient Canton of Hochwald Corryton)
Territorial Regiments
Florida (Arenal, Phoenix Glade)
East Tennessee (Easaraigh, Nant-Y-Derwyddon, Vulpine Reach)
East Georgia (Beau Fort, Sol Haven)
North Alabama (An Dun Theine, Des Forges, Glynn Rhe)
South Alabama (Eagle, Okeborne Keep, Thorngill)
Southeast Georgia (Drakenmere, Forth Castle, Tir Briste)
Southwest Georgia (Flintmarsh, Marion Glen, Ravenwood, Staggesgate)
West Georgia (Depedale/Incipient, Owl's Nest, Tal Mere)
West Tennessee (Crimson River, Glaedenfeld, Loch Cairn, Rising Stone)
Kentucky (Loch an Fhraioch, Redewolfden/Incipient)

Notes
A regiment needs at least two groups agreeing to fight together before it's formed. It can have as many groups as its members desire.
New cantons would automatically belong to their barony's regiment. New shires/colleges/keeps/etc. can decide whether to join a baronial/territorial regiment nearest them or, with nearby groups, form a new regiment.

DISCLAIMERS
A Marcher Lord's Reflections is part of a personal website. It is not a corporate publication of the Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc. and does not delineate SCA policies.
The SCA and its branches do not endorse the products or services which are displayed here. Off-Site links are provided as a service and are offered on an "as is" basis.

Page updated 27 June 2012 by Lord Robert Cattanach of Moravia.
(c) The Waterbearing Fish.

References
Large Melee Tactics Class
'Proposal Regarding the Royal Army of Meridies'...