Libyan Kuloglu are a type of mounted infantry in Empire: Total War. They are available to the Ottoman Empire with the Elite Units of the East DLC.
Description[]
Libyan kuloglu are auxiliary cavalry, capable of dismounting to deliver a devastating volley with their blunderbusses.
They also carry sabres, which can be used when in the saddle, giving the ability to fight well in melee. Unlike some other Turkish and Ottoman troops, they do not wear armour. Their blunderbusses are large-bore flintlock weapons, much like giant shotguns, and cannot be used from horseback. They have a very short range but a blast from one, let alone a volley from a whole unit, is terrible. This weapon makes the Kuloglu a superb attacking force, if they can get within range of the target. They suffer when facing troops with longer-ranged muskets or rifles.
Historically, the Kuloglu were recruited from the sons of ethnic Turkish janissaries and local, Libyan women. These men were specifically excluded from joining the ranks of the prestigious janissaries, proving their worth by fighting with bravery and discipline - particularly during the American attack on Tripoli. Indeed, kuloglu who behaved in a cowardly way were made to dress as women until they redeemed themselves through acts of not-quite-suicidal bravery, or died in the attempt. This, however, was mild compared to what was done to any who abused young prisoners taken in battle: the offender was beheaded or beaten 1000 times with a stout cane, something that was surely a protracted death sentence!
General Information[]
As cavalry, Libyan Kuloglu are average units that are helped by their large regiment size. They have comparable stats to Regiment of Horse. As infantry, Libyan Kuloglu are completely unique: instead of using muskets or rifles, kuloglu use blunderbusses. These weapons are very short range, but fire five pellets instead of one. Therefore, one volley from a Kuloglu regiment could be devastating, despite their limited numbers. Unfortunately, due to the spread of the pellets, the guns can rarely be brought to their full potential. However, if the Kuloglu fire from an elevated position (such as on a wall or the crest of a hill) then they can be very effective. For this reason Kuloglu are perhaps best used in siege defense situations, particularly when guarding a breach in the walls: such breaches force enemies to congregate tightly, resulting in devastating kill potential for the Kuloglu.
Kuloglu cannot utilize any of the firing drills, limiting their firepower when used in multiple files. While stretching out their lines greatly increases their firepower, it also makes them more cumbersome to use--long lines take a correspondingly longer time to form.
Gallery[]
Elite Units of the East artwork