The Normans stunned their Byzantine and Muslim adversaries with the fury and discipline of cavalry charges with couched lance which, in the words of 12th century chronicler Anna Comnena, 'could pierce the walls of Babylon.' The knights combined extraordinary discipline in training for war with the tenacious pursuit of any land they could possibly conceive a claim to. The Vlandians are based on the feudal states of early medieval Europe, in particular the Normans, the Norse raiders who settled in France then carved out kingdoms for themselves in England, Sicily, and the Holy Land.

He seized the imperial capital of Baravenos and the lands along the coast, and that was how the west was lost to the empire. It was not difficult, during the recent interregnum, for Osrac Iron-arm to declare himself king, independent in all but name. The Vlandians settled, married, planted farms, and built fortresses. This was perhaps not the most far-sighted of policies. But the empire never had as much silver as it needed, and treasury officials soon learned that it could pay its mercenaries with land grants and titles. Their heavy cavalry, second to none, ran down the Emperor's foes from the Aserai wastes to the distant steppes.

They took their name from one of their first warlords, Wilund the Bold - Valandion, in Calradic - and became known as the Vlandians. They came from overseas, mercenaries and adventurers, speaking the tongues of many lands, taking the empire's silver to guard the frontiers against the unsubdued tribes of the interior. Have a look: Greetings warriors of Calradia! If you do, however, you'll be able to strike fear into the hearts of your enemies by fierce and nearly unstoppable cavalry charges. In Bannerlord, the Vlandians control expansive tracts of land but are hindered by internal conflicts, so be ready to spend lots of influence if you want to get a large Vlandian army going. This week's Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord developer blog post introduces us to the kingdom of Vlandia, inspired by the France-settled Norse raiders and Western European arms and armor.

Mount and blade warband couched lance