Etruscan Heavy Cavalry

Summary
Heavy Cavalry are a very powerful cavalry brigade available to the Etruscan faction group from the mid-late game, being arguably the strongest and most expensive cavalry unit that isn't a mercenary.

"A critical part of any army, cavalry are more expensive to maintain but can travel quickly and provide essential support to a slower moving battleline. Heavy cavalry move slower than light cavalry, but are much better armoured and put enough weight in their charges to break even some spearmen."

- In-game Description

History
Little is known of Etruscan cavalry. Chariots have been found in Etruscan tombs, but it is unknown if they were actually used in a combat role or were purely ceremonial, since Italy's hilly terrain is unsuited for chariot warfare. A brief description by the historian Dionysios of the Battle of Cumae in 524 BC states that the Etruscan cavalry and infantry were intermingled, suggesting that the cavalry may have been heavily equipped to handle close-quarters combat alongside the heavy infantry, but this remains conjecture. This may be the basis for the inclusion of the Heavy Cavalry brigade in-game.

Tactics
Etruscan Heavy Cavalry do justice to their name, having the highest melee damage and defenses of any cavalry unit in-game aside from the War Elephants and Thessalian Cavalry that are normally only available as special mercenaries. As such, Etruscan Heavy Cavalry are the strongest normally available unit in protracted melee engagements, and their charge impact is only slightly behind that of Equites and Gallic Noble Cavalry.

The downside to Etruscan Heavy Cavalry is their very high gold cost, as well as requiring a city to have both a stable and barracks in order to recruit them. However, these requirements are probably quite manageable by the time that the prerequisite Military Reforms Skill is unlocked, and these Heavy Cavalry are of significant benefit to the Etruscan faction group in the late game.