Sicilian

The Sicilian faction group represents the native inhabitants of Sicily, who are bordered by the many Greek colonies that settled in the coastal parts of the island.

Overview
In-game, the Sicilian faction group doesn't have any unique units of its own, but re-uses a mixture of Sabellic and Greek brigade types.

More specifically, the Sicilians use the Sabellic roster but replace the Sabellic hoplites and heavy hoplites with Greek ones, which are stronger and available earlier on. In exchange, the Sicilians lose access to the Sabellic Noble Cavalry and gain Greek Mounted Javelineers instead.

This roster gives the Sicilians very good infantry in all stages of the game, having immediate access to hoplites while also being able to tech into flexible swordsmen in the late game capable of both melee and ranged attacks. They are very lacking in cavalry and ranged options.

The Sicilian faction group and all factions therein are exclusive to the Eagle King DLC.

"Most native Sicilian tribes originally migrated from Italy and still largely use sabellic units, but extensive Hellenization has granted them the use of Greek hoplites and cavalry."

- In-game Description

Factions

 * Elymoi
 * Sikeloi
 * Sikanoi (only in the smaller Sicily-only sandbox)

Units
The Sicilians are unique in that their second and third Companion Brigades are not of a brigade type that they can normally recruit, being the Sabellic Heavy Hoplites and Sabellic Noble Cavalry respectively.

History
The ethnic origins of the native Sicilians remain mysterious, and it's unclear if and to what extent the Elymoi, Sikanoi and Sikeloi were even related to each other. Theories regarding their origins vary wildly, with some scholars having suggested possible Hittite, Illyric, Iberian and Ligurian origins, whereas others think they were more likely related to the nearby Latins and Sabellics.

Whatever their origins, the native Sicilians were early on exposed to large amounts of Greek cultural influence, and their various native languages eventually died out around 300 BC.

Next to nothing is known about their original culture and fighting styles, explaining why the developers simply recycled a combination of Greek and Sabellic units to represent both their native origins as well as the extensive cultural influences they received from the Greeks.