Khuzait

Khuzait
Faction information
Capital	Makeb
Ruler	Monchug Khan
Claimant	Unknown
Minor Factions	Karakhuzaits
Location
Khuzait Khanate in teal

The Khuzait Khanate is a kingdom in Mount&Blade II: Bannerlord. It is ruled by Monchug Khan, and occupies the eastern grasslands and steppes outside of the continent of Calradia.

Khuzait peoples were once nomadic tribes who roamed the east borders of the Calradic Empire, until threats from further to the east forced them to band together as a Khanate under Urkhun the Khuzait. This Khanate moved into, and conquered, the poorly defended eastern lands of the Empire. Eventually, these nomadic tribes became settled in the towns and villages they had taken.

Light cavalry warfare- lancers, and especially the way of the mounted archer- is the military specialty of the Khuzaits. On the overworld map, Khuzait cavalry armies move 10% faster.

In Mount & Blade: Warband, which is set 200 years after the events of Bannerlord, the Khuzait Khanate has been usurped from within by a minor clan, the Khergits. By this point, the Khanate has conquered most of the territory which formerly belonged to the Empire and Sturgians.

Official Description

"For centuries, the tribes in the vast steppe east of the empire were content to live as nomads, venturing into the imperial lands to raid and trade, and then returning to their ancestral freedom. Two generations ago, however, something happened far away to the east - a change in the winds, perhaps, or some terrible but distant conqueror - and the horse clans were set in motion. Urkhun the Khuzait led the clans nearest the empire into its eastern provinces, overrunning them and forming a khanate. He imposed discipline on the unruly clans, forcing them to ride to war on his command instead of simply when they wished. But after his death, the spirit of the unity that he inspired was lost. His descendants still rule the khanate, but some of the other clans' chaff under his authority and others dream of becoming khan themselves."

Background

A century before the start of Bannerlord, the Calradic Empire extended all the way to the border of the Great Grass Sea. The steppe tribes on the border, which included the Khuzaits, Nachaghan, Arkits, Khergits, and Karakhuzaits, were disunited. The Empire was able to keep the tribes fighting among themselves by bribing chiefs and assassinating khans that were consolidating power.

However, two generations before the start of Bannerlord, steppe tribes from the far east pushed westward toward the Empire. Caught between a hammer and an anvil, the border tribes united in a confederacy under Urkhun the Khuzait. This confederation grew in power by conquering and raiding the most eastern extents of the Empire. Taxes and tariffs were levied on these conquered towns and lands. Eventually, the Confederacy became known as a Khanate.

Urkhun ruled the Khuzait Khanate with supreme authority, not allowing vassalized clans to raid or declare war without his approval. This settled and more conventional lifestyle did not sit well with some of the more unruly clans, such as the Karakhergits. After Urkhun's death, his descendants continued to rule. However, many clans felt they should be the ones to rule the Khanate.

The nine-horsetail banner is the symbol of the Khuzait Khanate.

Ruler

Monchug Initial ruler

Vassals

• Ilatar
• Achaku
• Kanujan
• Anjikhin

Tactics

Strengths

• Fastest access to both mounted archers and lancers.
• Infantry branch troops carry well-rounded equipment of blade, polearm, throwing spears and a large wicker shield.
• Most ranged troops carry two sets of quivers, allowing extended skirmishing.
• All tiers of noble troops possess horses.

Weaknesses

• Low tier infantry lacks access to polearms, making them more vulnerable to enemy cavalry.
• Melee cavalry troops do not carry a throwing weapon even when they could.
• Noble troop progression switches between carrying shield and two quivers, or outright lacking in equipment.
• Khuzait forces lack access to axes entirely and their noble troop roles may overlap with their common counterparts, reducing versatility.

Economy:

• Medium.

6 cities, 9 castles, 19 villages. The main goods: wool (the main producer), iron (control a quarter of all deposits), horses, there are deposits of silver.

Summary

Since Khuzait-based parties are able to rely so much on cavalry, they possess decent strategic mobility on the campaign map. However, extended incursions into enemy territory may deprive them of additional horses to carry their slower foot troops one way or another, slightly reducing mobility over time. As such, a Khuzait war party can advance quickly into desired position, but their retreat may be slower. This can be taken advantage of by opponents who engage the Khuzait mounted forces in rough terrain where their cavalry is unable to maneuver perfectly. Even so, there's normally little reason for Khuzait horsemen to dismount and fight on foot, as the steppe horse stock is well balanced for health and maneuverability, and the high riding skill of Khuzait horsemen enables them to use their mounts with reasonable effectiveness even in difficult terrain. 

In simulated battles the sheer force of Khuzait cavalry should be more than a match to armies of other kingdoms, at least on open field. In unsuitable terrain and siege battles, as well as in real time battles where a player who is opposing Khuzait cavalry is able to hinder their mobility, the Khuzait parties can fare much worse than more balanced forces. Khuzait lancers and horse archers can still be sufficiently capable fighters in siege battles, so players do not need to rely on their infantry options for anything other than defending fiefs so long as they have access to required supply of riding horses. Players can also take advantage of the possibility of the seemingly stronger enemy garrison sallying out during a siege, reducing Khuzait ineffectiveness in taking over fiefs by engaging the garrison in open combat instead of siege battle.

Troop tree

Khuzait Troops
	Nomad
	Tribal Warrior		Footman		Noble's Son
	Raider	Horseman	Hunter	Spearman	Qanqli
	Horse Archer	Lancer	Archer	Spear Infantry	Torguud
	Heavy Horse Archer	Heavy Lancer	Marksman	Darkhan	Kheshig
					Khan's Guard

Minor factions

The Karakhergit are a minor faction of the Khuzait Khanate.

Trivia

• The Khuzait Khanate are the ancestors of Khergit Khanate. One of the clans in the Khanate are the Khergits themselves.
• The heads of the Khuzait clans carry the title of Beg, a variant of the title Bey, a title of Turkish origin.
• The symbol of the Khuzait resembles a tamga—a traditional Mongolian or Central Asian seal representing a clan or family—mixed with the fire, sun, and moon from the soyombo symbol found on the modern flag of Mongolia

Gallery

Khuzait Nomad Troop Tree

Khuzait Noble's Son Troop Tree

Steppe Bandit Troop Tree

References

Factions