#PRTO_Horse_Archer
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^[Horse Archers] take the place of $LINK<horsemen=PRTO_Horseman>. They move quickly and will [withdraw]
from combat if they are losing (unless fighting another fast unit).
^A city must have $LINK<horses=GOOD_Horses> in its $LINK<Strategic Resource=GCON_ResourcesS> box to
build a horse archer.
#DESC_PRTO_Horse_Archer
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^Horse Archers were one of the most common troop types used by just about every nation in the east in the ancient and medieval periods, from Egypt and the Black Sea to Japan, but were never popular in western europe, where heavier armoued horsemen armed with swords and lances such as the knight were prefered. Light and fast, the horse archer would shoot their bows at the gallop to avoid being caught, even shooting backwards when evading an enemy charge (as in the famous 'Parthian' or 'parting' shot).
Some horse archers such as the Huns, the Arabs and the Mongols, also carried shields, swords and lances as well as bows, and were quite prepared to come to close quarters once their arrows had disordered and demoralized their target. 
Like western medieval knights, horse archers gradually declined in use as gunpowder made firearms more commonplace.  

   