Vlandia: The Feudal Powerhouse of Calradia

Of all the kingdoms in Calradia, none represent the quintessential medieval fantasy quite like Vlandia. With their heavy lance cavalry, devastating crossbowmen, and strict feudal hierarchy, they are the direct ancestors of the Kingdom of Swadia from Mount & Blade: Warband.

If you love hearing the thunder of hooves, couching your lance for massive damage, and ruling over rich coastal cities, Vlandia is the faction for you. This guide covers their lore, strengths, weaknesses, and the best strategies to lead them—or conquer them.

Lore & Origins

The Vlandians were originally mercenaries from overseas, hired by the Empire to guard the western coasts and suppress rebellions. Over generations, they were granted land in exchange for their service (fiefs). As the Empire weakened and fractured into civil war, the Vlandian barons, led by King Derthert, declared their independence.

They are a warrior society organized around a feudal system of land ownership. Unlike the Empire's senate or the Sturgian princes, Vlandia is built on the backs of its mounted knights.

Fighting as a Vlandian Knight means leading the charge.

Cultural Bonuses

In Bannerlord, every faction has unique passive traits that define their playstyle. Vlandia's culture is built around warfare and mercenaries.

• Battle Hardened: Troops gain 20% more XP from battles. This allows you to upgrade recruits to Banner Knights significantly faster than other factions.

• Mercenary Heritage: Hiring mercenaries is cheaper, reflecting their historical roots.

• Drawback: Recruiting lords to armies costs 20% more Influence.

Notable Clans

The political landscape of Vlandia is dominated by ancient families squabbling for power. A pillar page should mention the political landscape.

• dey Tihr: A powerful clan often at odds with the crown.

• dey Meroc: Known for their military might.

• dey Cortain: Another influential family you will likely encounter.

Strengths & Weaknesses

Vlandia is often considered one of the strongest factions for a world conquest run, but they are not without flaws.

Strengths

• Superior Heavy Cavalry: The Vlandian Banner Knight is arguably the best heavy cavalry unit in the game for open-field battles. They specialize in the Couch Lance mechanic (Press X to lower lance), which delivers massive collision damage based on speed, allowing them to one-shot almost any enemy.

• Elite Crossbowmen: The Vlandian Sharpshooter is a terror on the battlefield. Unlike archers, they can hold their bolts indefinitely, have high accuracy, and carry a large shield on their backs, making them surprisingly durable in melee or against counter-fire.

• Economic Power: Vlandia sits on the western edge of the map. This geography protects their rear from invasion, allowing them to focus all their military might eastward. Cities like Sargot, Jaculan, and Galend are rich in olives, grapes, and velvet, fueling a strong war chest.

Weaknesses

• Medicore Infantry: While not terrible, Vlandian infantry (Sergeants and Voulgiers) lack the extreme durability of an Imperial Legionary or the raw killing power of a Sturgian Line Breaker. They exist primarily to hold the line while the cavalry does the work.

• High Cost: Fielding an army of Banner Knights is incredibly expensive. Early game players may struggle to pay the wages required to maintain Vlandia's best troops.

• Geography: While their rear is safe, their long north-south territory can be hard to defend if they get into a war with both Battania (East) and the Western Empire (South-East) simultaneously.

The rich coastal lands of Vlandia.

Troop Roster Analysis

Vlandia's troop tree is straightforward: Nobles ride horses, and peasants shoot crossbows.

The Noble Line: Banner Knights

Recruited from village notables (Vigla Recruits), this line upgrades into the fearsome Vlandian Banner Knight.

• Role: Shock Cavalry.

• Equipment: Heavy armor, couchable lance, shield, sword.

• Usage: F1 + F3 (Charge). In all seriousness, group them in a Skein formation to break enemy lines, then let them scatter the survivors.

For a full breakdown of the best mounted units, check our guide on Best Cavalry Units.

A mass charge of Banner Knights is often unstoppable.

The Ranged Line: Sharpshooters

Starting as Levy Crossbowmen, these upgrade into the Vlandian Sharpshooter.

• Role: Ranged damage / Off-tank.

• Equipment: Heavy Crossbow, Pavise Shield, Sword.

• Usage: Place them on high ground or behind your infantry. When they run out of ammo, they make surprisingly decent infantry due to their shields.

Compare them with other ranged options in our Best Crossbow Units guide.

Sharpshooters holding the line.

The Infantry Line: Sergeants & Voulgiers

• Vlandian Sergeant: Your standard shield troop. Good armor, but their maces/swords are average.

• Vlandian Voulgier: A two-handed polearm unit. Deadly against cavalry if they can brace, but vulnerable to arrows.

See the full upgrade paths in the Vlandia Troop Tree page.

Strategy Guide

Playing as Vlandia

The classic Vlandian tactic is "Hammer and Anvil."

1. The Anvil: Deploy your Sergeants and Sharpshooters in a defensive line. The Sharpshooters will soften up the enemy as they approach.

2. The Hammer: Split your Banner Knights into two groups on your flanks.

3. The Strike: Once the enemy infantry engages your Sergeants, charge your Knights into their rear. The morale shock alone is often enough to rout them.

If you are planning to carve out your own realm in these lands, read our Starting Your Own Kingdom guide first.

Fighting Against Vlandia

Fighting Vlandia in an open field is suicide. Their cavalry advantage is too great.

• Terrain: Fight in forests or villages where horses get stuck.

• Sieges: Vlandia is weakest in sieges. Their cavalry must dismount, losing their biggest advantage. Force them to attack your walls.

• Counter-Cavalry: Use Sturgian Spearmen or your own cavalry to intercept their charge before it hits your archers.

For more on siege tactics, see Siege Warfare Fundamentals.

Economy & Trade

Vlandia is an economic powerhouse. The cities of Jaculan and Galend produce massive amounts of Olives and Grapes.

• Trade Loop: Buy Olives/Oil in Jaculan -> Sell in Seonon (Battania) or Ortysia (Western Empire).

• Workshops: Olive Presses and Wine Presses are very profitable in Vlandian cities.

Check out our Economy & Trade Guide for more money-making tips.

Conclusion

Vlandia offers a classic knightly experience with some of the best units in Bannerlord. Whether you want to serve King Derthert or overthrow him to rule the coast yourself, the power of the heavy lance is yours to command.

Learn more about your neighbors in the Kingdoms of Calradia overview.