Braganza's Besiegers

"As they approached the castle our hearts sank. Braganza's men never lost or fled and we knew we were doomed. Our captians began to explain how safe we were behind the walls, but a crossbow bolt cut him short. No one wanted to be the next victim."

- The mercenary Gunter Friesheim, in his report on the capture of the "impregnable" fortress of Schloss Adlerberg.

Braganza's Besiegers is a famous Dogs of War Mercenary Company that hails from the Tilean city-state of Miragliano, as a special siege unit of crossbowmen. These veterna crossbowmen, are equipped with thick plate armour that protects much of the Besiegers from most harms, allowing them to fight against their foe's both in range and melee combat. The mercenary company use's a certain type of shield called a Pavise, which acts as a carriable shield either strapped into the Besiegers back, to protect the crossbowen while they reload, or stacked them up in a line to act as a make-shift barricade for their regiment. The armour they wear is stylized in the exotic Miragliano style, with many wearing red-crested helmets. They have a strong rivalry with the Marksmen of Miragliano, who both are veteran, and expert crossbowmen mercenary companies.

The ingenious Borgio "The Besiegers", the Prince of Miragliano, originally employed the famous regiment of Besiegers, as a special siege unit on crossbowmen. Borgio wanted marksmen who could pick off defenders on the walls at close range in the face of hail of enemy missles, hold ramparts against assaults, provide missle support for their main infantry, sappers, miners, man sieged towers, and if need be, stand their ground against enemy units sallying out of the besieged fortress. Bragnaza's troops soon proved their worth in Borgio's many sieges and turned out to be equally good as a rearguard in open battle.

History
"INVICIBILITY AT NO EXTRA COST!.....Braganza's Besiegers....Late of the service of the prince Borgio the Besiegers. Besiegers now seek the patronage of a noble Lord or famed adventurer.....They are Veterans of a THOUSAND BATTLES....Their EXPERIENCE in siege warfare is UNSURPASSING....Accept or Substitue!"

- Recruitment Poster of Bragana'z Besiegers

Having stormed, starved out or recieved the surrender of pretty much every city or fortress that he ever besieged, Borgio was well pleased with Braganaz's Besiegers and offered to find them work in return for a cut of the profits. Braganza accepted Borgio's offer at once, knowing full well that to refuse Borgio's kindness was not only impolite but also a terminal course of action. Soon the besiegers took ships for Tobaro where they took part in the siege of the pirate stronghold on the island of Cera-Scuro. Then they were hired by the Dwarves to help recapture a very strong Dwarf outpost in the badlands, which has been stronghold of Orcs.

Braganza's was paid handsomely with massive chest of jewels and gems and the regiment began the long trek back home to Miragliano through hostile territory to deliever Borgio's agreed share of the loot, for no one ever double-crossed Borgio and lived.) They battled their way across Apuccinis Mountains in winter fought off bandits, Orcs, Beastmen, Empire Robber Knights, Tilean outlaw bands, and renegade Bretonnian commoners who had treacherously slain their lord, staving and extremely desperate Halflings, even more hungry and desperate Orgres, the notorious Red Company of Remas, whose Captains had a vendetta against Braganza and various other wining by forming a hollow square and shooting them all down as they came.

On entering Tilea, they heard new's that Borgio had been treacherously assassinated and his mighty Dogs of War army had either disbanded or split into fractions fighting in the streets of Miragliano. The Besiegers were soon hired by Lorenzo Lupo, the prince of Luccini and sent to Sartosa where they were waging war against the many pirates lords of the islands. Since then, the Besiegers have fought for many master's in sieges and open battles, always standing like walls of steel and adding their legendary reputations.

Source
Warhammer: Regiments of Renown  pg 16 - 17