Pirates, knights and vikings.....i'd trade em all for a highland warrior:
They were light weight, fast and heavily armed. They would rush in to range of their enemy, fire their muskets and pistols at them and then charge in a massed charge through the enemies lines...the big fellas at the front and the wee guys behind slicing and dicing as they go!
The highlander has a three pronged attack: first they ram the enemy with their targe (a shield with a spike coming out of the front) then they slash with the dirk (large knife held in the shield hand), then in the same movement they bring their broadsword crashing down (which can sever a man in two)....bang, bang, bang in the same sequence
A highlander could fight on any terrain as they came from mountainous land without roads; could march all day and fight a battle at the end of it; and was used to bad weather and physical hardship. They came from a long and proud martial history. Their homelands were a natural fortress which even the Romans couldn't tame.
Their most dangerous aspect was their fierce loyalty to their clan. The 'highland charge' involved the entire army acting as one giant blunt instrument which would smash regimented armies to pieces
It was a devestating tactic but was misused due to poor leadership at Culloden, when the highland army lost in the last pitched battle on UK soil....if you discount the crofters riot on Lewis in 1888
The highland soldier was then incorporated into the British army and used as the shock troops which built the largest empire the world has seen
During the two world wars the highland soldier, often dressed in a kilt, was known by their enemies as 'devils in skirts'.
They would eat pirates and knights for breakfast and come back for seconds!