[Cainehill]

But does it make sense that the amazon troops would find male leaders ( remember, most indie commanders are male ) so much more appealing that they would follow men in greater numbers than they would their own amazon leaders?

As things stand, people would either recruit male commanders from independent provinces (cheaper, possibly better leadership) or, and this would be my choice, ignore the Amazon Leader and simply recruit Garnet Priestesses as commanders - the same price in gold, higher leadership, priest ability, and fire / blood magic, so they cost less upkeep, lead more troops, bless and double as researchers / combat mages.