Medieval Warfare Dark Age and Medievel Armies Part 3

Medieval Warfare
Dark Age and Medievel Armies

Part 3

By Terry Gore

Part 1: Descriptions of Armies for Medieval Warfare
Part 2: Descriptions of Armies for Medieval Warfare

17. Romano-Britons

The army of Arthur, or Arturios gives a player the chance to discover just how tough it really was for the Britons to hold on to their island. After the Roman garrisons left Britain, their remaining sons and grandsonsretained their fighting techniques, though with diminishing ability and numbers as attrition took a toll which could not be regained. Certain weapons, armor, fighting methods and uniforms remained along with the institutions of Roman government and law for over a century after the abandonment.

The British cavalry were of good quality, hence the ability to be upgraded, which a good general should do (additional training and esprit de corps). Without this, they will have a hard time holding up to many better armored types. Likewise, the spearmen were often well-trained as well (upgrade them as well), in order to avoid being rolled over by their higher morale grade opponents. It would be prudent to provide some units with long spears instead of javelins, for though they lose their missile fire ability, they pick up a much better weapon for close combat.

Tactically, you must use the cavalry to lock and then punch through a portion of the enemy line. the foot are best left in their historical role--holding fords, hills and passes between areas of rough terrain. Not an army for beginners. This is an army for veteran players with excellent tactical skills only, and even then, it is a real challenge.

18. Italo-Lombard

The Lombards entered Italy in the later part of the 6th century, bringing with them displaced tribes of Saxons, Gepids, Sarmations and others. They fought more or less continuously until subjugated by the Normans in the late 11th century. This is another one-dimensional army, though the plentiful archers will give unscreened enemy troops something to think about.

The Lombards grew tougher as they solidified their power base in Italy, but their decisive end came at the Battle of Civitate in 1053 at the hands of an outnumbered army of hungry Normans which sealed their fate.

The Lombard veteran heavy cavalry can be a powerful force, especially when augmented by large numbers of archers, yet this army remains a real challenge to use successfully. Tactically, the archers should be used to shoot the enemy into disorder before the cavalry charges in. Massed archers, delivering deadly arrow barrages, can quickly weaken most opponents. Not an army for beginners.

19. Khazar

Akin to the Huns, the Khazars swept out of the Caucasus in the late 6th century, defeating their weaker opponents until being eradicated in the late 11th century. Very similar to the earlier Hun armies, the Khazars had added both Russ and Slav allies to their armies.

This is a strong army with mobility, missile fire, and solid ally foot. The usual tactic should have the center being held with foot while the screened noble heavy cavalry smash through a flank. Use of Slavs for rough terrain troops and Russ to push ahead in the center balance out one of the better horse archer armies. This is a fair army for the novice, but deadly in the hands of an experienced gamer.

20. Khmer

The Cambodian equivalent of the Burmese. The Khmer have good quality cavalry and plentiful foot with elephants as a bonus. This army is excellent in any terrain and colorful as well. Tactically, use of the elephants as an assault force flanked by foot and screened by skirmishers with cavalry to the flanks should give problems to virtually any opponent. A good army for any level of player.

21: Carolingian Frank

The army of Charles Martel and Charlemagne saw a steady increase in the amount of lance-armed mounted men used from the late 8th century on. At Tours in 732, the victorious Frankish army fought mainly on foot. During Charlemagne's battles with the Saxons, the mounted elements played a predominant part.

The Carolingian Franks are a limited army with good quality cavalry, average foot and, in the later 8th century, some Slavs as rough terrain fighters. Upgrading any troops allowed is important.

Tactically, the Franks would form their foot up in the center and push the cavalry around the flanks. Make certain that you screen your horsemen with skirmishers, however. Enemy missile fire and/or elephants can be a real problem. This is not an army for beginners.

22. Wessex Saxons

This is the army of Alfred the Great and one of my favorite historical armies of all times. If you can win with this army, you are good! Truly the most one-dimensional army in the lists. Alfred's Wessex infantry army defeated the Danish Great Army in several engagements in the 9th century, notably at Ashdown in 871.

The Saxon army is useless in rough terrain. Even in open terrain they have little mobility, unless you opt to make them mounted infantry. Yet this army has character! Use all available skirmishers, line up and head for the enemy baseline. For veteran gamers only.

23. Arab Conquest

The advent of Islam brought a religious fervor to warfare in northern Africa and Arabia in the 7th century. The Prophet and his successors fought a holy war with an intensity not seen before. They fought anyone that stood in their path and perceived destiny to entrust the world to Allah.

This is a well-balanced army which fights best in the open. There are few rough terrain troops, notably the axe-armed fanatics (best used from ambush). The upgrading of a third of the army to fanatics is not a bad idea and properly illustrates the frenzied nature of religious zeal posing control problems for the commander. Use of the sacred standard is encouraged. You should have few morale problems with this army, especially with the sacred standard in tow and the upgrading to fanatics.

Tactically, use the foot to absorb enemy attacks and then charge in with the cavalry at a given point, screening them with skirmishers. This is a good army for any level of player.

24. Magyars

The Magyars were one of the more successful horse archer armies which invaded Europe during the Dark Ages. They originated in Finland, moved into the steppes and fell under control of the Khazars for four hundred years until the early 9th century. Their one notable defeat, at Lechfeld in 955 at the hands of Otto I, destroyed their power.

The Magyars have good quality horse archers along with Slav allies. The army can figh in any terrain and the double-armed noble heavy cavalry are especially tough. The best tactic is to shoot the enemy into disorder before charging in with the heavy cavalry and Slav foot. This army is fair for any level of player.

25. Early African/Sicilian Muslim

This is not an army for the faint-hearted. The Berbers and Arabs with subject allies managed to take on Christian Spain (and win) as well as Sicily (and win). They also invaded Italy in the mid-9th century. The spearmen are the backbone of the army. They are double-armed and can hold their own against most other troops as long as their morale remains steady. The cavalry are no better than average, but they are plentiful.

This army requires careful thought and deployment. Typical 'force the center and crush a flank' tactics are useful, but a strong wing with cavalry in reserve will do even better. An army of 40,000 under Abul Kasin fought Otto II in Italy in 982 at Cotrone. Saracen reserves broke the Germans with a flank attack. Not an army for beginners.

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© Copyright 1998 by Terry Gore
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