More Dark Age and Medieval Armies (Part 6)

More Dark Age and Medieval Armies

Part 6

By Terry L. Gore

This continues the descriptions of armies for use in your Medieval battles.

44. MEDIEVAL COMMUNAL ITALIAN: LATE 10TH TO EARLY 14TH.

Succeeding the Lombards, the Italian communal city-states organized their armies in response to the continuous influx of adventurous Normans and their allies in the Italian peninsula. Though of mediocre morale, at best, the Italians were tenacious fighters when defending their possessions. At Legnano in 1176, Frederick I with 3,000 cavalry and 1,000 foot attacked an Italian army of 4,000 cavalry and Milanese foot. Bolstered by their carracio, the Italians won. At Monte Apato in 1260, 30,000 Florentines under Count Lancia were defeated by an army of Sienese with German allies. The Sienese crossed the river, surprising and routing the Florentines who thought the obstacle would protect them.

The cavalry must be used to attack a weak portion of the enemy line. The foot should be kept behind an obstacle or uphill of the enemy, while the missile troops should try to disorder the targets of the cavalry charges. If using the mid-12th century on list, definitely take all of the options. A religious relic is invaluable for holding the foot steady.

This is not a beginner's army. Only a very good gamer should try to use this army, and then it is a real challenge.

45. SELJUQ TURK: EARLY 11TH TO LATE 13TH.

This is the army of Kilij Arslan and a continual enemy to the Crusading armies as they fought their way to Jerusalem. The Turks used the horse archer tactics of their ancestors as they fought to drive first the Byzantines, and then the Western Crusaders out of Asia Minor and the Near East. Their major defeats at Doryleaum and at Antioch in 1098 allowed the Crusaders to develop a belief in their inevitability of victory.

At Harenc in 1098, 700 Crusader knights under bohemond lined up in six columns with a seventh under boehemond in reserve. They attacked a Turkish army of 5,000 under Ridwan of Aleppo and the last attacking division won the day. It did not take the Turks long to figure out how to win, however. At Melitene in 1100, and at Mersivan and Eregli in 1101 under Kilij Arslan, the Turks ambushed Crusader armies and defeated them.

The mainstay of the Seljuq army were the Turcoman light cavalry. They were sometimes fanatical and being double-armed, could fight hand-to-hand, if necessary. The heavy cavalry askaris were likewise double-armed and fought with fierce charges and bowfire. The foot were usually left behind, staying out of the way.

Tactics included flank charges by the cavalry and feigned flights, drawing the unruly opponents into precipitant and foolish pursuits, which the Turks would then turn upon and destroy. They also utilized heavy missile fire to disorder their enemy before charging in. This is not a beginners army.

46. WELSH: EARLY 8TH TO MID-14TH.

The Welsh kings rarely enjoyed the privilege of a unified nation to rule. Brothers, uncles and cousins warred against each other, as did fathers against sons. This endemic internecine warfare caused Wales to eventually become subject to England...but not before centuries of armed conflict. Welsh armies under such warrior kings as Llewelyn ap Gruffydd were a constant source of aggravation to the would-be conquerors.

Welsh armies relied heavily on rough terrain to dissuade the English knights from attacking them. In the instances where the English caught them in the relative open (Orewin Bridge in 1282; Maes Moydog in 1295), the Welsh were decimated. Contemporary knight armies usually were very difficult opponents unless the Welsh were on favorable ground. At Crug Mawr in 1136, 6,000 Welsh foot and 2,000 cavalry under Rhys of Deheubarth beat an English army of 3,000. At Radnor in 1282, 6,300 English under Edward I managed to defeat a Welsh army which was behind a river and uphill by using crossbowmen and archers to shoot the Welsh to pieces as a flank attack caught them in disorder.

Before the early 11th century, Norse allies bolstered the Welsh ranks, but after 1300, Welsh armies became more Anglicized as small numbers of English marcher knights fought for their own personal wealth and power alongside Welsh allies.

Tactics favor the ambush out of woods, steep hill defenses and flank attacks with horse and spearmen. This is a tough army in the hands of an experienced gamer, but can be roughly handled by many opponents. For experienced gamers only.

47. COMNENAN BYZANTINE: LATE 11TH TO LATE 12TH.

After the disastrous defeat at Manzikert in 1071, the Byzantine army found itself deprived of the heart of its traditional armed forces. This is reflected in the reliance on mercenaries and the extremes of elite Varangian guardsmen as well as numbers of poor quality foot which became the mainstay of the armies. Alexius Comnenus, rising to power over an ineffective leadership in disarray after Manzikert, proved to be a very able and talented general, both on and off the battlefield. As emperor, he rode at the head of the army of the empire at Durazzo in 1081 and, though the army met defeat at the hands of Robert Guiscard's Italo-Norman army, he managed to outmaneuver, outfox and outbribe Robert's son, Bohemond, left in charge of the conquered Greek lands, into abandoning any further attempts to take on the Byzantines in their own territories.

The strongest troops in the army are the double-armed kataphraktoi cavalry, Frankish mercenary knights and the heavily armored Varangian Guards. There are plenty of foot, but most of the spearmen, peltasts and archers are of poor quality and should be placed in a strong defensive position, preferably uphill or behind an obstacle.

Though not of as good a quality as the Nikophorians, the Comnenan army is still powerful. Historically, at the Battle of Andria in 1155, the Byzantines fought in three lines with Cumans and archers to the front and Apulian allies and the Byzantine cavalry in reserve to absorb the shock of the Norman wedge attacks. The Normans still punched their way through, but their leader was killed when attempting to charge uphill into the reformed Byzantine army.

At Semlin in 1167 against Hungarians, the Byzantines formed up in a column of divisions, one behind the other. Their depth and weight of attack broke the Hungarians.

For tactics, I would recommend using the large numbers of double-armed mercenary light cavalry to harass and force a flank, where the numerous kataphractoi can then charge through and exploit any enemy weaknesses. Archers can lay down a brutal arrow barrage and keep enemy elephants and chariots at bay. Varangians can take on virtually any foot. The Frankish (Norman) mercenaries are also very powerful. Later Byzantine armies lacked the ability to control the fortunes of the Empire, though it managed to survive for another three hundred years. As a chronicler wrote, "These were no longer organized and well-disciplined armies of yore, but rather a rabble led by arrogant men." This is a good army for any level of player.

48. BERBER: MID-11TH TO EARLY 16TH.

The African Berbers were the enemies and sometime allies of El Cid throughout Spain in the mid to late 11th century. The Berbers held sway over northern Africa as well as portions of Spain and mounted expeditions of conquest against any and all neighbors.

The basic army is limited in respect to troop types, with mostly light cavalry and unarmored infantry longspear/javelinmen along with archers making up the force. After the late 11th century, the Berbers in Spain occasionally allied themselves with Christians. The Andalusians provided a poor quality cadre of spearmen and archers. The veteran double-armed camel riders provide a different touch to this army.

Tactically, the foot should be used to hold in the center with skirmishers to the flanks. You must judiciously allocate your limited heavy cavalry to a single attack upon a section of the enemy line. Strike, breakthrough and exploit with light cavalry. Camels can be used to guard a flank or launch a frontal assault against enemy cavalry. This is an army for experienced gamers only.

49. SCOTS ISLES HIGHLANDERS: MID-11TH TO EARLY 15TH.

Though never maintaining or mustering huge numbers of men, the Scots Islesmen and Highlander clans were murderous in combat. The hardy, independent fighters were as prone to break down in the middle of a campaign and attack their allies for some not quite forgiven past insult as not. This made it difficult for a Scots commander to control his troops. At Northallerton, in 1138, King David and Prince Henry of Scotland could not manage to contain the ferocious frenzy of their allies, and the Galwegian and Highland clansmen continued to attack the Anglo-Norman lines in an uncoordinated, piecemeal fashion throughout the battle. These troops historically should always be upgraded to fanatics.

Though lacking in any mounted troops whatsoever, this is a very formidable army. Tactically, the Scots utilized woods and steep hills to negate the enemy cavalry. Ambushes and constant frenzied attacks would wear down enemy units. At the point where the enemy is in a disordered or near disordered state, the heavily armored Islemen (Vikings) would wade into the attack in their swine array (wedges). Ships are helpful sailing up a flank. This is a fun army for any level of player.

50. EARLY MEDIEVAL RUSSIAN: MID-11TH TO MID-14TH.

This is the army of Alexander Nevsky, which destroyed the Teutonic Knights at the Battle of Lake Peipus in 1242. This is a well-balanced army with plenty of veteran, lance-armed heavy cavalry, supported by double-armed skirmisher cavalry, sturdy armored spear, axe and bowmen as well as some tough, wedge-trained German mercenary knights and plenty of skirmishers.

Tactically, the Russians formed up their Druzhina cavalry in reserve in the center, screened by light horse, with skirmisher cavalry to the flanks and foot in close support. They would often use ambushes, if possible. I would probably opt to keep the heavy cavalry to the flanks for that all important flank sweep. Ambushes by axemen out of woods are always interesting. This is a good army for any level of player.

51. SICILIAN NORMAN: MID-11TH TO LATE 12TH

This is the later army of Robert Guiscard, his nephew Roger and their successors in Sicily. One of the extraordinary decisions the Normans made while in temporary control of the Italian peninsula was to transplant Moslems from Sicily to mainland Italy. The Moslems, surrounded by hostile Christian neighbors, had to rely on the protection as well as the good will of the Normans and thus fought with desparation for them because of this symbiotic relationship.

The Sicilian Normans provide the gamer with a very well-balanced army. There are plenty of veteran heavy cavalry supported by numbers of Moslem light horse, archers and rough terrain foot. There are even close order Italian foot, and though these are of suspect quality, they do provide an attractive force to hold low hills and obstacles.

The cavalry will either win or lose the battle. The timing of their attacks are essential to your battle plan. Use the skirmishers to screen them, with Moslem loose order archers to wear down the targets of their charges. The light cavalry are useful to protect the flanks of the heavy cavalry and to exploit an open flank. Norman generalship at this time was exemplary. At Nocera in 1132, Roger II had 5-11,000 men against a rebel Apulian/Lombard force of twice that size and won.

This army is exceptional when used by a decent gamer and is good no matter what the level of command experience.

52. ANGLO-NORMAN: LATE 11TH TO LATE 12TH.

The armies of Robert, Henry I, KIng Stephen, the Empress Matilda and Simon de Montfort are a tough blend of Norman as well as Saxon military influences. The culminating battle at Northallerton in 1138, as well as the battles of the anarchy, such as Lincoln in 1141, and the Welsh incursions of the 12th century fused this army into a powerful force to reckon with. There were 9,000 Welsh archers present in 1277, 10,900 in 1298. Gascon crossbowmen to the number of 1300 also were present in 1282.

Norman cavalry augmented by sturdy Saxon fyrd is a formidable combination. The only real problem with this army is the lack of any light horse. There are plenty of archers, rough terrain troops and even the sacred banner of St. Cuthbert and St. Peter to bolster the foot. Tactically, the knights would often dismount to bolster the foot, but this severely limits mobility even further. At Tinchenbrai in 1106, King Henry I, using wedges and 7,500 men defeated a smaller Norman army of 6,000 under his brother, Duke Robert. Henry formed his army in two ranks, with ambushing cavalry attacking from his right.

As with the Normans, pick your point of attack and throw all of the heavy cavalry at the enemy line. Use the fyrd to hold positions and the Welsh and skirmishers to screen and support the mounted attacks.

This is a good army in the hands of an experienced player, but could be trouble for a beginner.

53. FIRST CRUSADER: LATE 11TH TO EARLY 12TH.

This list reflects the armies of Bohemond of Taranto, Godfrey and Baldwin of Bouillon, Raymond of Toulouse, Robert of Normandy as well as many lesser nobles who took the Cross in the last decade of the 11th century and marched to the East looking for God, glory and riches. Relying on their established Western tactic of a frenzied mounted charge aimed at breaking an enemy formation, the Crusader armies were only defeated when confronted with intelligent enemy leadership and unfamiliar horse archer tactics. Their initial conquest of the Levant and capture of Jerusalem from the fragmented Turks and Saracens is testament to their will and fortitude.

Tactically, the knights would form behind a line of spearmen and archers, charging out at opportune times. Problems developed when the overzealous knights ignored commands and attacked anything within range. The Crusaders usually had plenty of supporting troops, including skirmisher foot, Sicilian rough terrain troops, Crusaders, and a handfull of Byzantine skirmish cavalry. At Ascalon in 1099, 20,000 Egyptians under Malik Ghazi were soundly defeated by nine divisions of Crusader foot (1,000 men each) with heavy cavalry behind them (150 each). The cavalry charged through the foot into the Egyptians and routed them.

This is a good solid army with problems, mostly having to do with being too overzealous to follow orders. Fun but challenging for the beginner.

54. FEUDAL FRENCH: LATE 11TH TO EARLY 14TH.

This is the army of Simon de Montfort of France (father of Simon de Montfort of Anglo-Norman fame), notable for its impressive and implausable victory over the Spanish and Lanquedoc forces with their 10-1 numerical superiority at Muret in 1213. Though lacking in light cavalry, the French have excellent knights, referred to as "the best in Europe" by their contemporaries, who would charge shoulder to shoulder in Conrois to negate the oftentimes superior numbers of their enemies. There are plenty of close order spearmen, archers, crossbowmen and axemen to give difficulty to an opponent's battle plan.

Unfortunately, the French army is useless in rough terrain until after the early 13th century, then they benefit from allied Spanish help. Their impressive performance at Bouvines in 1214 under Philippe of France brought notice to the English and Germans that the French knights were the elite of Europe.

Fanatic French knights in Conrois are a match for any cavalry. Their frenzied nature makes them tough to control, but once they hit the enemy line, they are impressive. At Muret, the charging horsemen rode through three enemy lines, performing intricate tactical maneuvers in the process! The French must use their spearmen and crossbowmen to hold along the main battleline. The knights may use Crusader Mixed Order, which allows them to charge out through the close order infantry ranks and retire back through them without disorder. The crossbowmen must pick their targets carefully and for effect to prepare the targets of the cavalry charges.

This is a colorful army and in the hands of a resourceful, good commander, can do untold damage to any opponent. Not an army for beginners.

55. CRUSADER PERIOD SYRIAN: LATE 11TH TO LATE 13TH.

The Syrian Moslem armies fought fairly constantly against the invading European armies throughout the Crusading period. After the Seljuq defeats at the hands of the early Crusaders, Syrian power grew to fill the vacuum. Like other Moslem armies in the Levant, the Syrians utilized plenty of mobile horse archers as well as numbers of heavy cavalry to harass and discomfort less mobile enemies. They were also saddled with numbers of unenthusiastic foot, which are best left behind in tactically safe positions (uphill, behind obstacles). There were some fanatical rough terrain fighters, the religiously zealous Ghazis. In addition, some veteran Kurds as well as bow-armed skirmisher foot fought when available. This army has plenty of firepower, but can be easilly defeated if initial tactical dispositions are not carefully thought out.

The heavy cavalry must force the enemy to break, the rest of the army is simply not strong enough. Use them with skimisher cavalry supports on the flanks and the shoot their targets into disorder before charging in. Not an army for beginners, and tough for any level of player.

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© Copyright 1999 by Terry Gore
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