Chatting with miniature wargamers never ceases to amaze me. Each one has considerable breadth and depth of knowledge about his favorite period and favorite army. I never fail to learn something new about ancient and medieval civilizations, military history, etc., during the fun of a wargame. In fact, these personal exchanges are to me an important part of the pleasure of tabletop engagements. If this sharing of knowledge is extended to the development of the AW & MW army lists, each of us can enhance the worth and pleasure of wargaming for all of us.

I became fascinated with the Khazars when I made a chance discovery of their existence some years ago while browsing though the WRG army lists looking for a medieval army to build. Thus began an odyssey of research and study leading to the creation of a 15 mm army that has been both a challenge and a joy to play on the wargamer's tabletop.

Khazaria served as the western anchor of the northern Silk Road for several centuries, specifically 7th through 10th, as well as a major buffer state between the Christian and Islamic worlds. However, by a combination of both accident and design, knowledge of this early medieval empire was lost to the world until very recently. The famous and comprehensive Victorian "Wall Chart of World History," originally published in 1890 and now housed in the Library of the British Museum in London, does not even mention the Khazars. And yet, Arab records note that in the 9th Century the Caliph in Baghdad set up a throne room with four thrones representing the four major imperial figures of the world at that time, i.e., (1) himself as leader of the Islamic Empire, (2) Charlemagne of Western Christendom, (3) the Emperor of China, and (4) the Qaghan of the Khazars (!). The Byzantine Emperor was not considered worthy of inclusion!

Only very recent exploration and research has brought to light the unique nature and full extent of Khazarian civilization. A surprisingly tolerant and pluralistic society, even its army incorporated relatively harmoniously Jews, Christians, Muslims and Pagans at a time when religious warfare was the order of the day around the Mediterranean and in Western Europe. By welcoming educated and worldly Jews from both Christian Europe and the Islamic Middle East (even to the point where these proto-Turks converted to Judaism in the 8th century), the Khazars rapidly absorbed many of the arts and technologies of civilization.

As a direct result of this cultural infusion, they became one of the very few Asian steppe tribal societies that successfully made the transition from nomad to urbanite. Settling in their newly created towns and cities between the Caspian Sea and the Crimean Peninsula on the Black Sea, they became literate and multi-lingual agriculturalists, manufacturers and international traders. (See Kevin A. Brook, The Jews of Khazaria, Northvale, New Jersey: Jason Aronson Inc., 1999, pages 82-86, 99-107; and Samuel Kurinsky, The Glassmakers: An Odyssey of the Jews, New York: Hippocrene Books, 1991, pages 321-352.)

Even the great city of Kiev is now thought by many scholars to have been founded by the Khazars under its earlier name of Sambata (Brook, p. 35). They also rapidly evolved a relatively sophisticated military establishment (compared to other "hordes" such as the Ghuzz, Pechenegs, Bulgars, etc.).

Their first military appearance in recorded history of any significance occurred in 627 C.E., when 40,000 Khazar horsemen, under a formal military alliance with the Byzantine Emperor Heraclius, joined a campaign against Sassanian Persia. (See A. Koestler, The Thirteenth Tribe: The Khazar Empire and Its Heritage, New York: Random House, 1976, page 25.) Greatly weakened by this war with Byzantium and its allies, the Sassanids rapidly succumbed to the subsequent onslaught of Islamic Arabs. However, the new Islamic Empire was effectively stopped from flanking Christendom in the east by determined Khazarian resistance. In fact, Khazaria "was the only credible rival to the caliphate in the Near East during the seventh and eighth centuries" (Mark Whittow, The Making of Byzantium, 600-1025, Berkeley: University of California Press, 1996, page 225).

As an indicator of the evolution of military capabilities of the Khazars, they are noted as having utilized artillery, such as catapults and ballistae, as early as the Arab-Khazar wars in the 7th century. (See Koestler, page 27.) Later in their history, in the early 9th century, the Khazars employed Byzantine engineers to build a major brick fortress on the lower Don River, at a site that became known as Sarkel (a Turkish word meaning "White Fortress"). Architecturally, Sarkel was a combination of Turko-Iranian and Byzantine technological characteristics. (See Brook, pages 38-39, and "The Khazaria Info Center" at www.khazaria.com "The Khazarian Fortress of Sarkel.")

The Khazarian military structure is known from contemporary documentation, and is reflected fairly well in the army lists published by WRG. (See WRG, Army Lists Book Two: 55 BC – 1000 AD, January 1982, page 29.) However, some commentary is in order on the following list proposed for the army lists of the new Medieval Warfare rules.

First and foremost, the above references to the unique character of Khazarian civilization (when compared to other societies of nomadic origins) justify allowing some technological capabilities more in line with the other more evolved empires such as the Byzantines. Specifically, the Khazars are allowed to have two light bolt shooters to reflect a technological sophistication somewhat superior to the various other "Asian hordes."

Next, this list provides for a few Turkic tribal units that were within the orbit of Khazarian tributary relationships. Substantiating references to the existence of these tribal units, i.e., Torkils and Burtas, as well as their subordinate relationship to the Khazars, can be found in the following: (a) Brook, p. 45; (b) Koestler, pp. 19, 47; (c) Whittow, pp. 225-6; and (d) WRG Army Lists Book Two, p. 29. However, most of the points of difference between MW's draft army list and the one presented here make no great changes in the substance of military capabilities. For example, the MW draft list calls for 16 (minimum) to 48 (maximum) stands of "Horse Archers, SC Warriors, B/Sh," at 4 points per stand, with a 0–24 stands upgrade to Javelin-armed, at +1 points per stand. The proposal given here keeps the same maximum number of SC stands, but divides them equally into 12–24 Khazar Horse Archers (SC Warriors, B/Sh 2@4) and 0-24 Burtas (SC Warriors, Jav/B/Sh 2@5)

The Burtas were Turkish tribal folk who lived in tents just north of the Caspian Sea, maintaining a somewhat nomadic existence according to the requirements of seasonal grazing on the steppes. Be sure you get some fairly scruffy figures when you build this unit.

Another adjustment in balance, with only a slight change in total maximum number of stands, was made with the Khazar Nobles, HC Veterans. In the draft list, the minimum and maximum number of stands are given as "6-18." The revised list reduces this to 6-16, and then adds 0-4 Torkils, HC Warriors, B/Sh, 3@12). To balance the increase of 2 bases in total number of HC, the Torkils' morale class is lowered from Veteran to Warrior, and their weaponry is Bow only, i.e., they lose the Lance. Also, the Torkils may not be upgraded to Trained status. These morale and weaponry characteristics are justified in that the Torkils were another Khazar tributary tribe very similar to the Burtas, and located so as to be a buffer against the Pechenegs.

Aside from the addition of two light bolt shooters, as discussed above, the only other major change is the addition of Alan allies. While the addition of a number of different allies, including Alans, Bulgars and Magyars, is justified historically, I have elected to limit them to Alans only. Since there is a great similarity in army structure among most Asian hordes, wargamers having armies such as Magyars, Bulgars and Pechenegs, should have no difficulty putting together an allied army structured along the guidelines given here for the Alans. The structure of the Alan army as Khazar allies, and their historical relationship with the Khazars, was described in "Creating an Army List for Medieval Warfare Rules: The Alans," Saga (Dec. 1999), pp. 3-5.

Some notes on figures are in order. With apologies to 25 mm buffs, these comments refer to 15 mm only because that's what I've used for my Khazar army. Essex figures go very well with this army. Not only does Essex offer a great looking Khazar HC figure (Catalogue No. HSA6), but their other Dark Ages figures allow the creation of an army with interesting 'in-period' variety.

For example, some of the irregular SC units can be made by mixing together Bulgar Horse/Bows (HSA4), Pecheneg Horse/Bows (HSA5), and Avar Horse/Bows (HSA12) from their "Asiatic Hordes" list., and several others from their "Huns (mixed)" list (see HU1 and HU3).

The Arsiyah Cavalry units in this army, which formed the regular standing army of the Khazars, were primarily mercenary, non-Arab Muslims from Khwarizm and the various Central Asian city-states located along the Silk Road. As such, Essex's "Ghaznavid heavy cavalry (AEA20) looks just right for these Trained troopers.

Their "Ancient Equipment" offerings are also very useful. One pack of the Light Bolt Throwers (XEQ1), with 2 per pack, will cover Khazar artillery quite nicely. For the Supply Train, I suggest using the Pack Camels (XEQ6). These are Bactrian camels and therefore technically correct for this army, which also employs Bactrian camels for its Khazar Mounted Infantry. Essex also offers a wide selection of horse- and ox-drawn wagons that can also be used in this context. (See Essex catalogue under "WAG" listings.)

As a technical note, Khazar command stands should have a raised standard consisting of a silvery mirror on a long pole. This detail has been authenticated in contemporary Arab records. Also, adding the Camel drummer from Essex's Mongol mounted command pack (MOA9) to the CiC's stand is a nice touch.

Another technical note, this is one army where the usage of the Star of David as a shield emblem is most appropriate. Both textual and archeological evidence has shown that most of the Khazars converted to Judaism between the years 750 to 860, and that the Star of David was a popular decorative motif in that culture. Curiously enough, this emblem is not appropriate for the Late Hebrew army of BCE times, despite claims to the contrary found in Nigel Stillman's Chariot Wars (1999), pp 47-52. In fact, the 6-pointed star was known in ancient Greece as the "Hex-alpha of Pythagoras"…. Go figure…. Both Jews and Muslims picked it up as a symbol in later times. (Side note: Sheaves of Wheat and the 7-branched Menorah would be most likely emblems for the Hebrews of the chariot warfare period.)

One very useful reference for building this army is Ian Heath's Armies of the Dark Ages: 600-1066 (WRG, 1980). It contains many sketches and descriptions of individual troop types not only for the Khazars but also for their many allies and enemies.

For those interested in the geo-political configurations of Khazaria, check out the html entitled "Khazarian Historical Maps by Richard Burd" at http://www.khazaria.com on the Web. This hyperlink will take you to a site that has four beautifully colored maps showing respectively (a) migration routes into Eastern Europe, and major early battle sites, of Huns and proto-Turks, including Khazars; (b) Khazarian expansion, and major battle sites, during the 600 to 850 C.E. period; (c) the Khazar Empire at its height in 850 C.E.; and (d) the decline of Khazaria, and major battle sites, from 850 to 965 C.E. The research that went into these maps incorporates the latest available materials on this subject.

Should you decide to build the Khazars for usage with the MW rules, my only other advice to you would be to "buy" both supply trains. Those arrow volleys come in handy with this army.

The Khazars: 586 – 1083 C.E.
Stands Permitted	Troop Type	Armour	Morale	Training	Weaponry	Figure Stand	Point Value
1	CiC - Bek	HC	Veteran	Trained	L/B/Sh	3	53
0-3	Generals – Kende & Tarkhans	HC	Veteran	Irregular	L/B/Sh	3	38
6-16	Khazar Noble Cavalry	HC	Veteran	Irregular	L/B/Sh	3	13
All	- Upgrade Generals & Khazar Nobles to Trained						+1
12-24	Khazar Horse Archers	SC	Warrior	Irregular	B/Sh	2	4
4-8	Khazar Guards	HI	Veterans	Irregular	LSp/Sh	4	7
6-24	Khazar Levy Spearmen	UI	Poor	Irregular	Sp/Sh	4	3
0-12	- Upgrade Khazar Levy Spearmen to Warriors						+1
Any	- Upgrade Khazar Levy Spearmen to Camel Mounted Infantry						+2
6-24	Khazar Levy Archers	SI	Warriors	Irregular	B	2	1
0-4	Torkil Cavalry	HC	Warriors	Irregular	B/Sh	3	10
0-24	Burta Cavalry	SC	Warriors	Irregular	Jav/B/Sh	2	5
4*-12	Rus Spearmen	HI	Warriors	Irregular	LSp/Jav/Sh	4	7
0-4*	Rus Archers	HI	Warriors	Irregular	B/Sh	4	6
12*-24	Slav Spearmen	UI	Warriors	Irregular	Jav/Sh	3	3
6*-12	Slav Archers	SI	Warriors	Irregular	B	2	1
0-2	Light Bolt Shooters	Artillery	Warriors	Trained		2 crew	11
2-4	Supply Train	.				Total cost: 15
2-4	2nd Supply Train	.				Total Cost: 10
12-36	Arsiyah Cavalry	SC	Warriors	Trained	B/Sh	2	3
0-24	- Upgrade Arsiyah to HC, L/B/Sh					3	+9
1	Alan General	HC	Veterans	Irregular	L/B/Sh	3	38
4-8	Alan Nobles	HC	Veterans	Irregular	L/B/Sh	3	13
8-24	Alan Horse Archers	SC	Veterans	Irregular	B/Sh	2	4
0-24	- Add Javelin to Horse Archers						+1
0-16	Alan Axemen	HI	Warriors	Irregular	Axe/Sh	4	7
0-8	Alan Tribal Levies	UI	Warriors	Irregular	Jav/B/Sh	3	3
0-8	Alan Tribal Levy Archers	SI	Warriors	Irregular	B/Sh	2	2

Notes

Rus foot may be in mixed weapon units.
Slav UI may use Wedge formation.
All minimums marked "*" must be used if any of that nationality is used. The term "C.E." means "Common Era," and is the non-Christian equivalent of the term "A.D." Its usage is spreading widely in both academic and non-academic literary circles.