In the city of Bahgdad turmoils reign, a fight for the succession of the Abbasid caliphate has started.

A big battle in the city suburbs will decide who is the ruler.

Game played using Comitatus rules, 15mm figures from Pino.

The idea of organizing this scenario has come from Luca, who told me a few weeks ago that in our club we have so many arab houses in 15mm that we may cover one of our big tables. So we will!

Here are some maps of the city during the Abbasid Caliphate, we will fight in one of the suburbs. Maps are taken by Le Strange, Abbasid Bahgdad. Thanks to Google.

Some history on wikipedia here.

Still not sure of where to fight exactly. Armies will follow soon.

Armies

Al-Amin Army

Al-Amin, 2 bases Arab cavalry, superior, B.
Abd al-Rahman ibn Jabala, 2 bases Arab cavalry, superior, B.
Muhammad ibn Yazid al-Muhallabi, 2 bases: Khurasani cavalry, Armoured Horse archers, superior C.

1 X 4 bases: Bedouin volunteer cavalry, light horse lancers, C.
1 X 4 bases: Khurasani light horse archers, average, C

1 X 6 bases: Spear and bowmen, average B
1 X 4 bases: Skirmish bowmen, poor C
1 X 6 bases: Voluntary foot, shock infantry, superior, C

2 X 6 bases: City Militia, rabble, C
1 X 1 bases: Siege weapons, average C.

Al-Ma’mun Army

Tahir ibn Husayn, 3 bases: Turkish Ghulams, Armoured Horse Lance and Bow, superior B
Harthama ibn A’yan, 2 bases: Turkish Ghulams, Armoured Horse Lance and Bow, superior B
Zuhayr ibn al-Musayyab al-Dabbi, 2 bases: Arab cavalry, Armoured lancers , superior, B

1 X 4 bases: Bedouin volunteer cavalry, light horse lancers, C.
1 X 4 bases: Turkish Ghulams, Armoured Horse Lance and Bow, superior B

1 X 6 bases: Spear and Bowmen, average B
1 X 4 bases: Skirmish bowmen, poor C
1 X 6 bases: Voluntary foot, shock infantry, superior, C

1 X 6 bases: City Militia, rabble, C

1 X 1 bases: Naffatun, average B (they are able to put houses to fire and disorganise enemy in contact with them)
3 X 1 bases: Siege weapons, average B.

The Battle

The city of Baghdad. The round city gates on the top right.

Most of the polulation lives outside of the Round City.

The defnders are deployed on clear ground, close to the Round City walls.

One cavalry column among the houses, the right wing.

The left wing of the defenders. The Baghdad citizens in the forefront.

The attackers advance in column among the houses.

The attackers’ left wing.

The central columns advance directly towards the gate.

The right wing has orders to try to flank the enemy.

The road to Baghdad.

The usurpers’ troops start to deploy, Bedouin cavalry in skirmish line.

Also the attacking archers deploy in line.

The right wing is caught at bow distance from the enemy, they only manage to deploy a battle line in front of the enemy and become disordered.

The centre body of the defender’s troops are not menaced directly, they see the enemy archers advancing but they stand firm.

The Bedouin cavalry do not dare to charge the enemy, the just shoot javelins at the infantry line.
The attacker’s infantry rests a bit and manages to recover all disorder. Ranks are now closed and they are ready to attack!

Meanwhile on the far right of the defenders, cavalry and archers are ordered to demonstrate and try to get to the enemy camp.

The left wing general of the attacking force deploys his household cavalry to defend the siege machines.

The central battle of the defender’s has ben ordered to attack. They will have to make a hard wheel on their left and attack. Such a manoeuvre is rather difficult for undrilled troops like the Abbasid infantry, they get disordered from maneuvre and being shot by the Ghulams.

The general bodyguard countercharges the enemy infantry. Even if outnumbered they morale and some luck are successful to disorder the enemy, which stops shaken. The Ghulams retire to reorganize their ranks.

The next move they will charge home a shaken enemy. The rout of the infantry causes the full central battle to disorder further. The counterattack is spoiled.
In the meantime the attacker’s swordsmen charge home the Baghdad armed citizens, while the rest of the attacker’s cavalry gallops to the gates.

The city is taken! We have a new ruler for the Abbasid Caliphate!