Ancient Spain

 

Here are my Ancient Spanish. Allies or opponents to Romans and Carthaginians depending upon circumstances. Ancient writers always gave their martial qualities five stars and a recommendation. Above Forged in Battle Light Horse and Minifigs slingers. 

Another variant on the theme. Forged in Battle Spanish Heavy Cavalry supporting young warriors from the same stable. The young warriors have slings but are eager to fight close to. Consider them a sort of long range Velite. 

The two units in cameo.

Forged in Battle heavy infantry. Five to a base in Civitates Bellantes and considered "Javelinmen".

More of the same below.

Once again. High morale and with some armour.

Old and new. Essex, Chariot and QRF.

More Spanish light cavalry.

QRF Slingers below.

Minifigs slingers. Old I know, but there is a lot to like. 

A final group of young warriors.

The last of the Spanish heavy cavalry.

Should you be Ancient Spanish inclined Forged in Battle are well worth a look. I'm also becoming interested in Cromarty Forge plastic/resin. I'm reliably told that they scale with Essex and that they do not break if they hear you swearing. Promising.

Andalusian Warriors and Soldiers-El Cid

 

Today let’s consider the Andalusians. Those with more subject knowledge than I conclude the following. Above Slav Mercenaries.

The Andalusian nobility were well motivated and skilled warriors. Very well mounted and compared to Christian Hidalgo more lightly protected. More your swift javelin throwers who can hit and evade. Actually, many Hidalgos fought just like that. What gave them the edge and all agree they had it, was the Christian fondness for a decisive charge.

From this we might conclude that against Jinete of any kind the Andalusian nobles have a good chance of winning.

They might also ride down skirmishers or do something fast and clever to overrun missile men, formed or not.

Steady close formed foot could be reduced with missilery rather than immediately charged head on.

Unless numbers dictated otherwise Andalusian nobles shouldn’t expect too much if they met a Spanish cavalry charge head on.

This all makes sense to me. The lessons are easily absorbed.  Things to do, things to avoid.

Likewise, Andalusian Jinete are good light cavalry. Meeting their Christian or Berber equivalents on level terms. Form dictates function. Or, is function dictates form? Either way we are talking about good light cavalry.

Things take a turn for the worst when we consider the infantry of Al Andalus.  The skirmishers were not the best but they could and would skirmish. It was the close order infantry that everyone thought was markedly inferior. Their only edge was sartorial it seems. Man for man they seem to have been wealthier than their foes. Below Berber Warriors.

I don’t know why this disparity should have been so marked. It may be that the mounted element of the Andalusian Armies was descended from the professional soldiers of the original conquering Arab Army. Perhaps the infantry were comprised of the descendants those who arrived later or had converted for better conditions. I have a couple of books coming that may shed some light.

Whatever the cause, attempts were made to effect redress. The easiest was to employ steady mercenaries-expensive. The other was to adopt the crossbow. The Andalusians did both.

There was sound reasoning for the Papal Ban on the crossbow. It could kill better skilled and protected warriors from a relatively safe distance. In terms of the order of society promoted by Frankish Christianity the crossbow was a serious threat to the establishment. That was a world where Nobles Fought, Clerics Prayed and everyone else worked. Where would that World be if the peasants could kill the nobles before the nobles killed the peasants?

I’m going to give my Andalusians two crossbow units. They won’t have high morale but they will shoot hard.

The mercenaries could be Christian warriors, or Berbers or the Soldiers of the defunct Caliphate of Cordoba. The latter could be Slavs or Sub Saharan Africans who had been enlisted on the Mamluk model. All of the forgoing were capable fighters. Importantly, Christian knights could be and were hired to deliver the missing deadly charge.

Above, you see my Andalusians and their mercenaries so far.

More El Cid

 

Having returned to the Reconquista I find myself on a roll. Much had been done before the abandonment. Little was needed to complete new units.  There are re-enforcements for every faction.

Here are some Andalusian javelin men. Skirmishers or a second rank behind the spearmen.

Berbers from Donnington New Era and the very old Originals.

 

The new above, the old below. Berbers could be found on all sides.

 

The Andalusians get two new units of horse archers.

 

All from Forged in Battle.

 

As are these heavy cavalry.

These Andalusian slingers too.

Now to the Christians. 

 

They get some heavy cavalry. The elite of the Christian armies. Donnington New Era figures. The ones top of the page are Minifigs.  

Like the Berbers Christian soldiers fought for Andalusian and Berber armies. The Andalusians likewise for Christians and Berbers.

 

More Christian Jinetes. 

Some Basque javelin men from Minifigs.

Old Glory archers, perhaps Goths or some such. I think they will do for Spain.

In terms of rules I intend to co-opt Dan Mersey's Clerics and Heroes concept. 

El Cid Again

I had the beginnings of a Moorish Spain Project here a few years ago.  The tag was Tell Cid. Passible witty, if you got the reference. Perhaps puzzling otherwise. It stalled, the project that is.

Anyhow, now it is back courtesy of a War Hammer publication -El Cid. It is years old and I bought it from a lad in Germany. The El Cid book is great for inspiration and I’m pleased with it. Nice to get it from Germany and in a timely fashion too. Last week I got Brent Oman's Ancient and Medieval Battle Command from the USA. I also got Harman Murtagh's The Irish Jacobite Army. They arrived in the same post.

One of the many things I enjoy about the hobby is its international aspect. There was an international trade network in the Bronze Age too. Until the Collapse.

So where are we? I thought I should do a Billhooks/Lion Rampant size force for each of the contenders. A protracted rummage through the Lead Pile and its sibling the Box of Forgotten Projects produced the following:

The Black Guard of Yusuf Ibn Tashfin. These fellows will get a second unit and some archers. Donnington New Era figures, you have to drill the hands which sometimes works.

Christian Town Militia. A couple of Museum figures and the rest from Essex via Colonel Bill's. Note the flag of St. Pelagius.  There were two St. Pelagius, this one's the scholar. I like the simplicity of this unit.

Basque light cavalry from Baueda. I have a few of these and they aren't bad at all. Not very lively though.

Andalusian Cavalry from Donnington New Era. Nice enough, paw drilling necessary.

Berber cavalry with a jolly Berber flag. Also from the brand of the broken hand.  I like these.

Mercenary Caballeros from Baueda. Part of a job lot and sold as Sicilian Normans. I think they work for Spain. One can take a flag, I have yet to locate one.

Mercenary Crossbows from Museum. Much to like I think.

Andalusian Town Militia from Forged in Battle. Arabs, should you want some.  Forged in Battle are good. I have lots of their Arabs. I intend to add green stuff tassels to the larger shields suiting them for Spain.

That's it so far but the project is securely re-launched.

I'll put the next batch up when they are done. Handily, most units could fight on either side.

A Savage and Romantic War- A Wargamer’s Guide to the First Carlist War, Spain, 1833-1840-A Review

 

Conrad Cairns is well known to aficionados of gaming the First Carlist War.  His  previous book The First Carlist War 1833-1840: A Military History and Uniform Guide was very well received.  It has proved increasingly hard to find. For English speakers, alongside All Honour is Lost: Scenarios, Orders of Battle and Regulations for Wargames of the First Carlist War 1833-1840 by Nuno Pereira it constituted a unique resource.  This third book then, from Helion, is very much to be welcomed. 

It can be fairly said that just as Barry Hilton brought the League of Augsburg to the hobby Conrad Cairns has opened up the First Carlist War to us. I have illustrated this review with some of my Carlist War Collection. Big 15s from Capitan and QRF.

I had feared the current volume might be a re-branding or a re-hash of previous work.  Groundless as it turned out.  This is new stuff.  Excellent!  What do we get?

Chapters begin with an introduction on what sparked the author's interest. He went to San Sebastián. Donestia the locals call it. A lovely city on a bay and full of history. I have been there too.

The second part of the book sets out a history of events. This deals with the Carlist Army of the North, the Carlist Expeditions, The Carlist Army of the Centre and the War in Aragon, next comes the War in Catalonia and then The Reckoning. This is all well written and informative.

Then we get an in depth look at the the Government Forces and their Foreign Allies. This includes:

Line Infantry, Light Infantry, Provincial Regiments, Royal Guard Infantry, Marine Infantry, National Militia, Paramilitaries and Volunteers, Cavalry, Artillery, Engineers and Sappers, The British, The French and The Portugese. 

Comprehensive indeed. As you might expect with uniform details galore.

The Carlist forces are next.  Respectively, the Army of The North, Infantry of the Army of The North, cavalry of the Army of The North, Artillery and Engineers of the Army of The North, the Army of The Centre and finally other Carlist forces. Again with uniform details.

Then comes a section on the material of war. This looks at weapons and equipment, Government flags and Carlist flags. Just what you need to know. David at Not By Appointment has a few suitable flags in his Spanish Collection.

Next comes Battles for Wargamers. An ominous 13 in all. Replete with maps, forces deployment, and a precis of the action. All very well done.

The final chapter is a mini campaign. This is done to the same high standard that characterises this book.

We finish with a Glossary and Notes and an appendices on tactics. There is an index. All in all 137 pages and copiously illustrated with photos of toys and artwork by Marco Capparoni.

If you want a new period to game in '25 this book delivers everything you need for an informed start to Carlist Wargaming. It is first rate in every respect. I should add the First Carlist War has much to commend it to gamers. Your games will not be short of drama and excitement.

For the established Carlist War gamer there is still much of interest here.

If you would like to see my Carlist war Collection click the tags below.

Berbers for Billhooks

 

There are of course Berbers and Berbers.  I’m thinking of Berbers in Spain.  Of course, Berbers are and were Berber, with Berber military traditions.  A quick look at Moorish and Numidian forces in ancient days shows the roots of that tradition.  Broadly speaking I’m going to end up with a list of units rather than a specific army list.   

 

This is my thinking so far.

When the ground was right, restrictive to cavalry and close formation troops, massed Berber skirmishers could attack in waves hurling javelins at close range.  On one such occasion they lured veteran Arab cavalry into dismounting to pursue them into difficult ground.  The Berbers then attacked destroying the Arab force.

 

On open ground other tactics were required and found. These revolved around the veiled spear men you see above.

Some tribes enjoyed a better military reputation than others.  Unfair?  Maybe.  It does allow us to vary the rating of units.  For example, we might have:

 

Veteran Berber spear men or Levy Berber spear men.  The veterans might be Retinue in Billhooks terms.   

Berber spear men might also be in a block with a second rank of archers.  The archers might be levy or might not.  A third rank of cavalry stood behind the archers.  Importantly, the cavalry could advance directly through both lines of infantry when the time came for a counter attack.

Sub Saharan troops loom large in Berber Armies.   

They might be mercenaries and so retinue.  Or, military slaves and so possibly not.   

They could be spear men or archers or a highly rated Black Guard unit. I've just ordered a unit of the latter because...El Cid.

 

Berber skirmishers were very good.  Fortunately, Billhooks already provides for such fellows.  I’ll use the Kern stat’s. Often such Berber infantry formed a second line behind the spear men and threw javelins over their heads.  The spear men leveled their spears, butts firmly grounded and knelt behind their shields to facilitate that.  This means we should allow our Berber skirmishers to form up to carry out that function.

That leads us nicely to Berber tactics in set piece battle.  The light cavalry deployed on the wings or in front of the army.  The light infantry was on the flanks.  The centre was formed of spear men with supporting archers or javelin throwers.  Behind this more cavalry waited.

The idea was to absorb the enemy charge and counter charge when they were disordered.  On occasion this was combined with a flank attack.

If you are interested in the Crusades, you might now be thinking “Just like the Fatimid’s battle tactics.” A moment later you might add "and Frankish tactics in Outremer".

This raises the interesting question were all Berber cavalry light skirmishers?  I don’t know the answer.  I can say that Berber cavalry in Fatimid armies did not skirmish but fought hand to hand.

Here is another thing, Berber armies could manoeuvre in response to drum signals. I think that calls for a special card.  My take is simple, the card will allow the whole army to advance or retire a single move.  It can be played once in a game.

That’s it so far.  More soon.