Arab Conquests - A 15mm Project

 

About two years ago I started putting together the makings of an early Islamic Army.  Every now and then I'd add another contingent.  Nothing got painted but my interest was maintained.  Gradually, it focused around the Berbers. Initially, I thought Spain and then the revolt against the Arabs.  The options are good and varied.  Consider a Berber Army led by a pagan prophetess that dished out more than one walloping to intruders.

 

I started to buy a few books and the more I read the more engaged I became.  I also realised that my initial choice of the fall of Visigothic Spain was too narrow a focus.  Even more fun lay further afield. Also, it became clear that the different armies could be represented by selecting elements from the same basic collection.

Should you be interested I read “The Arab Conquest of Spain” by Roger Collins, “The Great Arab Conquests” by Hugh Kennedy and Robert Hoyland’s “In God’s Path”.  I may review them here in due course.

This book does the job nicely.  By focusing on the earliest sources it acts as a corrective to later assumptions.

If you only read one book of the three this is it.  The big picture thoughtfully outlined and lots of interesting detail.  The fellows on the front cover seem to be Qajar Persians.
 

This is one of those books that one enjoys for its insights.  By the time I got to it I'd read the first two and so the actual events were well trodden ground. 

Hoyland majors on the fact that Arab Moslem Armies of the Conquest were neither wholly Arab or wholly Moslem.  That was so, but, we can note they always acted in the Arab and Moslem interest. 

I'll observe that Islam in socio/political terms seems to performed the same function as Frankish Christianity in the West-defining in and out groups.  Don't let the use of non Arab warriors on the cover put you off.  Well worth reading.

Back to the Berbers. Most tribes seem to have slipped seamlessly from Christianity to Islam as Arab stock rose and Byzantine stock fell. Some were neither Christian or Moslem.  Once converted they protested in arms any attempts to treat them as inferior members of the Umma.  There were some very interesting campaigns arising.  All conquering Arab Armies were challenged and beaten.  They came back for more.

Among converted Berbers the idea developed that it was they, not the Arabs, who correctly lived in accordance to the ideals of Islam.  Naturally enough the Arabs martially disagreed. It set a pattern for the centuries to come. Conflict and co-operation.

 

All very promising.  Let’s consider the toys. Most of mine are from Forged in Battle and very fine they are.

Above and below Sub Saharan African troops.  

 

Depending on when, they might allies, hired soldiers or slave troops.  With the addition of a few Donnington New Era I've managed two such units. You can see the Donnington figures in the pic above, the lad with the cymbals and the second rank swordsmen.

 

I also have some very nice old Donnnigton Arabs.  I wish I had got more as they are no longer available.  Donnington have a replacement range with much to commend it.  It includes Nubians should I wish to add to my Khurasan ones.  By chance I got some Falcon figures and some Minifigs, Berbers both.  I’ll include comparison pic’s as we go.

I’ll be using Comitatus for this project.  It suits armies of assembled independent contingents very well and has the flexibility of troop types that I like.  A bit of nuance seldom goes amiss.  I'll need to do an Army List. Comitatus provides enough tips and options.  I'll share it here with pic's of the units.

Here is a final thought.  Arab archery features prominently in this period, cavalry and foot.  By the time of the Crusades we no longer find Arab cavalry archers. All are lancers. Instead, Turkish Ghulam or Turcoman light cavalry provide that troop type. I wonder why?