nafrica

FATAMIDS

Core troops are 'Abid Bw(X/O) DBEs [8-16] and Armenian Bw(O) [12-15]
Ghulam Cv(O) [4-10] and Bedouin/Berber LH(O) [1-8] form supports
Bd(X) Macemen and Pk(I) are available in small quantities
Ps(S) Berbers and assorted Berber-'Abid Ps(O) comprise light infantry options
'Zanj swordsmen as Bd(I) or Wb(F) are optional
Amalric and crusaders provide an interesting ally for Shawar in 1167 AD

The Fatamid Caliphs of Egypt claimed their descent from the Fatima, the daughter of the prophet and her husband (the fourth Caliph). As followers of the murdered fourth Caliph, the Fatamids were Shi'tes. Their religious rivals were the orthodox Sunni and Abbasid Caliphs.
The Fatamids under al-Mo'izz conquered Egypt from North Africa in 969 AD and remained there in varying states of rule to 1171 AD. At the peak of their power, the Fatamids ruled much of North Africa, Syria as far north as Mosul and influenced other independent Mesopotamian dynasts. The Fatamids were also noted (aside from the mad Caliph al-Hakim) to be tolerant of Christians and Jews.

The Fatamids recruited widely in Africa and the Levant for their army. This mix proved volatile and violence often occurred between the different factions. The army depended largely on black troops ('abid) from the south, Berbers from North Africa (often Kitama) and Levantine troops (Armenians or Syrians). Increasing numbers of Turkish troops were recruited in the 11th Century but this ceased in the aftermath of civil war of the 1060s. Fatamid tactics involved engaging the enemy with their infantry and using their mounted troops in support. The Fatamids never developed the horse-archery tactics of their Turkish opponents.
Regiments were named after a caliph, vizier or according to its nation. For example: Hafiziyya, Juyushiyya, Rumiyya (Roman i.e. Greek), Sakaliba (Slavs) and Sudaniyya (Sudanese). Usamah ibn Munqidh in the 1140s records the Rayhaniyya (Sudanese), Farahiyya and Juyushiyya (as well as the special guard Sibyan al-Khass- these may have been Armenian archers). According to Usamah, the commander-in-chief was the Amir-al-Juyush. Regiments were not standardised to the same size. The Saririyya were armed with long spears, Dirgham commanded the Barkiyya. Latin sources tended to emphasise the size of Fatamid armies. According to Hamblin however, (cited in Crusading Warfare[1]) the maximum size of the Fatamid army was 25,000 men but field armies in Palestine were probably between 5-10,000 men. Cavalry and guard regiments were possibly 500 men strong as 500 is commonly reported in Syria for an askar and the Vizier Dirgham had a bodyguard unit of 500 horse (1164 AD).

These unit strengths imply that the use of minima and maxima for elements in the list based on sets of '3' elements is wrong. Maxima and minima should be based on sets of 2 or 4. Hence the number of independent 'Abid archers should be 0-4 or 0-8 rather than 0-6 as is the present case.
[1] Smail, R.C. (1995). Crusading Warfare 2 Ed., Cambridge University Press, Pp. xxiv.

AYYUBIDS

Core troops are Cavalry- as Cv(O) or Cv(S)- and Light Horse- as LH(S) or LH(O)
Infantry options are limited with Abid Bw(O) and Kurdish Ax(O) predominant
Rather unremarkable in many respects

After the death of the Fatamid Caliph al-'Adid, Saladin began forming an autonomous state in Egypt. Saladin unified the Syrian and Jeziran territories of Nur ed-Din after the latter died. This formed the basis of a family federation of states stretching from Egypt to Jezira. A lack of unity saw the Latin states in the Outremer recover. The Ayyubids survived in Egypt until the murder of Turan-Shah by his Mamluks in 1250 AD. The Ayyubids in Syria survived until the murder of al-Nasir by the Mongols in 1260. The Ayyubids in Syria are covered by the Syrian list.

The army was built around a core of professional cavalry supplemented by various auxilaries. Turcomens and Bedouins were the common auxiliaries. The list lacks the Negro maceman described at Acre by historians of the Third Crusade. The list should also allow the use of dismounted cavalry as Bd(O). These were used by Taqi al-Din to attack the Crusaders at Acre. The ability to dismount as Bw(O) during battle would also seem plausible given the battle account at Arsuf. The estimated size of the Ayyubid army at Hattin (1187) was 30,000 men. Subsequent armies were not able to recruit so widely and were generally smaller.

Professional cavalry included the Halqa (al-Halqa al-Sultaniyya), an elite regiment drawn from free-born men, the Salahiyya (created by Saladin), the Asadiyya (created by Shirkuh), the Mihraniyya (Kurds), the 'Aziziyya (created by al-'Aziz Muhammad), the Nasiriyya (created by al-Nasir Yusuf), the Bahriyya (river Mamluks), the Shahrazuriyya and Qaymariyya (Kurds), Ashrafiyya and Jamdariyya.

In DBM terms the army would seem to be best run as a Cv-army with LH and Bw support.

MAMLUKS

More reliant on Cv(S) [12-24] with less LH(S) [3-10] and LH(O) [0-8] available
Infantry becomes poorer in quality.
Rather unremarkable Cv/LH army.

This list covers the army of the Mamluks from the murder of the Ayyubid Sultan Turan Shah in 1250 AD. As such it is suitable for fighting the final conflicts of the late 13th Century. These basically involve the Mamluk-Mongol wars and the destruction of the last Latin outposts along the coast. The loss of the Latin settlements however was not associated with any field battles.

Mamluk armies had one merit not enjoyed by the earlier Ayyubid armies. They were very large in comparison. The Mamluk state was thus much more militarised and organised than its predecessors. Mamluk regiments were initially based on the Ayyubid army and included Baybar's Bahriyya Mamluks. The Tabardariyya appeared in the Mamluk period.

In gaming terms, the army is not exciting. While it has an interesting mix of 'regular' and 'irregular' Cv(S), there is not the supporting foot (massed Bows, spears or blades) to give it a decent edge. The army also lacks much useful filler with its core troops being relatively expensive. As such it is also an army that struggles to acquire an intimidating size.

AGHLABID & ZIRID

Based on the Early Muslim North Africa and Sicily list.
Core troops are Sp(I) Negro or Berber spearmen, Cv(O) and LH(O) mounted with numerous archers, auxilia and light infantry available.
In this period can include a useful Saharan ally which uses the Tuareg list. This adds a valuable Cm(S) anti-mounted force.
Only one sub-general is available.
Zirids can include a Saharan ally (based on the Tuareg list) which adds a Cm(S) option to the army.

This list covers the Muslim armies in Sicily, Tunis and Libya during the 11-13th Centuries. The Sicilian Normans conquered Sicily off the Aghlabids (in fact Kalbite-successors) in the late 11th Century. The Zirids ruled Tunisia until the conquest by the Berber Almohads in 1145 AD. The Zirids were also attacked by the Sicilians in the early 12th Century.

ALMOHAD & HAFSIDS

Derived from the Fanatic Berber list. The army is based around spearmen which can receive rear support from Ps(O) archers, numerous Berber LH(O) and some heavier cavalry with occasional camel support.

The Almohads replaced the Zirids in Tunisia from 1145 AD and were subject to attacks from the Sicilians and Ayyubids. They were eventually replaced by the Hafsids who provided the target for the 8th Crusade by Louis IX in 1270 AD.

Muslim Armies of Egypt and North Africa