Thematic Byzantine Army III/29

In the late seventh century, Byzantium lost large parts of its territory to the Sarascenes notably the wealthy provinces of Palestine, Egypt and Syria, thus reducing imperial income and defences dramatically. As a result, the Empire reorganised the governement of the threatened Anatolian provinces and the army by establishing a new division of territory into "Themes", each with it's own army commanded by a Strategos who presided the civil governement of the theme as well. This arrangement proved efficient enough to ensure the survival and eventual recovery of the Empire for centuries to come. The theme system desintegrated after the Seldjuks defeated the Byzantines in 1071 at Manzikert and overran most of Anatolia.

The thematic armies of Byzantium are represented in DBA as a cavalry-heavy force (mostly Cv, some LH) and a small core of heavy Infantry (Pikes & Bows). The Figures are from Alain Touller and Essex.

Thematic Byzantine DBA Army, all options.

The Startegos (3Cv)

The Strategos with a cavalry unit (3CvGen + 3Cv, Alain Touller)

Cavalry (4x3Cv, Alain Touller)

Two units of double based 6Cv (Alain Touller)

Three squadrons of Light Horse (Essex Huns)

The Infantry (1x4Bw and 1x2Ps, Alain Touller and Essex)

The Infantry (2x4Pk, 1x2Ps, 1x4Bw)

II/56 Early Imperial Roman Army

This is the LEGIO XI RAPAX (latin = "predatory") and was stationed in Vindonissa (Windisch/ Switzerland) from AD 43.It is represented by one DBA Army 15mm, figures cast by Eureka Miniatures, Corvus Belli, Essex and Baueda.

Aquilifer, Signiferi und Bucinarii as Camp Followers (Eureka Miniatures)

The XI Legion deployed in battle order one

The XI Legion in battle order two

The Legionaries (4x4Bd, Corvus Belli)

The Legionaries (4x4Bd)

The Auxiliary Cohorts (4x4Ax, Corvus Belli)

The Legate (3Cv Gen, Eureka Miniatures)

Cavalry Cohort 1 (3Cv, Corvus Belli)

Cavalry Cohort2 (3Cv, Corvus Belli)

Cavalry Cohort 3 (3Cv, Corvus Belli)

The Ballista with crew in a fortified position (Art, Corvus Belli)

The Ballista with crew in a fortified position (Art)

An Auxiliary Cohort of Bows (3Bw, Corvus Belli & Essex)

Bows supported by slingers (3Bw + 2Ps, Corvus Belli)

Bows supported by slingers (3Bw + 2Ps)

Light Horse from North Africa (2LH, Corvus Belli)

The Camp with Camp Followers,legionaries (Baueda) building the marching camp (scratch built) and tents (Baueda).

Berber Archers

Another old picture. The Berber Bows fighting alongside christian Knights in a mediaval Sicilian army (again...).

Sicilian Berber Bows

These are the Berber Bows (8Cb) from my IV/5c army. 25mm (Artizan miniatures). Frederico II crushed muslim opposition in Sicily and deported them to the town of Lucera, mainland Italy. In the following decades the muslim contingents were the most loyal troops of the Hohenstaufen as Kings of Sicily. They even were entrusted with guarding the emperors treasury within the strong fortifications of Lucera. The muslim comunity lived there untill destroyed by the Anjou in 1300.

Below, the same but on a former, larger base 90x90mm.