Muslim Shield Designs

On the Workbench

Another Cavalry Element for Medieval-Muslim-Morph-Armies, unfinished.

Warriors of Ifriqiyah: The Wild Berber Horsemen 1

I finally finished the Early Muslim North Africa/Sicily DBA Army in 25mm. Here's a teaser for upcoming pictures: The Wild Berber Horsemen! (Artizan figures, shields from Crusader-Miniatures)

And details of some shield designs (Artizan and Crusader Miniatures):

Old Paint

Same story, means: ca. 30 Warhammer Knights in my collection, painting since 1994, no use in DBA 'cause too big. No use playing Warhammer due to lack of time and patience. So they end up on this blog as filler-ups...it's a shame, shame, shame, shame, shame. I have to tell my friend to cut some 60x50mm metal-bases. Then at least I can put two of these gargantuan knights on one kind-of-DBA-base.

Early Crusader Knights

Three more early Crusaders. Black Tree Design. Below is shown a bit of the inspiration for one of the above shields: an ivory bookcover from the Meuse-Region, Europe, 2nd half 8th century showing Christus Victor. As it looks very timeless byzantine it's just right for my Antiochian Crusader army.

Somewhere I heard the bellicose franks prefered warrior saints like St. Martin or St. George. In a similar way medieval frankish crusader knights fought as "milites christi" and worshiped Christ as their invincible hercules. And somewhere on my harddisk there is a picture of a 13th century illumination showing Christ on a charger leading a bunch of heavly armoured knights in his raised right hand an open book and between his lips the blade of a long dagger, a symbolic gesture emphasizing the superiority of the spoken word over ... hm...sometimes I'm not sure over what...over violence? Hm...but anyway, makes for a good banner-emblem for a lead army.

Christ bares his cross over his right shoulder like an axe.

Islamic Emblems: The Hand and The Key

Today I found an interesting passage in Washington Irving’s „The Alhambra“ (1820ies I think). As I am always looking out for shield and heraldic designs I think the following gives a good understanding of the significance of two symbols, the “Hand” and the “Key” in islam. Irving is describing the gateway of the Alhambra (torre de la justicia):

“The great vestibule, or porch of the gate, is formed by an immense Arabian arch, of horseshoe form, which springs to half the height of the tower. On the keystone of this arch is engraven a gigantic hand. Within the vestibule, on the keystone of the portal, is sculptured, in like manner, a gigantic key. Those who pretend to some knowledge of Mohammedan symbols, affirm that the Hand is the emblem of doctrine; the five fingers designating the five principal commandments of the creed of Islam, fasting, pilgrimage, alms-giving, ablution, and war against the infidels. The key, say they, is the emblem of the faith or of power; the key of Daoud, or David, transmitted to the prophet. “And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall shut, and he shall shut, and none shall open.” (Isaiah XXII.22.) The key we are told was emblazoned on the standard of the Moslems in opposition to the Christian emblem of the cross, when they subdued Spain or Andalusia. It betokened the conquering power invested in the prophet. “He that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shuteth and no man openeth.” (Rev.III.7)”

Now I wonder how that key looks like.

Crusader Knights with St. John Order Foot

1148-1149 Nur-ed-Din kicks some Crusader Booty

A Map for a Nur-ed-Din 1148/49 Campaign based on Steven Runciman's book on the crusades. Antiochia is in big distress after Raimund died with his boots on. Factions would be:
Christians: Armenia Low&High, Antiochia, Byzantium, Kingdom of Jerusalem
Muslim: Seldjuks of Konya, Nur-ed-Din Zhengids, the Assassins and maybe the Kalif of Baghdad.
The Map isn't finished. There's still some research to do on the trading routes (e.g. "Seidenstrasse") and I have to add the mountains and passes (Cilician Gate is missing). The Assassins can figure as allies of Antiochia. The Map to the left shows Syria, Armenia, Cilicia, Edessa, Antiochia. Konya is not on the Map. The placenames appear in three versions: modern (black), byzantine (red), arabic (red). (Map: Wolfgang Felix, Byzanz und die islamische Welt im früheren 11. Jahrhundert, Verlag österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften).

Spain Reconquista Map

Just doodling...

Early Crusader Knights

Some Black-Tree-Design Normans I painted as Early Crusader Knights, maybe members of the Order of St. John. I think Black Tree Design produce the most beautiful horses. But they are huge. I got problems putting them on 60x40mm DBA bases.

Fantastical, Historical and Fictious Banners

The Assassins ~1140

Some Assassins as DBA-auxilia-troops, fighting together with the christian army of Antiochia against Nur-ed-Din and the Sultan of Konya (Artizan miniatures).

Norman Blades

Some Norman Blades 25mm (Foundry miniatures). They can figure in any norman or frankish army of the 11th or 12th century, even as crusader knights (after eating their horses). Historical evidence for early heraldry is scarce. I imagine these footknights to be of a lesser status then their mounted comrades. To show this I paint monochrome heraldic devices on a simple eggshell-colored background (wood and parched leather). They probably painted their shields themselves. The heraldry is made up except the blue one with the six golden lions: this is the coat of arms of Geoffrey Plantagenet, Count of Anjou (1130-1151). It reappears on the tomb of William de Longspee, Earl of Salisbury , bastard son of Henry II Plantagenet and his maitresse, Rosamund de Clifford. I will probable stick this shield on a rich mounted knight later on and give this guy here a simpler design.
Geoffrey d'Anjou Le Beau Funeral plate 12th century