[3.29] Thematic Byzantine 650 AD – 963 AD Climat : Agressivité : Zone topographique :
Chaud 0 de 650 à 744 1 de 745 à 963 Arable
Terrain obligatoire : Terrains facultatifs :
Rd WW, Rv, H(S), H(G), Wd, O, V, E, RGo, BUA
Avertissements Les troupes irrégulières sont en rouge, les troupes obligatoires en gras.
Liste principale Désignation C-in-C Sub-generals Thematic kavallarioi: • 1/2 lancers • 1/2 archers Less efficient thematic kavallarioi: • 1/2 lancers • 1/2 archers Scouts Outflankers Flank guards Ambushers Linkers Skoutatoi Archers: • [can support skoutatoi] • Javelinmen Slingers Mules to mount regular infantry Trapezitai Armenian watchmen Georgian nobles Bulgar or Alan mercenaries Bolt-shooters on each end of ox-wagon Fire siphoners Ditch, bank and caltrops to protect camp, including baggage and artillery Dromons or Pamphyla • with marines Ghalaia Slav allies Crimean Goth allies: Goth ally-general Goth cavalry Goth archers Goth slingers
Type Reg Cv (S) Reg Cv (S)
Coût 30 30
Reg Cv (S) Reg LH (S) Reg Cv (O)
10 7 6
Reg Cv (I)
200 pts
250 pts
300 pts
400 pts
1 1-3 4-12
5-15
6-18
8-24
6 4 7 7 7 7 7 3
0-4
0-5
0-6
0-8
0-1 1 1 0-1 0-2 1-6
0-1 1 1 0-1 0-2 1-8
0-1 1-2 1-2 0-2 0-2 2-9
0-1 1-2 1-2 0-2 0-3 2-12
3-5
3-6
4-8
5-10
1-2 0-2
1-3 0-3
2-3 0-3
2-4 0-4
Irr LH (S) Irr Ax (I) Irr Kn (F) Irr LH (S) Reg Art (O) Reg Ps (X)
2 5 3 2 1 7 2 9 7 8 6
0-1 0-1 0-1 0-1 0-1 0-1
0-1 0-1 0-1 0-1 0-1 0-1
0-1 0-2 0-2 0-2 0-2 0-1
0-1 0-2 0-2 0-2 0-2 0-1
TF
1
0-8
0-10
0-12
0-16
0-1
0-1
0-2
0-2
0-1
0-1
0-1
0-1
0-1
0-1
0-1
0-1
*1-2
*1-3
*2-3
*2-4
0-1
0-1
0-2
0-2
250 pts
300 pts
400 pts
Reg LH (S) Reg LH (S) Reg LH (S) Reg LH (S) Reg LH (S) Reg Pk (I) Reg Ps (O) Reg Bw (O) Reg Ps (S) Reg Ps (O)
Reg Gal (S) 4 Reg Ax (S) 5 Reg Bts (F) 2 List: Early Slav (Bk 3) Irr Kn (F) Irr Kn (F) Irr Ps (O) Irr Bw (I) Irr Ps (O)
14 9 2 3 2
Any
*1
Only in 681 AD Désignation Moorish allies
JPM200505
Type Coût 200 pts List: Later Moorish (Bk 2)
1/2
[3.29] Thematic Byzantine 650 AD – 963 AD Only after 743 AD Désignation Tagmatic kavallarioi: • up to 1/3 • rest
Type Reg LH (S) Reg Cv (S)
Coût
200 pts
250 pts
300 pts
400 pts
7 10
0-6
0-8
0-9
0-12
Coût
200 pts
250 pts
300 pts
400 pts
10 8 8 3 5 2 5
0 or 2
0 or 2
0 or 2
0 or 2
0-1
0-1
0-1
0-1
0-1
0-1
0-1
0-1
0-1
0-1
0-1
0-1
Only after 903 AD Désignation Kataphractoi double based: • if front element • if rear element Menavlatoi Khelandia • with marines Ousiai • with marines
Type Reg Kn (I) Reg Bd (X) Reg Gal (O) Reg Ax (S) Reg Gal (F) Reg Ax (S)
This list covers Byzantine armies from the loss of the East to the Arabs until the 10th century shift to the offensive. This is the period covered by the “Taktika” of Leon VI. The army now relied on part-time territorial Themata. After one revolt too many by the powerful Opsikion theme, this was downgraded and its role taken over by centrally controlled professional Tagmata mostly dispersed in 300 man banda until concentrated for action into initially 3, finally 6, 4,000 man regiments expanded from old guard units. Thematic troops were mostly raised in banda of 50 cavalry and 150 foot but separated and concentrated into pure units when called out. The larger themata could each provide 3,000 cavalry, which was considered sufficient to cope with most Arab incursions. Although full scale invasions of enemy territory did take place, notably under Leon III and Konstantinos V, strategy was essentially defensive, using “dog and pounce” tactics against invaders and making much use of ambushes. A favourite trick was to flank march infantry to seize defiles in the enemy rear. Tagmatic kavallarioi fought five ranks deep, with the 1st, 2nd and 5th ranks being lancers, the 3rd and 4th archers. This is best represented by a single element with 2 lancer figures and 1 archer or 3 lancers. Thematic kavallarioi fought 10 ranks deep, with the first 4 and last 3 ranks being lancers, best represented when in close formation by a lancer element supported by an archer element. Accordingly, kavallarioi archers classed as Cv (O) or (I) must be double-based behind lancers. Lancers were no longer double-armed with bow, but could still have frontally armoured horses. If any thematic lancers do, all tagmatic lancers must. The previous 2 line deployment was partly maintained, the differences being that the C-in-C now had only a small escort, that the front line’s archers mostly advanced in front of its lancers as cursores to skirmish, and that the 2nd line had further kavallarioi deployed behind its flanks. Skoutatoi were now armed with 14 ft pikes and normally formed 16 ranks deep, with front ranks in mail, greaves and vambraces but the majority in textile armour. They could alternatively form to only half that depth supported by archers behind. Akritoi were not a separate troop type. According to the “De Velitatione Bellica”, this was a nickname for border thematics. Trapezitai were raiders and scouts used to get advance warning of enemy attacks. Armenian watchmen were paid to guard passes, but were notoriously lax. Other Armenians, Khurrami and Slavs were formed into normal thematic units rather than continuing to fight in their native style. 30,000 unassimilated Slavs were employed by Justinian II against the Arabs, but deserted to the enemy. Artillery was deployed only with the baggage, concentrated at each end of the line. Dromons were now larger than before and equipped with fire siphons. Items specified as only available after 903 appear for the first time in the “Sylloge Taktikon”, which bears that date and is also attributed to Leon VI. Since its prescriptions differ from those of his Taktika, we assume that the differences are recent innovations. The new types are described in the following Nikephorian Byzantine list, except that the kataphraktoi substitute ordinary kavallarioi lancers on frontally armoured horses charging at the gallop for the later list’s heavily armoured mace men and lancers on fully armoured horses charging at the trot. All other kavallarioi now lose horse armour and the alternative half depth deployment of skoutatoi supported by archers becomes standard. The menavlatoi were deployed in advance of the skoutatoi as a forlorn hope to break up charges by heavy cavalry, a practice which was soon abandoned! Moors cannot be used with trapezitai, Armenians, Georgians, Bulgars, Alans, Slavs or Goths. Minima marked * apply only if any Crimean Goths are used. Phil Barker et Richard Bodley Scott, Listes d’armées DBM – Livre 3, 2e édition, août 1999
JPM200505
2/2
