DBA Armies

II/42 TAMIL INDIAN & SINHALESE 175 BC - 1515 AD

This list covers the armies of southern India from the rise of the kingdoms of Cholas, Pandyas, Satiyaputras & Kerelaputras until their final conquest by the major Hindu state of Vijayanagar in 1370 AD. It also includes those of Ceylon (Sri Lanka) until the introduction of firearms. In southern India, elephants were plentiful, but horses were hard to obtain. Cavalry were mediocre and armed with bows or spears. The best foot were Valpera swordsmen in singlet and shorts with small round shields. Villikal archers are described shooting down cavalry. Wild tribes wore skin, grass or bark cloth kilts, put feathers in their hair and were mainly skirmishing archers. Chavers wore only loincloths, oiled their bodies, shaved their heads and had a reputation for ferocity. “Left hand troops” in Chola armies of 980-1279 AD were probably conquered vassals. Sinhalese armies had a core of paid regulars, supported by a numerous militia. References: Armies of the Macedonian and Punic Wars D. Head, Armies of the Middle Ages Volume 2 1. Heath.

II/42b — Tamil Army 301 AD - 1370 AD

List: 1 x General (El), 2 x elephants (El), 1 x cavalry (Cv), 3 x Valpera swordsmen (3Bd), 2 x Villikal archers (3Bw), 1 x Chavers (3/4Wb) or “left hand troops” (7Hd), 2 x wild tribes archers (Ps) or “left hand troops” archers (3Bw)
Terrain: Tropical
Aggression: 3
Enemies:
Allies: II/42d or III/10c

II/42d — Sinhalese Army 301 AD - 1515 AD

List: 1 x General on elephant (El) or in palanquin (Lit), 1 x elephants (El), 2 x Valpera swordsmen (3Bd), 6 x militia (3Bw), 2 x wild tribes archers (Ps)
Terrain: Tropical
Aggression: 0
Enemies: