DBA Armies

II/55 NOBADES, BLEMMYE & BEJA 30 BC - 1500 AD

The Blemmye were nomads of the desert east of Egypt and Nubia and were subject to the Kushites of Meroe in the first century BC. They began to raid Roman Egypt after the introduction of the camel in the third century AD and conquered its southern frontier, extending control into lower Nubia in the fifth century. They were ejected by the partly Christianised Nobades about 540 AD, but remained in their ancestral desert, where the medieval Arabs knew them as “Beja”. Cavalry are depicted as bareheaded with stylised negroid hair, wearing thigh and elbow length mail or scale shirts over a long sleeved tunic with tight trousers and shoes or half-boot; and armed with bow, spear and small conical shield. They ride unarmoured horses on a sheepskin pad, possibly dyed blue. However, a chamfron has been found and it is possible that some horses may have had more extensive armour. Some foot are depicted with javelins and round shields and foot archers elsewhere with short arrows stuck through their head band. Camel riders are described by Arab sources as dressed in wild animal skins and using long multiply-barbed spears. Reference: Armies and Enemies of Imperial Rome P. Barker.

II/55a — Army of the Nobades or Blemmye 30 BC - 200 BC

List: 1 x General (Cv), 1 x cavalry (Cv), 2 x cavalry (Cv) or spearmen (3Ax), 4 x archers (3Bw or Ps), 4 x spearmen (Sp or 3Ax)
Terrain: Dry
Aggression: 2
Enemies:

II/55b — Blemmye or Nobades Army 201 AD - 831 AD

List: 1 x General (Cv), 2 x cavalry (Cv), 1 x camel riders (LCm) or archers (3Bw), 2 x spearmen on camels (Cm) or on foot (if Nobades army all Sp or if Blemmye army all 3Ax), 2 x spearmen (if Nobades army all Sp or if Blemmye army all 3Ax), 4 x archers (3Bw or Ps)
Terrain: Dry
Aggression: 2
Enemies:

II/55c — Beja Army 832 AD - 1500 AD

List: 1 x General (Cv or LH), 5 x Beja archers (3Bw or Ps), 3 x Beja spearmen (3Ax) or Arab cavalry (LH), 2 x Beja or Arab camelry (Cm) or Arab swordsmen and spearmen (4Bd), 1 x Beja cavalry (LH or Cv) or Arab archers (3Bw or Ps)
Terrain: Dry
Aggression: 2
Enemies:
Allies: III/12