DBA Armies

II/69 SASSANID PERSIAN 220 AD - 651 AD

This list covers the Sassanid dynasty of Persia from their revolt against the Parthian Arsacids until their extinction by the Arabs. Aggression is high because they regarded themselves as heirs to the Achaemenids and claimed all the territories these had ever owned, unfortunately including most of the contemporary eastern Roman empire. Early depictions show mail-shirted kings and princes with heavy lance and bow charging at the gallop on leather or felt-armoured horses. A limited number of Parthian style cataphracts (4Kn) became available as the former Parthian noble families became assimilated, providing a striking force of lancers in full metal armour incorporating tubular arm and leg defences and masked helmets riding metal-armoured horses. The strength of the army was the asavaran. During the revolt, these may have been Parthian-style horse archers, but as they became minor aristocrats ruling subject peasants, they wore mail shirts, rode horses in full leather or felt protection (or occasionally frontal metal half-armour) and were armed with bow and heavy sword. They shot faster but less powerfully than Huns or Byzantines. The archers mentioned on foot in sieges were probably dismounted asavaran. Peasant levy spearmen with rectangular cane-reinforced rawhide shields were brought for camp labour, but formed a rear line in battle. War elephants are first attested in 337, and could not have been available before 260. They were not used to fight cavalry, but only positioned behind the infantry or to head desperate assaults. Several are reported being killed by Late Roman legionaries and auxilia palatina. They are described as having frontal armour “with terrifying crests” or as carrying towers with archers. Vassal nations provided horse archers and Dailami and other hill tribes mercenary infantry. The most useful guides to Sassanid warfare are the Roman and Byzantine accounts of the army in action. References: Armies and Enemies of Imperial Rome P. Barker, Armies of the Dark Ages 1. Heath, Roman Histories Ammianus Marcellinus, History of the Wars Procopius, Maurice’s Strategicon G.T. Dennis (trans), Rome and Persia at War 502-532 G. Greatrex, Warrior of Rome (series) H. Sidebottom (novels).

II/69a — Sassanid Persian Army 220 AD - 224 AD

List: 1 x General (3Kn), 2 x nobles (3Kn) or asavaran (Cv or LH), 6 x asavaran (Cv or LH), 1 x nomad horse archers (LH) or archers and slingers (Ps), 2 x levies (Hd) or nomad horse archers (LH)
Terrain: Arable
Aggression: 3
Enemies:

II/69b — Sassanid Persian Army 225 AD - 493 AD

List: 1 x General (Cv), 1 x cataphracts (4Kn), 4 x asavaran (Cv), 1 x elephants (El) or asavaran (Cv), 1 x asavaran (Cv) or nomad or vassal horse archers (LH), 1 x asavaran (Cv) or archers and slingers (Ps), 1 x nomad or vassal horse archers (LH) or Arabs (LH) or Dailami (4Ax) or other hillmen (3Ax), 2 x levies (7Hd)
Terrain: Arable
Aggression: 3
Enemies:
Allies: II/23a or II/28c or II/46b or II/80b or II/80d

II/69c — Sassanid Persian Army 494 AD - 651 AD

List: 1 x General on elevated golden throne (Lit) or on horse (Cv or 4Kn), 5 x asavaran (Cv), 1 x nomad or vassal horse archers (LH), 1 x elephants (El) or asavaran (Cv), 1 x archers and slingers (Ps) or hired Arabs (LH), 1 x Dailami (4Ax or 3Bd) or Asavaran (Cv), 2 x levies (7Hd) or hired Arabs (LH)
Terrain: Arable
Aggression: 3
Enemies:
Allies: II/23a or II/28c or II/58 or II/80 or III/11b
⚠ Unresolved allies: II/80