DBA Armies

II/72 EARLY FRANKISH, ALAMANNIC, SUEVI, QUADI, RUGIAN & TURCILINGI 250 AD - 496 AD , 506 AD , 406 AD , 584 AD , 487 AD & 493 AD

All these German tribes repeatedly attacked the West Roman Rhine frontier; and the first two finally took over most of Roman Gaul. The Alamanni are described as red haired “of huge size” “savage and uncontrollable”, exhibiting “extreme resolution” and once as charging led by the dismounted king and “fiery” nobles “fighting in frenzied rage”. The Franks were the most successful in the end and absorbed most of Alamannic Gaul by 506. Their name derives from their favourite throwing axes “francisca”. They wore horizontally-striped shirts and hairy shoes. Suevi was a collective term for the German tribes of the upper Danube (including Quadi, Marcomanni & some of the Alamanni) that invaded across the frozen Rhine in 406, crossed into Spain in 409 and set up a kingdom in its north-west comer, which was absorbed by the Visigoths in 584. Rugians were based across the upper Danube in Bohemia and vanish from history after a defeat by Odovacar’s Patrician Roman army in 487 while invading Illyria. The Turcilingi were associated with the Rugians in Roman service. The Germans now fought with large round or oval shields, heavier throwing spears called “bebrae” and long swords in dense formations, though only rich nobles had helmets and armour. The Alamanni had learned mass archery. References: Armies and Enemies of Imperial Rome P. Barker, Armies of the Dark Ages 1. Heath, Emperor Prefects & Kings P.S. Barnwell.

II/72a — Quadi Army 25 0406 AD

List: 1 x General (3Kn), 10 x warriors (4Wb), 1 x javelinmen (Ps)
Terrain: Forest
Aggression: 3
Enemies:
Allies: II/26

II/72b — Alamanni Army 250 AD - 506 AD

List: 1 x General on horseback (Cv//4Wb), 7 x warriors (4Wb), 3 x archers (3Bw) or levies (7Hd), 1 x javelinmen (Ps)
Terrain: Forest if until 406 AD, Arable if from 406 AD
Aggression: 3
Enemies:
Allies: (II/67b and/or II/70a) or II/72a or II/72d

II/72c — Suevi Army 250 AD - 584 AD

List: 1 x General (3Kn), 8 x warriors (4Wb), 2 x archers (3Bw or 2Ps), 1 x javelinmen (Ps)
Terrain: Forest if until 406 AD, Arable if from 406 AD
Aggression: 3
Enemies:
Allies: II/67b or II/78a or II/82
⚠ Unresolved allies: II/82

II/72d — Other Early Frankish, Rugian or Turcilingi Armies 250 AD - 496 AD

List: 1 x General on horseback (Cv) or on foot (4Wb), 10 x warriors (4WD), 1 x archers or javelinmen (Ps)
Terrain: Forest if until 406 AD, Arable if from 406 AD
Aggression: 3
Enemies:
Allies: II/72b