DBA Armies

III/39 LATE T’ANG & FIVE DYNASTIES CHINESE 755 AD - 979 AD

After defeats on several fronts in the 750s, the T’ang empire of China was rocked by An Lu-Shan’s rebellion of 755 AD and dissolved into anarchy; and in 907 was replaced by the first of the “Five Dynasties”; which then successively ruled North China. This list first covers the Late T’ang army (not to be confused with the “Later T’ang”, the Sha-t’o-ruled second of the Five Dynasties, nor with the “Southern T’ang”, one of the “Ten Kingdoms”), then the first and last of the “Five Dynasties” (the “Later Liang” and the “Later Chou”; and the Ten Kingdoms of the south and outlying regions. The other three of the “Five Dynasties” were ruled by the Sha-t’o Turks and are covered by list III/42. Cavalry had lance and bow but no shield, wore helmets, lamellar corslets extending to the elbow and lamellar chaps covering the front of their legs, and rode unarmoured horses. Foot include both regulars and well-trained militia. Some foot had long spears but no shields. Most battles were inside China in terrain unsuitable for horsemen. The Southern Han kingdom had not only a strong field- artillery force but the only standing war-elephant corps in Chinese history. References: Soldiers of the Dragon C. Peers, The Army of Tang China K.H. Ranitzsch, Medieval Chinese Warfare 300-900 D.A. Graff, Defending Heaven J. Waterson.

III/39 — Late T’ang or Five Dynasties Army 755 AD - 979 AD

List: 1 x General (Cv), 1 x cavalry (Cv), 2 x crossbowmen (3/4Cb), 2 x archers (3Bw or Ps), 2 x spearmen (3Pk or Sp), 2 x vanguard swordsmen (3Bd), 2 x poorly-trained militia (7Hd) or Southern tribesmen (3Wb or if Zhuang 4Ax) or tribal horse archers (LH) or [if Southern Han 1 x elephants (El) + 1 x stone or bolt-throwers (Art))
Terrain: Arable
Aggression: 1
Enemies:
Allies: II/61d or III/11a or III/15 or III/36 or III/42a or III/42b or III/56