DBA Armies

III/64 GHAZNAVID 962 AD - 1186 AD

This list covers the armies of the Ghaznavid state centred on the town of Ghazni in modern Afghanistan; from its foundation by a Turkic ghulam general revolting against the Samanids, through the conquest of northern India by Sultan Mahmud 1001-1024 andthe loss of all but their Indian territories to the Seljuks by 1055, until their final destruction by Mohammed of Ghur in 1186. Ghulams in ceremonial dress are depicted in palace wall paintings. They are not uniformly clad, but wear long highly decorated coats and their weapons and shields are described as ornamented in silver and gold. Senior members of the corps carried maces. It is uncertain whether all had lance as well as bow and curved sword. Standards were black with a silver moon and phoenix (or lion for palace ghulams). Regular foot had short spear and/or bow, short sword, shield and mail corslet. Elephants were armoured, but horses were not. References: Armies of the Dark Ages 1. Heath, Slingshot 73, 74 & 75.

III/64a — Ghaznavid Army 962 AD - 1001 AD

List: 1 x General with palace ghulams (Cv), 5 x other ghulams (Cv), 2 x Turkish, Tajik or similar nomad horse archers (LH), 1 x Arab or Kurd horse (LH), 2 x regular infantry (Sp or 4Bw), 1 x Afghans (3Pk) or Dailami (4Ax) or ghazi (3WDb)
Terrain: Dry
Aggression: 3
Enemies:

III/64b — Ghaznavid Army 1002 AD - 1186 AD

List: 1 x General (Cv) or (El), 1 x armoured elephants (El), 3 x ghulams (Cv), 1 x nomad horse archers (LH) or Afghans (3Pk), 1 x Arabs or Kurds (LH), 2 x regular infantry (Sp or 4Bw), 1 x Indian swordsmen (3Bd) or ghazis (3WDb), 2 x Indian archers (3Bw)
Terrain: Dry
Aggression: 3
Enemies:
Allies: III/10b or III/11b