DBA Armies

III/65 NIKEPHORIAN BYZANTINE 963 AD - 1042 AD

This list covers Byzantine armies from the accession of the first of the soldier emperors Nikephoros 11 Phokas (963-969), lIoannes “John” I Tzimiskes (969-976) and Vasileios II Bulgaroktonos “Basil the Bulgar-basher” (976-1025) until the military economies of Konstantinos IX. Arab dissension and the impact of the Rus enabled the Byzantines to regain large swathes of territory in Syria and in the Balkans. Their new professional army replaced the part-time soldiers of the Thematic System. Klibanophoroi were heavily armoured men with normal sized shields on completely felt or leather armoured horses; who fought in a deep wedge aimed at the enemy general. They are best represented by a double element (in front 2 figures armed with maces and behind them 2 lesser-armoured archers flanked by lancers). Their last use in battle was 971. They were flanked by conventional armoured kavallarioi, best represented by a base containg 1 archer and 2 lancer figures. “Out- flankers” and “flank guards” were armoured horse archers. Skoutatoi wore textile armour and felt caps and are best represented as a double element with the first row with pike and long shield and the second of archers. They are classed as Bow because their function was continuous protected archery and they were supplied with vast quantities of arrows. Menavlatoi had the same armour, but smaller shields like those of javelinmen, and were armed with a spear with a 15” head and a 6’ shaft “as thick as a man can grasp”. They were thought to be a good defence against enemy klibanophoroi. References: Armies of the Dark Ages 1. Heath, Sowing the Dragon’s Teeth E. Mc Geer, (Campaign Organisation and Tactics in) Three Byzantine Military Treatises G.T. Dennis, The Byzantine Wars J. Haldon.

III/65 — Nikephorian Byzantine Army 963 AD - 1042 AD

List: 1 x General (Cv), 1 x klibanophoroi (6Kn) or Varangian mercenaries (4Bd), 4 x kavallarioi (Cv), 1 x advance-guard, out-flankers or flank guards (LH), 3 x skoutatoi (8Bw), 1 x skoutatoi (8Bw) or archers (Ps), 1 x Rus (3Ax) or other javelinmen (Ps) or menavlatoi (3Bd)
Terrain: Arable
Aggression: 4
Enemies:
Allies: III/21b or III/48 or III/51 or III/54a or II/71a
⚠ Unresolved allies: II/71A