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FATIMID EGYPTIAN 969 AD - 1171 AD
This list covers Fatimid armies from their conquest of Egypt until their replacement by the Ayyubid dynasty founded by Saladin. The army consisted of 3 broad ethnic groups intended to counter-balance each other politically; Westerners (initially mostly Berbers), Easterners (mamluks and Dailami) and ‘abid al-shira (East African slave troops). ‘Abid fought with dense showers of javelins followed up with swords. References: Armies of the Dark Ages 1. Heath, Armies & Enemies of the Crusades 1. Heath, Slingshot 150, 151 & 238.