DBA Armies

IV/2 CILICIAN ARMENIAN 1071 AD - 1375 AD

This list covers the Armenians of Cilicia/Kilikia on the southern coast of modern Turkey from their gaining independence from the Byzantines after Manzikert 1071 until the conquest of their kingdom by the Mamluks. After a period of local groups mainly living in the hills and temporising with Seljuks and Byzantines, from 1075 they were ruled by a prince, the last of whom made them into a kingdom in 1198. King Hethum travelled to meet the Mongol ruler Mongke in 1255, willingly submitted to the Mongols in the hope of help against the Rum Seljugs; and then, with his son-in-law Bohemond VI of Antioch and Tripoli, helped the Mongols storm Aleppo in 1260. In 1263 his army included 150 Armenians dressed as Mongols to further demoralize the enemy. The Armenians remained loyal to the Ilkhanid branch of the Mongols thereafter, thus incurring the wrath of the Mamluks. The Crusading military orders held castles in Cilicia long after the loss of their fortresses in Palestine. After the fall of the Crusader kingdom, Cilicia was heavily influenced by Lusignan-ruled Cyprus and recruited Frankish mercenary foot soldiers from there. Whether the armoured foot spearmen depicted in art are native Armenians or Franks is a matter of opinion. References: Armies and Enemies of the Crusades 1. Heath, Armies of the Middle Ages Vol 2 1. Heath.

IV/2 — Cilician Armenian Army 1071 AD - 1375 AD

List: 1 x General (3Kn), 2 x Armenian nobles (3Kn), 6 x Armenian javelinmen (3Ax) or spearmen (4Sp), 2 x Armenian archers (3Bw or Ps), 1 x Armenian archers (Ps) or Bedouin (LH) or Crusader orders (3Kn) or Frankish crossbowmen (4Cb) or Armenians disguised as Mongols (LH)
Terrain: Hilly
Aggression: 1
Enemies:
Allies: III/74a or IV/7 or IV/17 or IV/26 or IV/46