DBA Armies

This list covers Irish armies from the adoption of cavalry by the Irish until the first recorded use of firearms. Aggression is set at 0 because all battles were in Ireland. Each Irish cavalryman in helmet and mail shirt and armed with javelins was accompanied by unarmoured horseboys who fought with him. Their skirmishing mode of combat and reluctance to stand up to Anglo-Irish cavalry causes their classification as LH. The Scots option reflects Edward Bruce’s attempt to make himself King of Ireland. To what extent his army of 6,000 corresponded to the types in a Scottish army at home is uncertain, but it did always fight on foot. Since the Common Army spearmen had no obligation to serve abroad, it may have been entirely feudal men-at-arms, Highland archers and Islesmen. Most Irish foot were javelin-armed kerns, some also having light axes; but hereditary families of Scots-descended “galloglaich” came to be preeminent. These wore acorn helmet and mail or a quilted cotun and were armed with a long axe, a sword and javelins. Scots can only be used with a Scots general. References: Armies of the Middle Ages Vol 11. Heath, Irish Battles G.A. Hayes-McCoy, Slingshot 219, 263, 264, 265, 273, 274, 278, Robert the Bruce’s Irish Wars: The Invasions of Ireland S. Duffy.