DBA Armies

This list covers the Catalan Grand Company from its departure from Sicily until the fall to the Florentines of the last citadel of the state it founded in Greece in 1311. During the interval it fought for both Byzantines and Romanian Franks, was short- changed by both, took a horrid revenge on both, and beat every Turkish, Byzantine and Frankish army that got in its way. It included an elite of Aragonese gentry and a bulk of Catalan almughavars and skirmishers. Almughavars were swarthy, with long black hair and wild beards, wearing tunic, leather cap and a fur jacket; and armed with thrusting spear, 3-4 heavy javelins and a short sword, but no shield. On one occasion, a single almughavar officer beat 5 mounted French men-at-arms. Despite leaving Aragonese service under a cloud after backing the wrong heir, the company continued to fight under the banner of Aragon (yellow with horizontal red stripes). After the Byzantine assassination of its great leader Roger de Flor in 1305, the general’s element usually represents a quarreling committee. Alan allies (11/58) had previously been hired by the Byzantines to assist the company, but relations ranged from veiled to naked hostility. Alans cannot be used with Turks.References: Armies of the Middle Ages Vol 1 & Vol 2 1. Heath, The Catalan Vengeance A. Lowe, Slingshot 230.