DBA Armies

IV/68 MEDIEVAL SPANISH & PORTUGUESE 1340 AD - 1515 AD

This list covers the three main Christian armies of the Iberian peninsula (Castile, Aragon & Portugal) and that of all Spain after the union of Castile and Aragon; from the first use of plate armour until the introduction of efficient massed arquebusiers. Spanish and Portuguese colonial forces in Asia, Africa and America were of settler militias and local allies or slaves, so are not covered. Men-at-arms originally wore mail with additional plate leg pieces and tabards, but by 1400 wore full plate armour, had mostly abandoned shields, but wielded light lances over-arm. By Ravenna in 1513, Spanish men-at- arms were fully equal to French and many rode barded horses. They tried to kill opponents’ horses, which the French thought unfair. Jinetes/genets/genitors were light horsemen with 2-3 heavy javelins and light heart-shaped shields. From 1367, they began to acquire helmets and quilted aketons. Cavalls alforrats were a more heavily armoured Aragonese version, adding a lance and mail haubergeon and sometimes plate leg armour. References: Armies of the Middle Ages Vol 11. Heath, A History of Medieval Spain ].F. O’Callaghan.

IV/68a — Portuguese Army 1340 AD - 1494 AD

List: 1 x General (3Kn/4Bd), 3 x men-at-arms (3Kn/4Bd), 1 x ginetes (LH), 1 x spearmen (Sp) or peasants (5Hd), 1 x crossbowmen (4Cb/Ps), 4 x javelinmen (3Ax/Ps), 1 x archers (Ps)
Terrain: Arable
Aggression: 3
Enemies:
Allies: IV/62b

IV/68d — Castilian Army 1340-1478

List: 1 x General (3Kn), 2 x men-at-arms (3Kn), 2 x jinetes (LH), 2 x spearmen (Sp), 2 x javelinmen (3Ax/Ps), 2 x crossbowmen or archers (Ps), 1 x slingers (Ps)
Terrain: Arable
Aggression: 3
Enemies:
Allies: IV/64b

IV/68e — Spanish Army 1495 AD - 1503 AD

List: 1 x General (3Kn), 3 x men-at-arms (3Kn), 2 x jinetes (LH), 2 x pikemen (3Pk), 2 x sword-and-buckler men (3Bd), 2 x crossbowmen or handgunners (Ps)
Terrain: Arable
Aggression: 3
Enemies:
Allies: IV/61

IV/68f — Spanish Army 1504 AD - 1515 AD

List: 1 x General (3Kn), 2 x men-at-arms (3Kn), 1 x jinetes (LH), 4 x pikemen (4Pk), 2 x sword-and-buckler men (3Bd), 2 x hand gunners (Ps)
Terrain: Arable
Aggression: 3
Enemies:
Allies: IV/61