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Book2ArmyListsJune14th08 PDF
Book2ArmyListsJune14th08 PDF
As of 16/08/11
These lists are intended for use with the “De Bellis Magistrorum Militum” wargames rules, more familiarly known as “DBMM”.
While mainly intended for competition games, they also provide a general guide to armies’ troop classification and proportions
for use in conjunction with more detailed sources, such as the W.R.G. army handbooks. Each list is designed to produce 300 AP
to 500 AP armies that closely simulate their real life prototype, while still allowing sufficient flexibility to cover historical
variations during the period and legitimate differences of opinion or personal preference. Most include about 200 AP of
compulsory troops and allow greater freedom of choice for the remainder, this choice diminishing as the size of the army
increases. AP are set to give armies approximately equal combat value over the full range of likely battlefield conditions and
opponents. This is not an exact science!
Most lists correspond to the previous DBM lists compiled by myself and Richard Bodley Scott, but have been extensively
modified; both to provide the extra information required by DBMM, and in the light of 8 years further very high quality research
by many people, including the TNE internet group and members of DBMMlist@yahoogroups.com. It is invidious to name
individuals, but the researches of Duncan Head, Luke Ueda-Sarson and Jim Webster have been especially valuable. Although
these lists have been very much a collective project and consensus has always been sought, this has not always been possible, and
I alone am responsible for the final decisions. Where there is disagreement about the more obscure troop types or only minor
doubt, I have sometimes chosen to specify only the interpretation I think most likely. This has been done not through hubris, but
for the sake of simplicity, and to reduce the scope for tailoring of armies by over-competitive players. Where a decision has been
finely balanced, I have chosen the interpretation producing the most realistic effect against the army’s historical opponents.
The first part of each list comprises troops available throughout the historical time period covered. Some armies then have
additional sub-lists of troops available only to particular historical generals, or only in specific geographical regions, or during
only part of the period. An army including troops only available to a particular general cannot include troops available only to a
different general. An army including troops only available in a particular geographical area cannot include troops available only
in a different geographical area. An army including troops available only in a particular historical period cannot include troops
available only during an incompatible historical period. An army must have a commander-in-chief (C-in-C) and at least one other
general. No army can have more than four generals.
Where troop types are separated by “or”, any mixture of them can be used, unless they are preceded by “all”, in which case, only
one of the types can be used. When a ratio such as “up to ½” is used, this is half those used, not half the maximum permitted.
ALLIES
In most cases foreign allied contingents are specified by reference to their own list. Each such allied contingent must include a
single general, who (unless exceptional reliability causes them to be specified in the employing army’s list as sub-generals) are
ally-generals. Their type can be that of the allied contingent’s list’s specified C-in-C or sub-general. Unless otherwise specified in
a particular list, the allied contingent can otherwise include only compulsory troop types, and must have at least a quarter of the
specified minimum number of elements of each such type. It cannot include more than a third of the specified maximum number
of each such type, or 1 element, whichever is greater. In some cases the maximum total number of elements that can be included
in the allied contingent, including the general but not baggage elements, is specified. An allied command of less than 10 troop
elements cannot have more than 1 baggage element.
Allied troops cannot be used outside their own army’s date range, and can use only those options specified in their own list for
the assisted army’s date, and any minima or maxima for upgrades are modified as above. The full allowance of troops listed in
the form “0-1 per X” can be included for each “X” element included. An allied contingent cannot include allies of its own. Unless
otherwise specified, only one foreign allied contingent of each nationality can be included.
Where foreign allies do not have a suitable list of their own, their contingent is specified as an indented sub-list within a nation’s
main list. In this case the minimum and maximum number of elements of each troop type will be as specified in that sub-list.
Where ally generals are specified un-indented in a nation’s main list, such generals are of the same or a closely related
nationality. Unlike foreign irregular ally generals, they will never change sides except in a civil war, and may then do so whether
regular or irregular. Each such general’s command must, unless stated otherwise, include at least a quarter of the minimum
number of each compulsory troop type. It can also include non-compulsory types. All elements count towards the total number of
each type specified in the list.
NAVAL
Naval elements are included only if they played a significant part in a mainly land battle. Each replaces a land element of the list,
of the type or types that follow it within brackets. For example, a Marian Roman quinquireme element Reg Gal (S) @ 6AP [Bd],
replaces one of the compulsory or optional Blades elements of the army list, and can disembark that element. The AP quoted is
for the quinquireme only. The Blades must still be paid for. Naval elements with no landing troops specified cannot provide
landing parties. AP spent on naval elements are wasted if they have no access on to the table. Their landing troops and baggage
can still be deployed, being assumed to have disembarked and joined the army prior to the battle. Landing troops, whose number
is specified as equal to the number of available vessels, such as marines, seaman or oarsmen, cannot be used unless their vessels
have been paid for.
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FORTIFICATIONS
Any army with BUA listed among its permitted terrain types can have sufficient permanent fortifications (PF) or temporary
fortifications (TF) to enclose the on-table part of a BUA if it is the defender. PF must be part of a BUAf. No other PF are
permitted. TF not enclosing a BUA can only be used if specified by the army’s list. Those specified as defending camps or
baggage must have each end touching their side’s rear battlefield edge or a water feature or marsh and contain baggage. Points
spent on fortifications other than those specified by the army’s list are wasted if the terrain includes no suitable BUA, or the army
is the invader.
RH Rocky gentle low hill. SH Scrubby gentle low hill. GH Bare gentle low hill.
BUA Built-up area. BUAf BUA if optionally allowed PF. FW Frontier wall.
Rd Unpaved roads or frequently used tracks. PRd Paved road.
F Large open fields. E Small enclosed fields. B Boundary hedge or wall.
O Orchard or olive grove. Oa Desert oasis. V Vineyards.
Wd Wood. M Marsh. D Sand dunes.
BF Boggy flat ground. SF Scrub-covered flat ground. RF Rocky flat ground.
G Sunken gully.
Hills are gentle if their slope gives a significant combat advantage but does not slow men or animals unless there is significant
surface cover. Difficult hills have slopes that significantly slow movement, whatever their surface cover. Wooded hills can be
steep or gentle. Slopes that do not give a significant advantage or slow movement are treated as flat ground and not represented
as hills.
The home terrain of an empire is assumed to be that of its heartland or capital, the centre of its power. The home terrain of a
migration is that of the last region occupied before entering on the stage of world history. That of rebellious mercenaries is their
previous area of operations. Terrain types are restricted to those that are typical of the area. Rarer types are allowed only if they
significantly influenced a historical battle or were on a historically used invasion route. An oasis differs from an orchard in being
of palm trees with often an under-crop or pool and usually being larger.
NATURAL ENEMIES
The armies that are most plausible historical enemies are listed by book and army number after the permitted home terrain
LANGUAGE
Place names are those in English language histories and may differ from those in a modern atlas. Personal and technical names
are those used by the people the list covers or their enemies, except for personal names familiar in their anglicised form such as
Philip, Alexander and Pompey. Chinese names are transliterated using the old Wade-Giles system, which (unlike the modern
Pinyin system favoured by the Chinese government) enables an English speaker to approximate Chinese pronunciation. Arabic
names are transliterated by the usual modern system, but older systems differ in spelling not pronunciation - for example
“Khalif” and “Caliph” are obviously the same word.
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ARMIES INCLUDED
1. Republican Indian. 500 BC - 321 BC. 44. Commagene. 163 BC - 17 AD and 38 AD - 72 AD.
2. Mountain Indian. 500 BC - 170 BC. 45. Sicilian and Italian Slave Revolts. 135 BC - 71 BC.
3. Classical Indian. 500 BC - 545 AD. 46. Kushan. 135 BC - 477 AD.
4. Warring States and Ch’in Chinese. 480 BC - 202 BC. 47. Early German. l l5 BC - 250 AD.
5. Later Hoplite Greek. 448 BC - 275 BC (235 BC if 48. Mithridatic. l l0 BC - 47 BC.
Siciliot or Italiot). 49. Marian Roman. 105 BC - 25 BC.
6. Bithynian. 435 BC - 74 BC. 50. Hasmonean Jewish. 103 BC - 63 BC.
7. Later Achaemenid Persian. 420 BC - 329 BC. 51. Late Judaean. 63 BC - 6 AD.
8. Campanian, Apulian, Lucanian or Bruttian. 52. Dacian. 60 BC - 106 AD, Carpi 106 AD - 380 AD.
420 BC - 203 BC. 53. Ancient British. 55 BC - 75 AD.
9. Syracusan. 410 BC - 210 BC. 54. Scots-Irish. 55 BC - 842 AD.
10. Camillan Roman. 400 BC - 275 BC. 55. Nobades and Blemmye or Beja. 30 BC - 1500 AD.
11. Gallic. 400 BC - 50 BC. 56. Early Imperial Roman. 25 BC - 197 AD.
12. Alexandrian Macedonian. 359 BC - 319 BC. 57. Later Moorish. 25 AD - 696 AD.
13. Samnite. 355 BC - 272 BC. 58. Alan. 50 AD - 1500 AD.
14. Ariarathid Kappadokian. 330 BC - 322 BC and 59. Jewish Revolt. 66 AD - 70 AD and 132 - 135 AD.
300 BC - 17 AD. 60. Caledonian. 75 AD - 211 AD.
15. Alexandrian Imperial. 328 BC - 320 BC. 61. Hsien-Pi, Wu-huan, Pre-dynastic Khitan and Hsi.
16. Asiatic Early Successor. 320 BC - 285 BC. 90 AD - 1000 AD.
17. Lysimachid. 320 BC - 281 BC. 62. Abyssinian and Horn of Africa. 100 AD - 1529 AD.
18. Macedonian Early Successor. 320 BC - 260 BC. 63. Three Kingdoms and Western Ts’in Chinese.
19. Seleucid. 320 BC - 69 BC. 189 AD - 316 AD.
20. Ptolemaic. 320 BC - 30 BC. 64. Middle Imperial Roman. 193 AD - 324 AD.
21. Ch’iang and Ti. 315 BC - 417 AD. 65. Early Visigothic. 200 AD - 419 AD.
22. Arabo-Aramaean 312 BC - 240 AD. 66. Early Vandal. 200 AD - 442 AD.
23. Later Pre-Islamic Arab. 312 BC – 633 AD. 67. Early Ostrogothic, Herul, Sciri or Taifali.
24. Early Rhoxolani Sarmatian. 310 BC - 100 AD. 200 AD - 493 AD.
25. Bosporan. 310 BC - 375 AD. 68. Pictish. 211 AD - 842 AD.
26. Siracae, Iazyges, Later Rhoxolani Sarmatians. 69. Sassanid Persian. 220 AD - 637 AD.
310 BC - 375 AD. 70. Burgundi or Limigantes. 250 AD - 534 AD.
27. Pyrrhic. 300 BC - 272 BC. 71. Gepid. 250 AD - 566 AD.
28. Early Armenian and Gordyene. 300 BC - 627 AD. 72. Early Frankish, Alamanni, Quadi, Suevi, Rugian or
29. Tien and K’un-Ming. 295 BC - 45 AD. Turcilingi. 250 AD to 496 AD, 506 AD, 406 AD,
30. Galatian. 280 BC - 25 BC. 584 AD, 487 AD and 493 AD.
31. Hellenistic Greek. 275 BC - 146 BC. 73. Old Saxon, Frisian, Bavarian, Thuringian or
32. Later Carthaginian. 275 BC - 146 BC. Early Anglo-Saxon. 250 AD - 804 AD.
33. Polybian Roman. 275 BC - 105 BC. 74. Palmyran. 260 AD - 273 AD.
34. Attalid Pergamene. 263 BC - 129 BC. 75. Paekche and Kaya Korean. 300 AD - 660 AD.
35. Later Macedonian. 260 BC - 148 BC. 76. Koguryo Korean. 300 AD - 668 AD.
36. Graeco-Bactrian 250 BC - 130 BC 77. Silla Korean. 300 AD - 935 AD.
and Graeco-Indian. 170 BC - 55 BC. 78. Late Imperial Roman. 307 AD – 425 AD.
37. Parthian. 250 BC - 225 AD. 79. Chinese N. and S. Dynasties. 317 AD - 589 AD.
38. Hsiung-Nu or Juan-juan. 250 BC - 555 AD. 80. Hunnic. 356 AD - 570 AD.
39. Ancient Spanish. 240 BC - 20 BC. 81. Sub-Roman British. 407 AD - 1018 AD.
40. Numidian or Early Moorish. 215 BC - 25 AD. 82. Later Visigothic. 419 AD - 720 AD.
41. Han Chinese. 202 BC - 189 AD. 83. Patrician Roman. 425 AD - 493 AD.
42. Tamil Indian and Sinhalese. 175 BC - 1515 AD. 84. African Vandal. 442 AD - 535 AD.
43. Maccabean Jewish. 168 BC - 104 BC.
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6. BITHYNIAN 435 BC - 74 BC
Warm. Ag 1. S, Rv, WH, DH, SH, GH, Wd, O, V, RF, F, Rd, BUA (or after 265 BC BUAf).
E = 1/60, 2/5, 2/6, 2/7, 2/12, 2/14, 2/15, 2/16, 2/17, 2/30, 2/34, 2/48.
C-in-C - Irr Kn (I) in single-based wedge @ 18AP, or Irr LH (O) @ 14AP 1
Sub-general - as above 1-2
Cavalry - up to ¼ Irr Kn (I) in single-based wedge @ 8AP, remainder Irr LH (O) @ 4AP 4-12
Warriors - Irr Ax (O) @ 3AP 30-140
Javelinmen - Irr Ps (I) @ 1AP 8-20
Archers - Irr Ps (O) @ 2AP 4-10
Camp - Irr Bge (O) @ 2AP, or loaded carts - Irr Bge (I) @ 1AP 0-2 per general
Only before 335 BC:
Persian cavalry - Irr Cv (O) @ 7AP 0-4
Only from 280 BC to 253 BC:
Heraklean or other Greek allies - List Later Hoplite Greek (Bk 2/5) or Hellenistic Greek (Bk 2/31)
Only from 278 BC:
Galatian allies - List: Galatian (Bk 2/30)
Only after 265 BC:
Regrade generals to Reg Cv (O) @ 28AP All
Regrade cavalry to up to ¼ Reg LH (O) @ 5AP, remainder Reg Cv (O) @ 8AP All
Upgrade warriors to thureophoroi - Reg Ax (S) @ 5AP ½ to all
Upgrade javelinmen to Reg Ps (S) @ 3AP [can support Cv] Any
European Thracian mercenaries - Irr Ax (S) @ 4AP 0-12
Trieres - Reg Gal (F) @ 4AP [Ax] or tetreres - Reg Gal (O) @ 5AP [Reg Ax] 0-4
Only after 179 BC:
Paphlagonian ally-general commanding all and only Paphlagonians - Irr Cv (O) @ 12AP or Irr LH (O) @ 9AP *1
Paphlagonian horse - Irr LH (O) @ 4AP *2-6
Paphlagonian foot - Irr Ax (O) @ 3AP *4-12
Paphlagonian pack-mules - Irr Bge (F) @ 2AP 0-2
The Bithynians were a Thracian people occupying the NW corner of Asia Minor. The list runs from independence from
Persia until Nikomedes III’s bequest of his kingdom to Rome. A local dynast, Ziboetes, declared himself king in 297 BC.
Successive kings increasingly Hellenised the country. Early foot fought with javelins; there is no evidence for long spear or
rhomphaia. 2nd century BC stelae show Hellenised thureophoroi and armoured cavalry; one mentions infantry operating with
advance cavalry. Persian cavalry were provided against the Ten Thousand. The Galatians were invited into Asia by
Nikomedes I for a Bithynian civil war. Paphlagonia was a buffer against Pontus from 179 BC. Minima marked * apply only
if Paphlagonians are used. Greek allies can include naval.
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This list covers the period from the presumed death from old age of the last Macedonian elephants to the incorporation of
Macedonia as a Roman province. Guard phalangites include the Agema and the other pikemen somewhat confusingly called
“Peltasts”. The fleet of Philip V was an interesting combination of unusually large warships supported by open lembi which
harassed their giant opponents by tricks such as attacking their rudders or roping themselves to the oars! Perseus’ anti-elephant
specialists in spiked armour were a failure.
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engage these first with a front line of auxilia, as was normal Roman practice. Equites alares and cohortales can always dismount
as Ax (S). Bd (I) cannot provide rear support for Bd (O). Troops marked [V] can only be used by Vitellius, those marked [O] by
Otho, those marked [C] by Petillius Cerialis. Symmachiarii were irregular specialists organised in small units called numeri.
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cataphracts in complete metal armour on armoured horses became available after the submission of the Parthian noble families
who appear later among the great noble houses of the Sassanids. They were certainly present during the 4th century wars
described by Ammianus, together with a majority type with bow only on leather armoured horses, but are not mentioned by
Procopius and do not appear in the Strategikon of Maurikios, which states that Sassanid cavalry had neither lance nor shield.
We assume they ceased at roughly the same time as those of their Roman opponents. Khusrau I is said by a late Arab source to
have passed laws to standardise equipment on lance, shield, knee length mail, coat-of-plates, bow and horse armour, but this
elsewhere says only that he required asavaran to be skilled with mace, sword and bow. There is only one depiction of a horse
armoured in front only that of Khusrau II, (who came to the throne from exile with Byzantine assistance) who is depicted with
mail shirt, round shield, lance and bow. Sassanid bows are said by contemporaries to have been weaker than the Hunnic bow
adopted by the Romans, but to have shot faster. It has been postulated that the stationary fast-shooting archery techniques used
successfully by the Mamluks against the Mongols may derive from Sassanid practice transmitted via Khorasan. Parthian style
unarmoured horse archers are depicted fighting Arabs and Ethiopians. Nearly all evidence for archery is consistent with it being
by cavalrymen, though sometimes dismounted. Accordingly, Cv (S) can always dismount. Peasant levy spearmen with large
rectangular cane and leather shields were mostly brought along as camp labour and for siege work, but were not entirely useless
in open battle. While dekhans were individually summoned to the army, infantry were recruited by a numerical levy on specific
villages. Track was kept of dekhan casualties by each man depositing an arrow at the start of the campaign and taking it back at
the end. Infantry casualties do not seem to have been recorded. Elephant escorts were greatly enlarged after the last Byzantine
war, probably in compensation for unusually heavy elephant losses. The camp was surrounded by a ditch and parapet, but held
only accommodation tents, other baggage and animals being grouped at a distance outside. Half the baggage elements can
therefore be represented as tents and protected by TF, the remainder as animals outside. Extensive use was made of stone frontier
fortresses, towers and even walls. How these were garrisoned is unclear. The minimum marked * applies only if any non-allied
infantry except Daylami are used. Arabs cannot be used with other allies. The last allied Lakhmid Arab prince was deposed by
the Persians in 602. 26,000 or 36,000 embittered Jews joined the Sassanids when they invaded Palestine in 614. The minimum
marked ** applies if any such are used.
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73. OLD SAXON, FRISIAN, BAVARIAN, THURINGIAN OR EARLY ANGLO-SAXON 250 AD - 804
AD
Cool. Ag 2. Rv, DH, RH, GH, Wd, M, BF, F, M, Rd, BUA. Only Frisians: M. Only Thuringians: Wd. Only Old Saxons, Anglo-Saxons
or Frisians: S.
E = 2/64, 2/68, 2/72, 2/73, 2/78, 2/81, 2/83, 3/1, 3/2, 3/3, 3/5, 3/13, 3/19, 3/21, 3/28.
C-in-C - Irr Wb (S) @ 15AP or Irr mtd Wb (S) @ 16AP 1
Sub-general - as above 1-2
Noble warriors - Irr Wb (S) @ 5AP 8-16
Horses to mount noble warriors @ 1AP All/0
Peasant spearmen - Irr Wb (O) @ 3AP 44-138
Archers - Irr Ps (O) @ 2AP 0-8
Scouts - Irr Ps (S) @ 3AP 0-5
Levy scrapings - Irr Hd (O) @ 1AP 0-12
Camp - Irr Bge (O) @ 2AP, or flocks and herds - Irr Bge (I) @ 1AP 0-2 per general
Only Saxons or Frisians:
Keels - Irr Bts (O) @ 2AP [Wb] 0-4
Only Bavarians from 769 AD to 788 AD:
Avar allies - List: Avar (Bk 3/13)
Western Slav allies - List: Early Slav (Bk 3/1)
This list covers Old Saxons, Frisians, Bavarians and Thuringians until their absorption by the Franks in 804, 690, 788 and 531 AD
respectively, the Thuringian and Saxon revolt of 555, and the Anglo-Saxons from Hengist’s arrival in Britain circa 428 until the
accession of Edwin of Northumbria circa 617 after the disappearance of the lowland Romano-British states. Noble warriors thought
themselves much superior to their followers, initially used a proportion of heavy throwing weapons, and were increasingly likely as time
went on to have helmets and mail.
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say the word “Arthur” and maintain that Riothamus must have sailed from Brittany to Gaul, solely on the grounds that no
mainland British state was capable of providing such an army. One might with more justice conclude that a collection of
immigrants would be even less likely to have the resources. 470 is therefore a convenient date for the end of a regular army, with
the survivors being settled among earlier immigrants in Armorica/Brittany. What form this army could have taken is conjectural,
but the field army of the Comes Britanniarum was probably billeted on the cities of Prima. While most units are duplicated in
Gaul or Spain, so never returned after Constantine’s campaign, others were either destroyed or never left. These were the Equites
Catafractarii Iuniores, Equites Syri (since associated with the Equites Taifali, of a neighbouring Gothic/Sarmatian nation,
probably an error for Scyri), Equites Scutarii Aureliaci (just possibly associated with the family of Ambrosius Aurelianus) and
the commitatenses legion Primani Iuniores. The Primani are a problem, becomes the only other time the name occurs is in the
eastern Notitia of 395 as palatine legion under the Magister Militum Praesentalis II, which would not only have had to move a
long way but been demoted. It is slightly tempting to postulate a new creation to balance the Secundani Iuniores (created from
Legio II Augusta) and named for Britannia Prima. The following period is depicted in a diatribe by the monk Gildas as one of
renewed Sazon expansion and the British fractured into a patchwork of squabbling kinglets. Salisbury fell in 552, Bedford in 571,
Bath, Gloucester and Cirencester all fell in 577 as a result of the battle of Dyrham and York fell in 580. The remaining lowland
states were incorporated by Mercia as going concerns (the Wrocensaete, Magonsaete and Hwicce of the Burghal Hideage) in the
7th century. After 577, the list continues to cover the north British states of Gododdin until 638, Rheged until 685 and Strathclyde
until the death of its last king in 1018, the far south-western kingdom of Dumnonia until 936, Armorica until replaced in 580 by
the Breton list (Bk.3/18), and Wales until replaced in 580 by the Welsh (Bk 3/19). Ditch and bank field defences represent lines
such as Wansdyke. 1,000 praying monks at a battle in 614 AD were attacked by a pagan opponent who decided that those who
invoked the gods against him were not non-combatants. Arthur is allowed to be Brilliant on the fairly specious grounds of his far
apart victories requiring exceptional mobility, his being credited with thousands killed by his hand alone, and because he is quite
frankly, a hero.
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more limited extent training, crept in with continuous service, as suggested in List 78 and as was certainly the case later with
Byzantine foederati. They were not allotted land until 476. Odovacar used field defences against the Goths. Isaurians are
described as like Lykians, as undisciplined, as “fast-running” and sometimes incorrectly as archers, from the cognomen of Legio
Prima Isaura Sagittaria. The traditional version of this army can offer an interesting and powerful combination of steady regulars
and fierce barbarians under regular generals.
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