23/03/2023 17:53 Sicilian Normans (Normans of the South) 1035 to 1194.

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Sicilian Normans (Normans of the South) 1035 to
1194
 

Core armies for 1035 AD - 1194AD The following army includes three possible
upgrades for either the general or a subordinate leader, Iron Arm is most appropriate for early armies
when individual lords were striving for dominance, Guiscard is more appropriate for an army up to the
founding of the Kingdom of Sicily (1130) when Robert Guiscard’s cunning ploys brought him to the
forefront of the Norman nobility.  Papal Blessing (Portence) is most appropriate armies of the
Kingdom of Sicily (post 1130).
Troop Type Attack Range Hits Armour Cmnd Unit Min/Max Points Notes
Size
Infantry Infantry 3 - 3 - - 3 2/- 35  
Archers Infantry 2 30 3 - - 3 1/4 40  
Skirm. Inf. Infantry 1 15 3 - - 3 1/4 30 *2
Norman Cavalry 3 - 3 5+ - 3 2/ 110 *1
Cavalry
Southern Cavalry 3 - 3 6+ - 3 -/2 70  
Cavalry
Light Cavalry 2 15 3 6+ - 3 1/4 60 *2
Cavalry
Skirm. Cav. Cavalry 1 15 3 - - 3 1/2 40 *2
General General +2 - - - 9 1 1 125  
Lord Leader +1 - - - 8 1 -/1 80  
Baron Subordinate +1 - - - 8 1 -/2 40  
OPTIONS FOR AN EARLY ARMY 1035-1129AD ONLY.
If your army is an early army then the following alterations are added to the core list. You are only
allowed to field either Guiscard or alternatively Iron Arm not both. See accompanying description for
details.
Varangians Infantry 4 - 3 5+ - 3 -/2 75 *4
Militia Infantry 3 - 3 6+ - 3 -/half 0 *3
Heavy Infantry 3 - 3 5+ - 3 -/half +15 *3
Militia Militia
Southern Cavalry 3 - 3 5+ - 3 Any +30 *1
Cavalry
Guiscard General +2 - - - 9 1 -/1 +10 *9
Iron Arm Subordinate +3 - - - - 8 -/1 +20 *10
OPTIONS FOR A LATER ARMY 1130-1194AD.
This later army cannot have Guiscard or Iron Fist. If your army is a later army then the following
alterations are added to the core list. See accompanying description for details.
Guard Arch. Infantry 3 30 3 6+ - 3 -/1 +10  
Crossbows Infantry 2 30 3 - - 3 -/1 +10  
Norman Norman +D6 - - - - - Any +15 *11
Charge Cavalry

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23/03/2023 17:53 Sicilian Normans (Normans of the South) 1035 to 1194.

Papal Re-roll General’s Command 1 +10 *8

Blessing
 

SPECIAL RULES
*1        Shock                    
*2        Skirmish        
*3        Unreliable
*4        Shieldwall
*5        Unreliable
*6        Knights
*7        Crossbow
*8        Papal Blessing.  The Kings of Sicily were famous for their good works and founded many
religious houses.  Consequently they may call on the Pope for his special blessing this allows the
general to re-roll one failed command once per battle.  This is the same as the Portents upgrade but with
a title more appropriate for the age
*9        Upgrade the General to Guiscard. If the General is upgraded to Robert Guiscard then he may
use his cunning to outwit his opponent.  At the start of the battle, after both sides have deployed but
before any moves are made Guiscard may roll 2D6 and rearrange that number of units and commanders
in any way he sees fit within his normal deployment area.
10*       Iron Arm. Norman adventurers were hungry for power and wealth and being only a couple of
generations removed from their Viking forebears saw personal heroics as an important route to gaining
advancement among their peers.  Probably the most famous example being William d’Hauteville who
killed the Emir of Syracuse with a single blow, earning himself much prestige and the sobriquet 'Iron
Arm'.  One Baron per thousand points can have his attacks increased to 3 dice to reflect this
bloodthirsty attitude and the willingness to lead from the front.
11*    Norman Charge (Vanquishers).  Norman cavalry was famously aggressive and their charge was
regarded by contemporaries as being especially dangerous, to reflect this, any unit of Norman Cavalry
in the later list may be given this upgrade.  The first time in a battle that a unit of Norman Cavalry
charges it gains an extra D6 attacks.  Roll a D6 to determine the number of extra attacks and distribute
them as evenly as possible to the individual stands with no individual stand receiving more than 2 extra
attacks, even if the unit has lost figures.  Note that this can only be given to Norman Cavalry and the
unit must initiate the combat to gain this bonus.

Norman Cavalry. These were often called knights in contemporary sources; equipped with lance and
sword and protected with mail armour and large kite shields they formed the cutting edge of the
Norman armies.

Southern Cavalry. Norman Squires and other locally recruited shock cavalry including Byzantines,
Muslims and Lombards.  Although shock based they have been given a reduced armour save to reflect
the relative light armour favoured by the locals when compared with the Norman invaders.

Light Cavalry. These are Norman and Muslims, the Muslims found the d’Hautevilles benevolent rulers
so were extremely loyal, who providing skirmishing cavalry armed with javelins and shields. These
were prepared to engage in melee if it was to their advantage.

Skirmishing Cavalry. These are lightly equipped units recruited from the Muslims armed with javelins
and shields who fought as skirmishers only.

Varangians. Accounts of the first invasion of Sicily include references to units of northern
“varangians” fighting for the Normans, presumably as freebooters or mercenaries.  That they were so
described implies that they were perceived as being different from the Normans and have been
classified as heavy infantry in the Viking mould similar to the “varangians” in the Rus and Byzantine
lists from whom they were probably drawn.

Infantry. Mercenary and local infantry armed with spears and shields from the towns of Southern Italy,
especially those captured from the Byzantine provided good infantry in the form of local militias.

Archers. Southern Italy and especially the Muslims of Sicily had a long standing archery tradition and
once they had begun to make inroads into the island the Normans quickly adopted the archer as a key
part of their army.

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Militia. Up to half the infantry may be upgraded to town militia from the former Byzantine towns and
cities conquered by the Normans.  Militia enjoy a saving throw of 6+ but were generally reluctant to
serve their new masters and have been classed as unreliable.

Heavy Militia. Up to half the infantry upgraded to militia may have their armour increased to a 5+
save, this represents the tradition of heavier armoured Byzantine militia infantry in the towns and cities
of the old Byzantine holdings, they remain unreliable.

Guard Archers. After the conquest of Sicily the Norman Kings adopted the local tradition of recruiting
local archers as elite bodyguard units, one unit of archers per thousand points may be upgraded,
however this option is not available if the Iron Arm upgrade is taken.

Crossbows. By the middle of the 12th century the crossbow developed sufficiently to warrant being
regarded as a separate weapon from a normal bow and Pope Innocent II at the Second Lateran Council
of 1139 banned it’s use against Christians.  Later armies (from 1130) may upgrade up to two units of
archers to crossbows.

Skirmishing Infantry. These are lightly equipped units recruited from the local Muslims and were
armed with javelins and shields they fought, like their cavalry counterpart, as skirmishers only.

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