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Historia Normannis Byzantine Military Regulations

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Historia Normannis Byzantine Military Regulations Historia Normannis +Deus Vult+ Byzantine Military Regulations v.2.1a Historia Normannis – Byzantine Military Regulations (DV) Index - Introduction: The Byzantine Empire - Rank in terms of the Thema o Skirmishers o Light Infantry o Heavy Infantry o Officers o Mercenaries - Wargear By Rank o Skirmishers and Archers ▪ Psiloi ▪ Toxotai (A) o Infantry ▪ Menavliatoi ▪ Peltastoi ▪ Hoplitai ▪ Skutatoi o Officers ▪ Dekerhios ▪ Kenterios ▪ Tagmatarch o Mercenaries ▪ Pechnegs (A) ▪ Armenians ▪ Varangi - Wargear Definitions and Regulations o Weapons and Shields ▪ Eastern Knife ▪ Spathion ▪ Paramenion ▪ Tabar ▪ Makron ▪ Menavliaton ▪ Eastern Bow ▪ Javelins ▪ Eastern Buckler ▪ Byzantine Roundshield ▪ Byzantine Kiteshield 2 Historia Normannis – Byzantine Military Regulations (DV) o Helms and Body armour ▪ Padded Cap and Turban ▪ Byzantine Helm ▪ Byzantine Gambeson ▪ Klivanion o Leg Armour ▪ Greaves ▪ Mouzakia ▪ Krepides - Byzantine Military Clothing and Attire - Tagma Colours and Practices 3 Historia Normannis – Byzantine Military Regulations (DV) Introduction: The Byzantine Empire The Byzantine Empire was ancient by the time of the Crusades, charting a clear line of decent from the Roman Empire and thence the Roman Republic itself. By Normannis’ period of interest, Constantinople had become a melting pot of cultures where elements of the Roman, Syrian and European cultures comingled. Western cultural influence had begun to restructure the society and the military of Byzantium- moving away from the well organised state regiments and towards a form of quasi-feudalism. The Byzantine military model was an odd hybrid by the 12th century- most of the central military practises relied on the Macedonian Greek model- large phalanxes of spear-wielding troops supported by missile and cavalry forces. The predominance of the heavy infantry had somewhat declined in response to contact with the Syrian East, as cavalry archery had rendered the solely defensive formation redundant. To adapt the Byzantine world had turned its eyes Westward, and begun to emulate the armoured ‘knights’ of Europe- forming strong heavy cavalry forces designed to smash through Syrian formations. More auxiliary light cavalry forces were incorporated into the Byzantine force- so that enemy light skirmishers could be met by light skirmishing troops in turn. Mercenaries increasingly bulked out ever decreasing Byzantine forces- Alan and Norman heavy cavalry, Pechneg light cavalry, Varangian heavy infantry and Armenian infantry began to replace native troops. Byzantine Military Forces in Normannis Members wishing to portray Byzantine troops will be, for the most part, required to acquire a distinct second set of equipment- some of their existing equipment may be allowed, but not a great deal of it (with the exception of the Varangi). The nature of the Byzantine army will also require a more ‘strict’ adherence to a set of military drill and style of combat in addition to the separate equipment and a far more ‘military’ Encampment, given that Byzantium still had the remnants of a state army and thus formalised and codified regulations to follow. The Byzantine forces portrayed in Normannis are all of a single ‘Thema’ or ‘Tagma’- essentially the Byzantine equivalent of a Roman Legion. Therefore all troops bear a single shield (a blue shield with a golden yellow border) and fit somewhere within a standard Byzantine infantry unit’s makeup. Some members can portray mercenaries attached to the Thema from other units- Varangians, Pechnegs or Armenians- these troops bear red shields bordered with blue and gold alternating stripes (to mark their attachment to the Thema). 4 Historia Normannis – Byzantine Military Regulations (DV) Rank In Terms of the Thema Unlike some of the other regulation expansion, the Normannis rank system does not directly translate across in a rank-to-rank manner. Instead, the ranks are offered more as ‘bands’ depending on your Normannis Tier and therefore field experience. As such it is far more down to individual members who have completed their Norman kit impression to select a Byzantine kit impression to aim for within a band, depending on how much or how little gear they wish to purchase/acquire. As with all combat regulations, members may portray a lower Tier impression than their own. As of the release of the 2017-18 Byzantine Regulations, the armour impressions have been simplified to the ‘bands’ listed below- Skirmishers, Light Infantry, Heavy Infantry and Officers. The only variation between the roles of the battlefield within a rank are the weapons section. This means the Byzantine army will be taking on a more uniform look and feel for the coming seasons, as well as being far easier for members to switch roles within a ‘band’ readily. Skirmishers Only the Psiloi are included in this category- their role in Byzantine military practise wass to sieze territory ahead of the main army, and harass and provoke the main body of the enemy into combat. They would be of little use in a head-on confrontation with a well-equipped foe, but their light gear and manoueverability allowed them to be used in flanking manouevers when the main battle was met. Light Infantry Field armies were expected to have lightly equipped infantry, who either functioned in a second-or-third rank support role, or fought in looser formations at the flanks. These men were typically equipped with padded armour or lighter forms of lamellar, designed to deflect glancing blows or help resist ranged attack. Heavy Infantry The remaining ‘core’ of Roman influence in the Byzantine army was evident in their heavy infantry- especially the ‘shield bearing’ men who were expected to hold a steady front rank behind which subsequent lines of spearmen could form a deep phalanx. These men were deployed as the ‘anvil’ on which generals would seek to break enemy forces- usually sweeping them in with the ‘hammer’ of cavalry. 5 Historia Normannis – Byzantine Military Regulations (DV) Officers Commanding Byzantine forces were experienced commanders who were considered ‘officers’. These men were typically of Byzantine stock- though some second generation mercenary families would make their way into their ranks in time. These men were well equipped and formally trained in officer ‘academies’, but tended towards conservative, classical-world strategy and often led from the rear, in the traditional Roman manner. Mercenaries As mentioned above, the spine of the Byzantine army was increasingly the mercenary corps- Varangian heavy shock infantry, Armenian cavalry and Pechneg light cavalry. These troops fulfilled specialised roles and were usually deployed to the flanks of the deep central infantry formations. 6 Historia Normannis – Byzantine Military Regulations (DV) Skirmishers (T1 and Above) Psiloi (A) These men were the most lightly equipped Byzantine troops in the field- unarmoured skirmishers who used a variety of ranged weapons to cause moderate causalities amongst the oncoming enemy and disrupt their formations. Light Infantry (T1 and Above) Archers Psiloi (A) These men were the most lightly equipped Byzantine troops in the field- unarmoured skirmishers who used a variety of ranged weapons to cause moderate causalities amongst the oncoming enemy and disrupt their formations. Toxotai (A) These were the more regular line-infantry archers. Where the Psiloi went in front of the infantry lines to throw javelins and lay down disrupting showers of arrows, the Toxotai stood in regular ranks to the rear of the infantry and dropped regular volleys on blocks of enemy troops. Infantry Menavliatoi The Menavliaton was a bill-like spear, mounted on a thicker haft and designed to be wielded in closer quarters than the long spears and pikes of the infantry block. These men stood in the front-most ranks of the spear line and broke up enemy infantry or cavalry charges that came into contact with the phalanx. These troops were also used to oppose flanking actions when the longer makrons of the Hoplitai had been engaged and could not readily be disengaged. Peltastoi The Peltastes were the light infantry section of the Thema- men trained to fight in relatively loose order at the flanks or in front of the main line to disrupt enemies who had broken through the screen of Psiloi. These men would also make up the majority of advanced units sent to sieze and hold territory on the battlefield when it was clear that the opposition would be too heavy for Psiloi. 7 Historia Normannis – Byzantine Military Regulations (DV) Heavy Infantry (T3 and Above) Hoplitai Like the Skutatoi these men formed the solid block infantry of the Byzantine empire- they wielded the ‘Makron’ or long spear, and stood in close formation to present a hedge of points at both infantry and cavalry. Supported sufficiently by missiles and close-combat troops, these men were used on the field as almost a mobile palisade and made up the bulk of Byzantine infantry forces. Skutatoi Literally this name translates as ‘shield bearers’- those men who formed the solid infantry lines behind which the spearmen sheltered and fought from. These men were trained with an emphasis on steady nerves, well-drilled manoeuvres and valued unit cohesion over individual combat skills. Officers (See Ranks) Dekerhios (T5 upwards) The Dekerhios was the commander of a standard 10-man unit- somewhere between a modern corporal/sergeant in rank and responsibility. The Dekerhios was usually slightly better equipped than the men he led, but fought amongst them as a squad leader to maximise the tactical response of a unit. Kenterios (T6 upwards) The Kenterios was the commander of a unit of 100- the Byzantine equivalent of a Centurion. In modern terms he ranked somewhere between a Sergeant and a Captain. Almost invariably these men were better armoured and led a block of infantry from the flank of the formation- marked out by a pektehron or coloured sash around their torso. Tagmatarch (T8-T9) Literally the commander of a Tagmata or Thema. In Deus Vult only one member can portray a Tagmatarch at a time. These men would be well but lightly equipped, not expecting to fight in the front ranks, yet also wanting to emphasise their military role.
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