Tuesday, September 30, 2014

II/69 Sassanid Persian

220 AD - 651 AD

DBA 2.2

Army Composition: (15 elements)  Miniatures by Essex

1 x (Gen) 3Cv, 1 x 4Kn or 3Cv, 4 x 3Cv, 1 x 2Lh, 1 x El or 3Cv, 1 x 3Ax or 3Cv, 2 x 7Hd, 1 x 2Ps

Historical Enemies: Armenians, Parthian, Kushan, Alan's, Palmyran, Hunnic, Mid - Late Imperial Rome, Patrician Roman, Early and Maurikian Byzantines, Khazar, Central Asian Turkish and Arab Conquest.

Historical Notes: I hope I got this right after my research, 
Ardashir I or Ardeshir I (180–242 AD) was the founder of the Sassanian Empire. The dynasty ruled for four centuries, until it was overthrown by (the Arab Conquest) Rashidun Caliphate in 651 AD.  The Sassanid Persian Empire were always at heads against their feared rival the Roman Empire in Asia Minor and in the middle east, actually more to point, Roman support in Armenia and the Caucasus Regions. 

In 230 AD Ardashir I led his army into the Roman province of Mesopotamia, unsuccessfully besieging the fortress town of Nisibis. The Roman Emperor Alexander Severus in 232 AD arrived and moved his plan of operations headquarters at Antioch, trying to regroup his legions together during his march to the Sassanid capital at Ctesiphon, Severus experienced a disaster, Ardashir was able to take advantage of the Roman disordered army columns and manage to concentrate his own forces against the Romans advancing through Armenia, where he was able to halt the Roman advance with a decisive victory. The Persian army suffered considerable high losses of her own and was in bad condition and no attempt was made to pursue the fleeing Romans.


The Roman Emperor Severus returned to Europe in 233 AD and Ardashir for several years rebuild his shattered and fatigue Army. In 237 AD, Ardashir again along with his son and successor to the throne Shapur I invaded Mesopotamia with successful results at Nisibis and Carrhae. In 240 - 241 AD, Ardashir I and Shapur finally captured the stubborn fortress of Hatra. Ardashir I died in the year 242, and Shapur I was crowned as "king of kings"


The Sassanid Persian Empire faced and suffered major defeats against the Arab Muslim invasion at Walaja 633 AD, al-Qadisiyyyah 636 AD, and the battle of Nahavand 642 AD the Persians were finally crushed and conquered by the Arabs 651 AD



Army Arrayed









General (3Cv)

Elephant



Persian Cataphracts (4Kn)


Persian Clibanarii Extra Heavy Cavalry (3Cv)


Persian Clibanarii Heavy Cavalry (3Cv)




Persian Light Horse (2Lh)


Levy - Hordes (7Hd)




Sassanid Light Infantry (3Ax)


Persian Skirmishers (2Ps)




28 comments:

  1. Fantastic brushwork! Really like the armored horse. Splendid!

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  2. A famous and great looking army, beautiful job as always, HC and EL will become the stars of your battlefields...

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    1. Thanks Phil, yes indeed the Sassanids are a good "punching" army..

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  3. Awesome.
    Riders are handsome, well-made infantry equipment too.
    Much work and patience all these are called for ..

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    1. Thanks Maximex, appreciate your kind words...

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  4. Splendid paint work, I especially like the elephants and cavalry !

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  5. Very nice especially the Cataphracts and the horse armour.

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  6. Superb painting, Phil! Thanks for the historical background as well. This is the army I want to run in DBA as I bet they're tough and fun. Ellies, cataphracts and horse aplenty.

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    1. :o) Thanks Monty!

      yeah, I can see you running/commanding this army and punch through your opponents (Romans) battle lines... ;o)

      cheers,

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  7. Beautiful Sassanid DBA army Phil. I have a 28mm Sassanid army but have only painted 1 elephant so far...

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    1. I believe the term you're looking for is "down payment" and an ellie is quite a large down payment at that. ;-)

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  8. Wonderful looking army you completed! Sassanid armies are among some of the prettiest ones and yours is no exception! They are on my list of armies to do. Nice background info as well btw.

    Christopher

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    1. Thanks Christopher, I agree the Sassanids are one of the prettiest armies to paint regardless of figure scale... The background notes for this army was difficult for me to put together but necessary....

      cheers,

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  9. Great post. Now I'm inspired to do a Sassanid DBA too.

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    1. Great! I think you will have fun painting and gaming with the Sassanids. Thanks Mark,

      cheers,

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  10. Thanks Mike for your kind words and visit... all the best..

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  11. Thanks Aaron, I'm thinking of putting another Sassanid Army together for Basic Impetus rules set...

    cheers,

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  12. Great looking army! This is one of the few in my collection as well. Superb cavalry,a little Elephant action for variety, and lousy infantry. Helpful background info, too!

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    1. Thanks Pete, yeah, the Sassanids never fielded good infantry (most were as your said, lousy and unreliable) ... The Persians totally depended on cavalry flank charges....

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  13. The whole army looks great, Phil; but I am partial to the clibinarii ;)!

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    1. Thanks Dean, I like my Clibanarii as well :o)

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  14. oops... that should be Mark and not Mike..... sorry about that Chasseur ;o)

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