IV/45 Mamluk Egyptian

1250 AD - 1517 AD 

DBA 2.2

Army Composition: 1 x (General) 3Cv, 6 x 3Cv, 2 x 2Lh, 1 x 2Ps, 1 x 2Ps or 3Wb or 3Ax, 1 x 7Hd or 2Lh.

Historical Enemies: Nobades,Blemmye or Beja, Christian Nubian, Seljuq Turk, Cilician Armenian, Syrian, Later Crusader, Lusignan Cypriot, IIkhanid, Anatolian Turkoman, Ottoman, Order of St.John, Jalayirid, Timurid and "Sheep" Tukomans.

Historical Brief Notes: The Mamluks were an "organized union" of slave soldiers, originally Kipchaks but mainly Circassians, a North Caucasian "Turkic" ethnic group, converted to Islam made themselves indispensable, they seized political power and appointed their own sultans. Only the Royal Mamluks were trained thoroughly and drilled. The halqa were elite non-mamluk cavalry recruited from Arabs, native Egyptians and the sons of Mamluks. The cavalry seem or may have been lightly armored horse archers and some as traditional lancers. The halqa in Syria outlasted the 13th century as a competent fighting force, those in Egypt having deteriorated into undisciplined home defense infantry archers.... anyway on to the figures..

Painting Notes: A nice cavalry army to command with 9 to 10 cavalry elements this army has mobility to attack your opponent flanks. The Mamluk cavalry (player) should avoid facing enemy foot archers (Bw) or else the Mamluks will certainly be shot out of their horses! Painted this army with my usual middle east/Islamic color schemes and hand painted shields. It seems I need to purchase a new camera, regardless using my photo software editor my photos still come out dark... oh well... :o)

Army Arrayed

General (3Cv)

Elite Cavalry (3Cv)

Halqa Arab Cavalry (3Cv)

Light cavalry (2Lh)

Auxilia (3Ax)

Warband (3Wb)

Skirmishers (2Ps)

Militia (7Hd)