Wednesday, October 8, 2014

I/48 Thracians

700 BC - 46 AD

DBA 2.2

Army Composition: (15 elements) Miniatures by Xyston

1 x 3Cv (Gen) 3 x 2Lh or 3Ax, 6 x 3Ax, 2 x 2Ps

Historical Enemies: Phrygian, Skythians, IIIyrians, Lydian, Greeks, Early/Later Macedonians, Persians, Paionian, Galatians, Polybian,Marian and Early Imperial Romans, 

Historical Notes: The history of Thracian warfare spans from 8-9th century BC up to the 1st century AD

Thracians were regarded as warlike, ferocious, dirty and bloodthirsty. They were seen as "barbarians" by the ancient Greeks and Romans. According to ancient Roman sources, the Dii were responsible for the worst atrocities of the Peloponnesian War killing every living thing, including children and the dogs in Tanagra and Mycalessos. The Thracians would impale Roman heads on their spears and rhomphaias i.e. during the Kallinikos skirmish at 171 BC.  Herodotus writes that "they sell their children and let their maidens commerce with whatever men they please"

The Southern part of Thrace was conquered by Philip II of Macedon in the 4th century BC and was ruled by the kingdom of Macedon for a century and a half. Lysimachus of the Diadochi and other Hellenistic rulers ruled part or parts of Thrace until its fall to the Romans.

In 279 BC, Celtic Gauls advanced into Macedonia, Southern Greece and Thrace. They were soon forced out of Macedonia and Southern Greece, but they remained in Thrace until the end of the 3rd century BC. From Thrace, three Celtic tribes advanced into Anatolia and formed a new kingdom called Galatia.

In parts of Moesia (northeast Serbia) the Celtic Scordisci and Thracians lived beside each other, evident in the archaeological findings of pits and treasures, spanning from the 3rd century BC to 1st century BC. During the Macedonian Wars, conflict between Rome and Thracia was inevitable. The ruling parties in Macedonia weakened and Thracian tribal authority resurged. But after the Battle of Pydna in 168 BC, Roman authority over Macedonia seemed inevitable, and the governing of Thracia passed to Rome.

Initially, Thracians and Macedonians revolted against Roman rule. For example, the revolt of Andriscus in 149 BC, drew the bulk of its support from Thracia. Several incursions by local tribes into Macedonia continued for many years, though a few tribes willingly allied with Rome, such as the Deneletae and the Bessi. After the Third Macedonian War, Thracia acknowledged Roman authority.

Thrace became a Roman client kingdom around 25 BC, and a Roman province in 46 AD, Thracian troops were named or know as Equites and Auxilia in the Roman Army.

The Xyston figures I used are bits and pieces,spare packs from other projects. Painted this better equipped Late Thracian Army to fight against the Romans :o) 


Army Arrayed










21 comments:

  1. These guys look great! Lovely cloak work! I really enjoy your pocket armies and background info. If I played DBA I'd be doing something like this!

    Christopher

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

      quote *If I played DBA I'd be doing something like this!* - Ok I will put a Basic Impetus Thracian Army together for you to play with :o))

      cheers,

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  2. Terrific painting Phil, I have got my first 15mm legio heroica figures and boy they seem tiny compared to 28mm, which shows me how well painted this group of Thracians is, especially those cloaks, awesome!

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    1. Thanks Chris,

      yeah I know how you feel regarding to switching from 28mm to 15mm and 15mm back to 28mm (referring to my 28mm Renaissance project which I'm still working on!)

      I pencil in the cloak patterns before painting and used fine line brushes, in some areas of the cloaks I even used tooth picks dipped in paint for the "dots" :o)) effect.

      cheers,

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  3. Chris beat me to it! Wonderful army, I love the mix of shields. Your cloaks are superb with wonderful designs and color. I suspect they're one of the harder armies to play in DBA.

    I love the Thracians, even if they consort and sell their children. ;-)

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    1. Thanks Monty, you liked my cloak patterns, check out my other Thracians under Labels :o)

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  4. Splendid! I really appreciate the shield and cloak work on these lads. Visually outstanding all arrayed for battle. Say, when will these vast armies see some action?

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    1. Thanks Jonathan, difficult to find players in my area to play battles with my armies... who knows may find some at Yakima after my move.....

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    2. Well, Yakima is a bit closer to Spokane!

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    3. not to sure about being closer to you Jonathan, it will be a 3 hour drive covering 200+ miles to meet you.... it will be worth it though! :o)

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  5. They look excellent. I particularly like how you have done the cloaks. My old Thracians are from the long hair, black tunic and blue tatts days - so I will consider them early Thracians.

    Great post!

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    1. Thanks Mark, I know what your saying and I agree, the early Thracians I painted look a little more historical and savagely fierce, well at least I tried to paint as such.

      have a look at my other Thracians under Labels...

      cheers,

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  6. Great looking army, and I agree fully about the marvelous cloaks!

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    1. Thanks Pete, much appreciated for your kind words...cheers!

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  7. Morning
    Awesome, detailed work, once again,
    I can only admire from afar, here :)

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    1. Thanks Maximex..
      I like your Armour force / Panssaroitu voima blog lots of info you have there..

      all the best,

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  8. Great Thracians Phil! Xyston are such excellent figures.

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    1. Thanks Mike, yeah..Xyston miniatures (packs) are great and with some of them easy to paint up quickly... I just wish the Xyston mob/company put together more DBA/Impetus army box sets they have the figures to do it...but I guess they couldn't be bothered and to lazy? :o)

      cheers,

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  9. Excellent work, love the cloaks too!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Phil for your kind thoughts and words...all the best..
      cheers,

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  10. Really great looking Thracians, Phil. Nice work on the shields and cloaks.

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