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)

II/5e Later Greek Aitolian

450 BC - 275 BC

DBA 2.2

Army Composition: (12 elements) 1 x (Gen) 4Sp, 1 x 2Lh, 3 x 4Sp, 7 x 2Ps 

Historical Enemies: IIIyrian, other Later Hoplite Greeks, Hellenistic Boeotian, Alexandrian Imperial, Macedonian Early Successors and Galatians.

Painted this "Light Infantry" Army using left overs/spare Xyston Miniatures :o) This army has a lot of skirmishers and 4 elements of spears (one stand is the general - the figure wearing white leather/linen cuirass) A difficult army to command, totally relying on using rough/bad going terrain and woods for ambush attacks against her enemies (IIIyrians and other later Hoplite Greeks) This Aitolian Army may play better if used as an supporting contingent with one of her fellow Allied Hoplite Armies.

anyway...  
As for my flocking of the bases I used Woodland Scenic Fine Brown Ballast followed by dry brushing over the ballast with Ivory Acrylic Paint. I used Woodland Scenics "Harvest Gold" static grass to flock the bases.

IV/5a Sicilian

1072 AD - 1442 AD (Normans in Sicily)

DBA 2.2

Army Composition:  1 x (Gen) 3Kn, 3 x 3Kn, 6 x 2Ps, 1 x 4Sp or 3Ax, 1 x 4Cb or  2Lh

Historical Enemies: Feudal Spanish, Communal Italian, Papal Italian, Berber, Feudal French, Medieval German and Italian Condotta.

Historical Notes: Norman conquest of southern Italy Kingdom of Sicily Roger I of Sicily

Painting this Army was a real joy for me, I don't know why but I do have fun painting up the light Cavalry, light infantry/skirmishers in all my armies...anyway.. I did something different , as a test, to the flocking of the bases. I used Buff Fine Ballast on the bases, afterwards I primed the Ballast with craft smart Acrylic flesh color and later dry brush over the color flesh with Ivory paint.

Army Arrayed

General 3Kn

Norman Heavy Cavalry 3 x 3Kn

Berber Cavalry 2Lh

Saracen Skirmishers 6 x 2Ps

Italian Mercenaries 4Sp

Italian Mercenaries Crossbow Men 4Cb

Greek Light Infantry 3Ax