The Army of Abertawe
The armies of this time period consisted out of four categories:
- the majority are simple citizens, calleedd up. They have not much training, and mostly not the best weapons either. Always infantry.
- city guards. Most cities and villages hhaave a city guard. Not as well
trained as the professional soldiers, these men have seen a lot of fights
(barfights mostly), and they can defend themselves. Almost always infantry
(only large cities have enough funds and need for mounted guards).
- professional soldiers: both mercenariess and noble's guards fall in this
category. Their training and weapons differ wildly, depending on each group's budget and discipline. In this group is both cavalry and infantry
- knights. Always mounted. They are amongg the best soldiers on the
battlefield, with the best weapons. Considered the tanks of their time.
Sometimes (depending on the country) there's also a fleet.
Normally only 3/4 of an army goes into the field. The rest stays home to guard the home front. Mostly the very young and old stay home. Also a lot of places are guarded by the called up citizens, while the professional soldiers going to the battle field.
Saxon troops were of the following types:
Fyrdmen: Light infantry with light or no armour, armed with axe or sword, spear and shield.
Troop Quality is Average and below
Housecarls: Medium infantry with some armour, armed with sword, spear and shield.
Troop Quality is Seasoned to Elite.
Thanes: Thanes were usually commanders, though a King's Bodyguard might be composed entirely of thanes. Medium infantry with medium armour, armed with sword and shield.
Troop Quality is Veteran or Elite.
Cavalry: Saxon armies used horses for mobility, but mostly fought on foot. Horses were light and ridden without stirrups.
Ranged Weapons: Slings, javelins and longbows were used by the Saxons, but they were not especially common. Fighting was most often hand-to-hand.
Other troops:
Feudal Levy: Irregular light infantry with little or no armour, spear or agricultural implement used as an improvised weapon. Some feudal levies could use slings and bows.
Troop Quality is Raw or Green.
Men-at-arms/Mercenary: Medium infantry with leather armour and some mail, spear, sword, and large kite shield.
Troop Quality is Average or better.
Mounted Knights: Heavy cavalry with chain mail, sword, light lance and shield, mounted on medium horse with stirrups.
Troops Quality is Average or better.
Yeomen archers: Light infantry with leather armour, shortsword and longbow.
Troop Quality is Average or better
Rabble/revolting peasants/bandits: Irregular light infantry with little or no equipment.
Troop Quality Raw or Green.
Abertawe army structure:
Number of soldiers in the field: 8.000
Commander in chief: King Gwalchmai ap Iorwerth
Chief of staff: Lord general Iorwerth ap Greidawl
Regiments (with commander)
The king's own: Lord general Iorwerth ap Greidawl
- Royal guards: 2000 soldiers, evenly splliit cavalry and infantry
- Alban guards: 250 city guards.
2nd infantry: Sir Palladius Agrippa
- 750 foot soldiers, only melee fighters<
3rd infantry: Sir Aidan Lochlainn
- 1000 foot soldiers. 750 melee, 250 arcchhers
1st cavalry: Sir Shannon LaFalk
- 400 knights
2nd cavalry: Sir Conor O'Fearghail
- 400 mounted warriors. Light cavalry, ffoor scouting, mounted archery and
reserve force
4th infantry: Sir Gwynne Hawley
- 500 mounted infantry. Reserve force.
- 200 King's guards
Westcliffe regiment: Duke Gwilym ap Gavin
- 500 infantry
- 100 cavalry. The duke's own guards andd citizens.
5th infantry: Cauthon ap Roddyn, Deputy - Sir Euan Llewellyn Powys
- 1000 foot soldiers. Evenly split meleee and archers
6th infantry: Dame Aderyn ui Emrys
- 800 foot soldiers. 200 archers, 600 melleee
- 100 light cavalry.
Adonis' mercenaries: Adonis
- 25 light cavalry.
Infiltrators: Sir Ifor ap Culhwch, Asimo Argento
Allies:
Foresters: Sir Brendan ap Iorwerth, Sir Liam ap Naill
- 250 infantry. Scouts and archers.
Saxons: Chieftain Allric
- 300 cavalry. This is only half of his total force, the rest stayed home. Mostly Housecarls and Mounted Infantry.
2nd Army of Dinas Dwr: King Arrian Brander of Dinas Dwr
- 1000 infantry, all with light armor, vaarying weaponry
- 400 archers
- 600 mounted, armed knights