Early Crusaders

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Historical Overview Section

A traditional numbering scheme for the Crusades totals nine during the 11th to 13th centuries, as well as other smaller sorties that were mostly contemporaneous and are unnumbered. There were frequent "minor" Crusades throughout this period, not only in Palestine but also in the Iberian Peninsula and central Europe, against Muslims and also Christian heretics and personal enemies of the Papacy or other powerful monarchs. Such "crusades" continued into the 16th century until the Renaissance and Reformation, when the political and religious climate of Europe was significantly different from that of the Middle Ages. The Crusades led to the creation of a number of Crusader States. These mostly 12th- and 13th-century feudal states were created by Western European crusaders in Asia Minor, Greece and the Holy Land (ancient and modern Israel and Palestine).

Useful Links

User-contributed links about this army:

• Flags to download for the Crusaders, from the Fanaticus site
• Painting Guides from Brendan Moyle's site
• Early Blazon.com Site showing early coat of arms from their onset to the end of the Crusades, with separate sections for each Crusade
• The Periphery of Francia:Outremer Overview of all Crusader states
• Early Crusaders DBA Figure Gallery for this army - from Fanaticus
• Crusader Flags to download and use
• Equiping a Hospitaler Knight re-enactment shopping guide
• Fanaticus Painting Guide and potted history
• Frankish, Saracen & Byzantine costume in the 'Melisende Psalter', 1131-43 AD
  
• Illustrations of Franks and Saracens of the 12th century in the painted windows in the monastery church of St Denis in Paris
  
• Histoire d'Outremer by William of Tyre, Northern France, between 1232 and 1261
  
• Chronica Majora by Matthew Paris, c.1240-53
  
• European, Islamic & Byzantine Arms and Armour in Histoire ancienne jusqu'e Caesar, 1260-70AD
  
• European & Islamic Arms and Armour in Histoire d'Outremer by William of Tyre, Acre, 1280AD
  
• Histoire d'Outremer by William of Tyre - French translation with continuation until 1275, made c.1287
  
• The 'Roger Histories', or Ancient history until Caesar. Acre, c.1287
  

Allied Contingents

• Armenian, Cilician : Any Swords and Scimitars page 27 : Cavalry, Armoured Knight or Hvy Knight lancers (pre 1100, 1100+ and post 1150) with 2 units of take-it-or-leave it infantry to boost break points
• Syrian States : Dates: From 1100 Swords and Scimitars page 29 : Compulsary Bw/Sw cavalry, optional cavalry and LH lancers, more Bw/Sw - and some cheap foot units. Worth looking at

Tactical Tips

• Before the rise of heavily armoured knights, armoured knights are pretty tasty. Max out on them
• A BG of 8 Dismounted Armoured Knights Superior Offensive Spears is incredibly hard to shift as well
• Crossbows may be better against armoured opponents than bowmen

Tourney Results

14 / 14 SS01 Early Crusader Northern League 2008 R4 (open)

15mm Manufacturers supplying figures for this army

You can see some of the figures in the Ancients Photo Gallery also on this site. Most manufacturers also have Medieval ranges, but most these have named Crusader ranges where noted. Also look for Early Crusaders at the Norman page figure listing, and for Arab troops look at any of the Swords and Scimitars Arab armies

• Legio Heroica One of 8 FoG era ranges they sell, for Crusaders under the reign of Baldwin IV up to the battle of Hattin, but also work for earlier and later periods, and some European aemies of the same era
• Essex Miniatures - Crusader ranges
• Donnington - dedicated Crusader ranges
• Corvus Belli
• Museum Miniatures - Crusades range
• Gladiator Miniatures by Fighting 15's (Previously Black Hat) - Crusaders
• Old Glory 15's, - (Holy Orders, Outremer Knights, Saracens & 3rd Crusade medievals)
• Khurasan now offer a Frankish range for the 10-12th Centuries
• Minifigs - Crusades range
• Irregular Miniatures - Early/Late Crusaders
• Venexia/Vexilia Crusaders & Teutonics
• East Riding Miniatures El Cid & Early Crusades,
• Strategia et Tactica Early Crusader
• Camelot Games Crusader Knights & Arabs, and CXIII medievals
• QRF Models Norman range for early Crusaders.

Army Lists

Sample army lists for this army

Name of Army / Date

• 3 x TC 105 points
• 5 x BG Knights four bases 400 points
• 2 x Heavy Spears Protected 8 bases 96 points
• 2 x BG Crossbow protected 6 bases 72 points
• 1 x BG Dismounted Knights Superior 8 bases 96 points
• 1 x Mob

Remember to leave a line before you copy the above section as a template for your own list

eBay Listings

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