Khurasanian Dynasties

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Historical Overview Section


With the death of the Umayyad Caliph Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik in 743, the Islamic world was launched into civil war. Abu Muslim was sent to Khorasan by the Abbasids initially as a propagandist and then to revolt on their behalf. He took Merv in December 747 (or January 748), defeating the Umayyad governor there Nasr ibn Sayyar, as well as Shayban al-Khariji, a Kharijite aspirant to the caliphate. He became the de facto Abbasid governor of Khorasan, and gained fame as a general in the late 740s in defeating the peasant rebellion of Bihafarid, the leader of a syncretic Persian sect that were Mazdaism. Abu Muslim received support in suppressing the rebellion both from purist Muslims and Zoroastrians. In 750, Abu Muslim became leader of the Abbasid army and defeated the Umayyads at Battle of the Zab. Abu Muslim stormed Damascus, the capital of the Umayyad caliphate, later that year. His heroic role in the revolution and military skill, along with his conciliatory politics toward Shia, Sunnis, Zoroastrians, Jews, and Christians made him extremely popular among his subject people.

The first independent kingdom from Arab rule was established in Khorasan by Tahir Phoshanji in 821. But it may have been lesa an independance struggle and more a matter of political and territorial gain as Tahir also helped the Caliph subdue other nationalistic movements in other parts of Persia such as Maziar's movement in Tabaristan.
The first dynasty in Khorasan after the introduction of Islam was the Saffarid dynasty (861-1003), but the region was also contested by the Samanids (875-999), Ghaznavids (962-1187), Ghurids (1149-1212), Seljukids (1037-1194), Khwarezmids (1077-1231) and Timurids (1370-1506). Some eastern Khorasani regions eventually fell under the control of the Moghul Empire, while the Safavids conquered the western regions.

Using the army in FoG

  • The Def Spearmen are hard work to use in this army - the're not quite numerous enough to build a plan around, and against lots of mounted shooting enemies they may also struggle to charge enemy shooters away effectively. One unit of 9 may be a sensible option.
  • 2 Elephants is likewise fun, but not quite enough to work safely. If you do take them, pick some foot for rear support
  • The army is a "combined arms" force with decent cavalry and some decent foot, but with minima in each you can't get enough of either to make them a winning force. The most sensible choice is to go for the shooty cavalry option, but then you end up wasting points on foot that you can't use.
  • Like other shooty cavalry armies, your battle plan is usually to stake out as much ground as possible to block enemy Second Moves, at least in some sectors, and leave ample manoeuvre room behind your lines. Getting first move is very helpful so losing the PBI roll is preferred by some players, although your tough Cv may be willing to face the enemy in close combat, so its therefore less critical to keep lots of manoeuvre room to the rear.
  • Sometimes you are lucky and the enemy deploys with a hanging flank you can readily outwing and envelop, or a good flank march opportunity presents itself, but often the terrain and enemy dispositions limit you to a frontal approach of disrupting, loosening and disjointing the enemy line of battle with shooting, threats, and uncontrolled enemy charges in order to expose gaps, flanks and other weak spots you then exploit with concentrated shooting or timely charges
  • Destroy or flee enemy Skirmishers, draw their mounted and aggressive foot away from their other troops by skirmishing - he will have to charge shooters to reduce their effect - pick off isolated detachments, and provoke charges where possible. Work around his flank and hunt his BG count filler such as Mobs and LF.
  • Ultimately your cavalry will need to be the ones to win the battle for you by running down your opponents - remember this and don;t expect your LH to do all the work in eroding enemy morale and competence to breaking point.
  • One common mistake with all Shooty cavalry is to take advantage of the possibility evade too often - superior armoured cavalry swordsmen are still very potent combat troops against most enemies, and it is often better to advance in 2 ranks (inflicting more shooting as a result) and take on any enemies in hand to hand combat.
  • The time to commit is once an enemy has gone disrupted, or if they have lost bases - waiting and skirmishing in the hope they go fragmented may well be gilding the lilly.

UK Tournament Results with this army

6 / 16 KHURASANIAN Scottish Open 2008 (open)

User-contributed links about this army:

Allies


Put information on allied contingents here - including recommendations on which to use, and why

15mm Manufacturers supplying figures for this army

You can see some of the figures in the Ancients Photo Gallery also on this site. This listing only covers "arabic" figures - Hunnic/Mongol figures suitable as Turks are omitted as nearly everyone does some of them.

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Core Troops


Which troops are absolutely needed for this army, and what are your thoughts on how to organise, paint and buy them.

Army Lists

Sample army lists for this army

800 AP list used at Hubcon 2010

  • 9 Average Armoured Deaf Spears, with LF support
  • 9 Average Armoured Deaf Spears, with LF support
  • 6 Poor LF Bow
  • 8 Drilled Dailami
  • 8 Allied Dailami
  • 6 Volunteer Foot, Superior Undrilled Impact Foot Swordsmen Protected
  • 4 Average Hillmen
  • 4 Undrilled Superior Armoured Shooty Cavalry
  • 4 Drilled Superior Armoured Shooty Cavalry
  • 4 Average Bow LH
  • 4 Average Bow LH
  • 4 Average Bow LH


Using asterisks inthe edit mode creates a bulleted list in the actual site

  • This is a lot easier to do than easier than setting up tables
  • For FoG I suggest listing your army in order or march
  • with troop desctiptions on each line, for example
  • 4 HF Armoured Average Drilled Impact Foot Swordsmen
  • 8 LG Undrilled Unarmoured Poor Bowen
  • Dont forget to include your Generals !!!

Include any notes you want here, including comments on how to use - or play against - the army.

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

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UK Bookstore