Historical Overview Section

The country of Georgia has known a rich military history, both as a battlefield of empires and as an independent political and military power. The strategic significance and natural wealth of its territory made it the target of many invasions, and the country's independence was preserved against multiple enemies by a succession of states. Before the unification of the country by the Bagrationi dynasty in the 10th century, several states, such as Iberia and Colchis had managed to subsist between the Roman empire (later Byzantine Empire in the West) and the Sassanid Empire (later replaced by the Umayyad and Abbasid Caliphates). Between the 11th and 15th centuries, the Kingdom of Georgia was a major regional power, which withstood invasions by the Great Seljuk Empire, Mongol Empire, and Timurid Empire, before its fragmentation and submission to the Ottoman and Safavid Empires.

Georgia's power reaches its peak in the years from 1180–1236, creating one of the strongest medieval kingdoms in west Asia, with the population of approximately 8 million people including peoples from vassals states and fielding a varying sizable army of 40,000 to some 90,000 troops at a time.

Territorial ambitions of the Byzantine Empire and the Kingdom of Georgia clash multiple times in the years 1014–1208 AD. The Byzantine Empire invades the Kingdom of Georgia losing the first major battle but ultimately recovers and forces the Georgian king to surrender lands after several more costly battles. Around that time the Georgians are also stuck in fighting off Seljuks and Arab invasions. The Byzantines gain a number of dominions but as soon as the Georgians regain power and resources under Queen Tamar they reconquer all territories including Tao-Klarjeti and invade Byzantium proper in order to help the Komnenos establish the Trebizond Empire.

In 1118, under the rule of David the Builder the Kingdom of Georgia undergoes decicive military reforms, which among other results in the creation of a large royal guard detachment of about 5000 horsemen. The king personally directs the training and equipment of the army. This new type of force is to stand up to the regional Seljuk foothold, and then go over to a methodical offensive with the aim of expelling the Seljuks first from Georgia and then from the whole Caucasus. During the period of 106 years, the Georgians win four great victories over the Seljuk Turks in the battles of Ertsukhi (1104), Didgori (1121), Shamkori (1195) and Basiani (1205) slowly eliminating their dominance over and presence in the region. This organisation of the army created by David remains practically unchanged throughout the 12th century.

Using the army in ADLG

  • The two themes are very different with a charging Early period with a half-decent number of Elite HC, and a later bow army.
  • To differentiate this from other either charging lancer, or shooting bow armies you need to be looking at finding a use for the Mediocre spears, and perhaps also the small block of supported Russian spearmen

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Army Lists

Sample army lists for this army

200 Points
Competent CinC

3 Nobles Heavy cavalry impetuous Elite

3 Nobles Heavy cavalry impetuous ------

3 Horse Archers Light cavalry bow ------


Brilliant Sub
3 Nobles Heavy cavalry impetuous Elite
2 Russians Heavy spearmen missile support ------
3 Horse Archers Light cavalry bow ------

Ordinary Sub
3 Heavy Spearmen Heavy spearmen Mediocre
2 Bowmen Bowmen
2 Light infantry javelin Light infantry javelin ------
1 Light infantry bow Light infantry bow ----