Historical Overview Section

In 1125, the Jin overthrew the Liao and attempted to gain control over Mongolia, triggering a fightback from the great grandfather of Temujin (Genghis Khan) and awakening the Mongols as a coherent national entity. This in turn set in motion a chain of events that by 1203-1205 saw the Mongols under Temujin destroy all the remaining rival tribes and in 1206, Temujin was crowned as the Khaghan and assumed the title "Chingis Khan" (or more commonly known as "Genghis Khan", probably meaning Oceanic ruler or Universal ruler).

Genghis Khan appointed his loyal friends as the heads of army units and households, dividing the army into arbans (each with 10 people), zuuns (100), myangans (1000) and tumens (10,000) of decimal organization. The new army quickly came into conflict with the Jin Dynasty and the Western Xi Xia? in northern China, as well as the Moslem Khwarazmian Empire, raiding as far as the lands of the Kievan Rus.

At the time of Genghis khan’s death in 1227, the Mongol Empire ruled from the Pacific Ocean to the Caspian Sea. Ogedei succeeded to the throne according to his father’s will in 1229 and set off to subjugate the Bashkirs, the Middle Bulgarians and other nations in the steppes, as well as establishing Mongol authority across Manchuria, crushing the Eastern Xi Xia? regime as they got in his way. The Jin recovered and defeated a Mongol contingent in 1230, triggering the Great Khan to personally lead his army against the Jin and in an alliance with the Song Chinese Dynasty, the Mongols finished off the Jin by 1234 - but then fell out with the Song Chinese over who got to keep large parts of Manchuria.

Using the army in ADLG

  • Attacking is always preferred. Attack in plains, rough terrain is not enough of a big deal.
  • Players without foot bows will learn why they want them.
  • Many steppe armies should be designed with a command that can flank march and you flank march A LOT with it.
  • LH are a bit iffy, and may run out of space. Top out around 6 or 7 LH.
  • MC is great when elite. You shouldn't plan to fight with it, but they are vicious shooting and with support often can hold up long enough to disengage. But if opponent doesn't have foot bows, then they are awesome.
  • MC charging you in flank are pretty darn deadly!
  • Knowing when to skeddale is an important factor.
  • LH can interpenetrate and be interpenetrated by Cavalry - unlike in many other rules
  • You need to have the majority of your army as Medium Cav
  • Any (usually 4) 4 Heavy Elite Bow/Impact types should always be taken
  • Take less than 10 light cavalry.
  • Get good initiative
  • Keep as many of your cavalry Elite as possible while keeping your breakpoint above 19-20.
  • Elite makes your bowfire decent and keeps the Medium Cav alive in melee
  • Get the Expendable Levy as far forward as possible - they can block or hold up a flank for a little while at least while they are being cut down, buying you space and time to redeploy your combat strike force to concentrate elsewhere
  • The 2 Georgians sometimes have a role - they can "fix" an enemy just by charging at them, or give your Bow-armed cavalry a cutting edge against Medium Foot (especially foot with Impact who can go toe to toe with your bow-armed cavalry even in the open). Not a bad option in a 2-list event.

Beating Solid Heavy Foot Armies in ADLG With Mounted Shooting

First, decide what is each side’s “theory of victory” in this match-up? If you don’t have conception or plan about how you win you probably won’t…

Huns: If you answer is something like, “run up shoot at the Romans until they break” this might work against some people but it is likely to result in a draw at best. If the answer is “ride around the Romans flank, shoot them a bit, and hope the Romans don’t react so I can flank charge…” again might work against some but still isn’t very robust.

The right answer is a combination of these. Maximize shooting to the extent you can to try and accumulate a lot of damage against the heavy foot army, effectively lowering their break point from 21 to 10-13 or so. Maneuver against one flank that appears most vulnerable and be prepared to sacrifice 3-4 MC into the front of the legions to hold them in place while 2-4 MC work to get on the flanks.

The rest of your army keeps shooting and keeps the bulk of the enemy infantry from participating in the decisive fight. You can also see why I prefer to avoid an army this light. The “heavier” your shooty cav army is the more effective it is going to be at that decisive charge – which is the game winning maneuver. The 4 Elite Impact HC are a decent hammer to hit something with while HC Bow maneuver on the flank.

15mm Manufacturers supplying figures for this army

You can see some of the figures in the Ancients Photo Gallery also on this site. The Mongols had many subject troops, so look at the other Arab and East European ranges as well.

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User-contributed links about this army. Add links in this format:

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Army Lists

Sample army lists for this army

Britcon 2022 (V4)
1220-1227
Brilliant
4 0-4 Gardes du Khan* Cavalerie lourde impact arc Elite
2 8-24 Cavaliers mongols* Cavalerie légère arc Elite
2 8-24 Cavaliers mongols* Cavalerie légère arc ------
0 0-4 Cavaliers démontés Infanterie légère arc ------
4 0-4 Otages et prisonniers Levée sacrifiable Médiocre
0 0-4 Khitans Cavalerie lourde impact ------
1 0-4 Cavaliers démontés Infanterie légère arc ----
==
Competent
4 0-4 Cavalerie de choc Cavalerie lourde arc Elite
2 8-24 Cavaliers mongols* Cavalerie légère arc Elite
2 8-24 Cavaliers mongols* Cavalerie légère arc ------
0 0-6 Cavaliers Alains ou Turcs Cavalerie légère arc ------
0 0-4 Otages et prisonniers Levée sacrifiable Médiocre
0 0-4 Khitans Cavalerie lourde impact ----
==
Ordinary Included
2 8-24 Cavaliers mongols* Cavalerie légère arc Elite
2 8-24 Cavaliers mongols* Cavalerie légère arc ------


218 Mongol Conquest (Taylor - Britcon 2019)
Strategist
3 Khan's Guardsmen (1 with Incl Gen - Britcon 2019) Heavy cavalry impact bow Elite
1 Khitan or Jurchen Heavy cavalry bow Elite
1 Mongol Horsemen Medium cavalry bow ------
1 Mongol Horsemen Light cavalry bow ------
4 Hostages and War Prisoners Levy expendable Mediocre
3 Dismounted horsemen Light infantry bow ------
==
Competent Included
1 Khan's Guardsmen (1 with Incl Gen - Britcon 2019) Heavy cavalry impact bow Elite
3 Khitan or Jurchen Heavy cavalry bow Elite
1 Mongol Horsemen Medium cavalry bow ------
1 Mongol Horsemen Light cavalry bow ------
==
Ordinary, Included, Unreliable
4 Mongol Horsemen (1 with General - Britcon 2019) Medium cavalry bow ------
1 Mongol Horsemen Light cavalry bow ------

Britcon 2018
218 Mongol Empire
Strategist
4 Khan's Guardsmen Heavy cavalry impact bow Elite
3 Mongol Horsemen Medium cavalry bow Elite
4 Hostages and war prisoners Levy expendable Mediocre
==
Comp
3 Mongol Horsemen Medium cavalry bow Elite
2 Mongol Horsemen Light cavalry bow Elite
==
Comp
3 Mongol Horsemen Medium cavalry bow Elite
2 Mongol Horsemen Light cavalry bow Elite

200AP Roll Call 2018 25mm
2 Horde
6 LH Ordinary
General
==
3 L Ordinary
3 Elite Bow armed HC
General
==
4 Khans Guard Impact Bow Elite Cv
3 LH
Brilliant General

200 points from Derby 2017
Competent Included
1 Khan's guardsmen* (General) Heavy cavalry impact bow Elite
2 Mongol Horsemen Medium cavalry bow Elite
1 Mongol Horsemen Light cavalry bow ------
2 Jurchen Heavy cavalry bow Elite
==
Brilliant Included
1 Khan's guardsmen* (General) Heavy cavalry impact bow Elite
2 Khan's guardsmen Heavy cavalry impact bow Elite
2 Jurchen Heavy cavalry bow Elite
1 Mongol Horsemen Medium cavalry bow Elite
3 Dismounted horsemen Light infantry bow ------
==
Competent included Unreliable
1 Mongul Horseman* (General) Medium cavalry bow Elite
1 Mongol Horsemen Medium cavalry bow
2 Mongol Horsemen Light cavalry bow ------
3 Hostages and War Prisoners Levy expendable Mediocre


200 points from Derby 2017
Brilliant
2 Mongol Horsemen Medium cavalry bow
2 Mongol Horsemen Light cavalry bow
2 Jurchin Heavy cavalry bow
==
Ordinary Included
4 Khan's Guardsmen Heavy cavalry impact bow Elite
2 Mongol Horsemen Light cavalry bow ------
2 Mongol Horsemen Medium cavalry bow ------
==
Strategist
4 Hostages Levy expendable Mediocre
2 Dismounted horsemen Light infantry bow ------
2 Georgians Heavy cavalry impetuous ------
2 Mongol Horsemen Medium cavalry bow ----