Fighters in the Medieval Era An illustrated examination of fighting men, their arms and garb, from 600AD to 1500AD Introduction This document was created to provide a large variety of illustrated examples of fighter’s garb and equipment for reenactors and wargamers. The concept is that the reader can conveniently sift through the images and learn the look and style of differing historical troop types and cultures. Each image was carefully researched and drawn based upon period art, literature and archeological evidence. Each figure depicted is an example of what one type of these troops probably looked like and the weapons they carried. It should not be assumed that all soldiers in the troop type looked the same or that others looked significantly different. Images are labeled with a description of their military culture, troop type, and year. The military cultures listed are those that fielded significant armies during the period. The military cultures are abbreviated to save space (ie. Byzantine represents a member of the Byzantine Empire). A military culture may have several troop types displayed. These troop types represented major distinguished formations within the army of the military culture and these troops should be expected to be found in each of their armies. These troop types should not be assumed to be in equal proportions in an army. For instance, only 10% of a late feudal English army might be made up of knights and their retinues while longbowmen would easily take up 60% of the manpower. The troop type is also a description of how they fought and sometimes their weaponry. For instance, a troop type labeled as “Archer” would mean the the depicted soldier would normally fight as a member of closely packed organized formations of archers armed primarily with bow and shooting indirectly for mass effect rather directly at their targets. The troop types are explained below. The last label is a date in “AD” (anno domine). This should be considered a guide to the depiction of the figure and its appropriate garb for that time. Maps have been provided as a rough guide to show the rise and fall, ebb and flow, of historical empires. A GUIDE TO TROOP TYPES Impact Horse: Knight, Lancer, Cataphract – these troops primary weapon is a lance or similar polearm and they ride warhorses. They are trained to charge into the enemy using the shock of impact and momentum to disrupt their formations. Cataphracts differ from knights and lancers in that they ride closer together and charge slower, relying more on the ensuing melee to push the enemy back. Both knights and cataphracts tend to wear heavy armour. They are effective against most other horsemen and infantry except spears and pikes but tend to get worn down by skirmishing horse. Cavalry – these are horseman that ride close (like knights) and use a variety of methods to destroy their enemy in addition to charging. Not typically lance-armed, they might be equipped with missile weapons like javelin or bow, so they are able to “soften up” their enemies before charging in to cut them down with swords or maces. Elephant – some armies have trained elephants. Since most horses are terrified of elephants these are an effective anti-cavalry weapon. Close Order Foot: Spear, Pike, Polearm, Swordsman, Axeman – these troops fight in close organized formations so that adjacent friends can protect each other. With spears, pikes and polarms, troops in the second or even third ranks can strike at enemies from between or over their friends in the front rank. Pikes particularly can have many ranks deep engaging the enemy in a literal hedgehog of long spears. Not surprisingly, historical Impact Horse or Warband charging frontally into pikes died horribly. 2 Auxiliary – these are looser formation foot more easily able to enter forests and rough terrain. They deal with Skirmishers well but are susceptible to Close Order Foot and horsemen out in the open. Impact Foot: Warband – either close or looser formation foot who consider their main attack as an aggressive charge toward the enemy. Missile Foot: Archer, Longbow, Crossbow – either close or looser formation foot whose main attack is massed arrows or bolts. They are trained to fire together in volleys or individually to deliver maximum numbers of missiles to wear down and enemy until they are gone. They do more damage firing at horseman than infantry but can be themselves swept away by determined Impact Horse, Warband and Cavalry. Skirmish Troops: Light Horse, Horse Archer, Skirmisher – these troops are always in a very loose spread-out formation so they can move fast through intervening terrain. They might be armed with missile weapons and use hit and run tactics to come close enough to fire and then run off to reload. If not carrying missiles they will only attack weak points to wear down an enemy and still run from heavier troops. They are useful as scouts, to harry the enemy, and be an annoyance. Artillery – are slow to reload and heavy missile weapons. They are most useful during a siege but have limited battlefield use or effectiveness otherwise. Other troop types labelled might be specialized or famous troops for that military culture. All figure images remain the Copyright © Wargaming.net 1999-2006 and the maps Copyright ©Colin McEvedy 1988. See Bibliography for details. 3 The Roman Empire becomes Byzantine from 600AD Frankish Swordsman 630AD Frankish Cavalry 630AD Bavarian Swordsman 650AD Bavarian Warband 650AD Frankish Skirmisher 630AD Bavarian Skirmisher 650AD Frankish Warband 630AD Pictish Auxiliary 650AD 4 Pictish Cavalry 650AD Pictish Chariot 650AD Pictish Light Horse 650AD Pictish Warband 650AD Pictish Crossbowman 650AD British Auxiliary 650AD British Cavalry 650AD British Lancer 650AD British Warband 650AD British Skirmisher 650AD Scots-Irish Chariot 650AD Scots-Irish Warband 650AD Scots-Irish Skirmisher 650AD Visigothic Cavalry 650AD Visigothic Lancer 650AD British Light Horse 650AD Visigothic Auxiliary 650AD Visigothic Warband 650AD Visigothic Spearman 650AD Visigothic Skirmisher 650AD 5 Byzantine Cavalry 650AD Byzantine Lancer 650AD Byzantine Horse Archer 650AD Byzantine Skirmisher 650AD Byzantine Spearman 650AD Alan Cavalry 650AD Alan Skirmisher 650AD Slavic Cavalry 650AD SlavicAuxiliary 650AD Slavic Skirmisher 650AD Avar Horse Archer 650AD Avar Auxiliary 650AD Avar Skirmisher 650AD Persian Elephant 630AD Persian Horse Archer 630AD Avar Cavalry 650AD Persian Cavalry 630AD Alan Horse Archer 650AD Alan Axeman 650AD Persian Spearman 630AD 6 Persian Skirmisher 630AD Arab Archer 650AD Moorish Skirmisher 650AD Arab Cavalry 650AD Arab Skirmisher 650AD African Cavalry 650AD Arab Light Horse 650AD Moorish Cavalry 650AD African Auxiliary 650AD Arab Warband 650AD Moorish Light Horse 650AD African Spearman 650AD African Skirmisher 650AD 7 The Rise of Islam 700AD Anglo-Saxon Warband 800AD Anglo-Saxon Spearman 800AD Anglo-Saxon Skirmisher 800AD Breton Light Horse 800AD Breton Spearman 800AD Breton Skirmisher 800AD Breton Cavalry 800AD Viking Warband 800AD 8 Viking Swordsman 800AD Viking Skirmisher 800AD Nordic Archer 800AD Carolingian Cavalry 800AD Carolingian Skirmisher 800AD Lombard Swordsman 800AD Lombard Warband 800AD Byzantine Light Horse 800AD Lombard Archer 800AD Nordic Warband 800AD Carolingian Knight 800AD Lombard Lancer 800AD Lombard Skirmisher 800AD Byzantine Spearman 800AD Byzantine Skirmisher 800AD Nordic Swordsman 800AD Carolingian Spearman 800AD Lombard Spearman 800AD Byzantine Cavalry 800AD Bulgar Cavalry 800AD 9 Bulgar Horse Archer 800AD Bulgar Spearman 800AD Khazar Horse Archer 800AD Khazar War Wagon 800AD Khazar Spearman 800AD Khazar Skirmisher 800AD Magyar Horse Archer 800AD Magyar Spearman 800AD Magyar Auxiliary 800AD Magyar Cavalry 800AD Bulgar Skirmisher 800AD Khazar Cavalry 800AD Magyar Skirmisher 800AD Umayyad Cavalry 800AD Umayyad Light Horse 800AD Umayyad Archer 800AD Umayyad Spearman 800AD Umayyad Warband 800AD Umayyad Auxiliary 800AD Umayyad Skirmisher 800AD 10 Charlemayne,the First Holy Roman Emperor 800AD Ghuzz Cavalry 900AD Rus Cavalry 900AD Ghuzz Horse Archer 900AD Rus Swordsman 900AD Ghuzz Archer 900AD Rus Spearman 900AD Ghuzz Skirmisher 900AD Rus Skirmisher 900AD 11 Patzinak Cavalry 900AD Patzinak Horse Archer 900AD Patzinak Skirmisher 900AD Patzinak War Wagon 900AD 12 The Rise of the Normans 1000AD Norman Cavalry 1000AD Norman Knight 1000AD Norman Light Horse 1000AD Norman Spearman 1000AD Norman Crossbowman 1000AD Norman Skirmisher 1000AD Norse-Irish Spearman 1000AD Norse-Irish Auxiliary 1000AD 13 Norse-Irish GallGaedhil 1000AD Norse-Irish Warband 1000AD Norse-Irish Ostman 1000AD Norse-Irish Skirmisher 1000AD Scots Cavalry 1000AD Scots Light Horse 1000AD Scots Spearman 1000AD Scots Warband 1000AD Scots Javelinman 1000AD Scots Skirmisher 1000AD Welsh Cavalry 1000AD Welsh Swordsman 1000AD Welsh Auxiliary 1000AD Welsh Warband 1000AD Welsh Longbowman 1000AD Welsh Skirmisher 1000AD Serbian Knight 1000AD Serbian Archer 1000AD Serbian Auxiliary 1000AD Serbian Skirmisher 1000AD 14 Byzantine Cataphract 1000AD Byzantine Cavalry 1000AD Byzantine Spearman 1000AD Byzantine Swordsman 1000AD Byzantine Varangian 1000AD Byzantine Skirmisher 1000AD Andalusian Knight 1000AD Andalusian Light Horse 1000AD Spearman 1000AD Andalusian Cavalry 1000AD Crossbowman 1000AD Andalusian Skirmisher 1000AD 15 The First Crusaders 1100AD Anglo-Norman Knight 1100AD Anglo-Norman Swordsman 1100AD Spearman 1100AD Anglo-Norman Crossbow 1100AD Auxiliary 1100AD Anglo-Norman Skirmisher 1100AD Anglo-Irish Cavalry 1100AD Anglo-Irish Axeman 1100AD 16 Anglo-Irish Spearman 1100AD Anglo-Irish Skirmisher 1100AD Spanish Knight 1100AD Spanish Cavalry 1100AD Spanish Light Horse 1100AD Spanish Spearman 1100AD Spanish Crossbow 1100AD Spanish Skirmisher 1100AD Hungarian Knight 1100AD Hungarian Skirmisher 1100AD Crusader Auxiliary 1100AD Hungarian Cavalry 1100AD Hungarian Horse Archer 1100AD Hungarian Spearman 1100AD Crusader Knight 1100AD Crusader Skirmisher 1100AD Crusader Knight 1100AD Crusader Spearman 1100AD Fatamid Cavalry 1100AD Fatamid Light Horse 1100AD 17 Fatamid Swordsman 1100AD Fatamid Archer 1100AD Fatamid Skirmisher 1100AD Ghaznavid Cavalry 1100AD Ghaznavid Horse Archer 1100AD Ghaznavid Elephant 1100AD Ghaznavid Warband 1100AD Ghaznavid Auxiliary 1100AD Ghaznavid Archer 1100AD Ghaznavid Skirmisher 1100AD 18 The Rise of the Feudal Knights 1200AD Byzantine Knight 1200AD Byzantine Cavalry 1200AD Byzantine Light Horse 1200AD Byzantine Swordsman 1200AD Byzantine Spearman 1200AD Byzantine Varangian 1200AD Byzantine Auxiliary 1200AD Byzantine Skirmisher 1200AD 19 Sicilian Knight 1200AD Sicilian Auxiliary 1200AD Sicilian Cavalry 1200AD Sicilian Horse Archer 1200AD Sicilian Crossbowman 1200AD Sicilian Skirmisher 1200AD Polish Light Horse 1200AD Polish Spearman 1200AD Polish Archer 1200AD Sicilian Spearman 1200AD Polish Cavalry 1200AD Polish Skirmisher 1200AD Russian Cavalry 1200AD Russian Horse Archer 1200AD Russian Spearman 1200AD Russian Skirmisher 1200AD Cuman Cavalry 1200AD Cuman Horse Archer 1200AD Cuman Auxiliary 1200AD Cuman Skirmisher 1200AD 20 Georgian Knight 1200AD Georgian Light Horse 1200AD Georgian Spearman 1200AD Georgian Skirmisher 1200AD Khwarizmian_Cavalry 1200AD Horse Archer 1200AD Khwarizmian_Spearman 1200AD Seljuq Turk Cavalry 1200AD Horse Archer 1200AD Seljuq Turk Skirmisher 1200AD Syrian Cavalry 1200AD Syrian Horse Archer 1200AD Syrian Auxiliary 1200AD Syrian Skirmishers 1200AD Ayyubid Cavalry 1200AD Georgian Archer 1200AD Khwarizmian_Archer 1200AD Seljuq Turk Auxiliary 1200AD Syrian Spearman 1200AD Ayyubid Horse Archer 1200AD 21 Ayyubid Spearman 1200AD Ayyubid Auxiliary 1200AD Ayyubid Archer 1200AD Genghis Khan and the Mongol Horde 1225AD English Knight 1250AD English Spearman 1250AD English Longbowman 1250AD English Archer 1250AD 22 English Crossbowman 1250AD English Auxiliary 1250AD Imperial Knight 1250AD Imperial Knight 1250AD Imperial Horse Archer 1250AD Imperial Swordsman 1250AD Imperial Crossbowman 1250AD Imperial Skirmisher 1250AD Crusader Knight 1250AD Crusader Skirmisher 1250AD Mongol Archer 1250AD Crusader Cavalry 1250AD Crusader Spearman 1250AD Crusader Crossbowman 1250AD Mongol Cavalry 1250AD Mongol Horse Archer 1250AD Mongol Artillery 1250AD Mongol Skirmisher 1250AD Mongol Spearman 1250AD 23 The Beginning of Plate-Mail Armour 1300AD Scots Common Knight 1300AD Scots Common Spearman 1300AD Warband 1300AD Scots Common Skirmisher 1300AD Highlander Swordsman 1300AD Warband 1300AD Scots Common Archer 1300AD Highlander Auxiliary 1300AD 24 Highlander Archer 1300AD French Spearman 1300AD Highlander Skirmisher 1300AD French Auxiliary 1300AD French Crossbowman 1300AD Scandanavian Knight 1300AD Scandanavian Cavalry 1300AD Prussian Cavalry 1300AD French Knight 1300AD Prussian Warband 1300AD Axeman 1300AD French Cavalry 1300AD French Skirmisher 1300AD Scandanavian Skirmisher 1300AD Prussian Auxiliary 1300AD Prussian Skirmisher 1300AD Papal Italian Knight 1300AD Papal Italian Swordsman 1300AD Italian Spearman 1300AD Italian Crossbowman 1300AD 25 Italian Skirmisher 1300AD Hospitallar Knight 1300AD Hospitallar Cavalry 1300AD Hospitallar Crossbowman 1300AD Hospitallar Skirmisher 1300AD Romanian Knight 1300AD Romanian Cavalry 1300AD Romanian Horse Archer 1300AD Romanian Spearman 1300AD Romanian Crossbowman 1300AD Romanian Skirmisher 1300AD Bulgar Horse Archer 1300AD Spearman 1300AD Bulgar Knight 1300AD Bulgar Spearman 1300AD Bulgar Skirmisher 1300AD Cicilian Armenian Cavalry 1300AD Cicilian Armenian Archer 1300AD Persian Ilkhan Cavalry 1300AD Ilkhan Horse Archer 1300AD 26 Persian Ilkhan Auxiliary 1300AD Persian Ilkhanid Artillery 1300AD Low Countries Knight 1350AD Swordsman 1350AD Low Countries Crossbow 1350AD Low Countries Artillery 1350AD 27 Low Countries Pike 1350AD Low Countries Skirmisher 1350AD Navarrese Knight 1350AD Navarrese Longbowman 1350AD Navarrese Auxiliary 1350AD Navarrese Skirmisher 1350AD Italian Spearman 1350AD Italian Skirmisher 1350AD Catalan Auxiliary 1350AD Italian Auxiliary 1350AD Catalan Knight 1350AD Catalan Skirmisher 1350AD Italian Crossbowman 1350AD Navarrese Polearm 1350AD Italian Knight 1350AD Italian War Wagon 1350AD Catalan Light Horse 1350AD Catalan Horse Archer 1350AD Hungarian Knight 1350AD Hungarian Horse Archer 1350AD 28 Hungarian Spearman 1350AD Hungarian Skirmisher 1350AD Hungarian War Wagon 1350AD Ottoman Horse Archer 1350AD Ottoman Auxiliary 1350AD Ottoman Cavalry 1350AD Ottoman Skirmisher 1350AD 29 Gunpowder, and the Scourges of Tamerlane 1400AD Anglo-Irish Knight 1400AD Anglo-Irish Cavalry 1400AD Horse Skirmisher 1400AD Anglo-Irish Auxiliary 1400AD Anglo-Irish Longbow 1400AD Anglo-Irish Skirmisher 1400AD Anglo-Irish Polearm 1400AD Irish Cavalry 1400AD 30 Irish Light Horse 1400AD English Knight 1400AD English Auxiliary 1400AD French Knight 1400AD Irish Swordsman 1400AD English Knight 1400AD English Longbow 1400AD French Spear 1400AD Irish Auxiliary 1400AD English Cavalry 1400AD English Artillery 1400AD French Auxiliary 1400AD Irish Skirmisher 1400AD English Polearm 1400AD French Knight 1400AD French Crossbow 1400AD French Artillery 1300AD Free Company Knight 1400AD Free Company Knight 1400AD Free Company Polearm 1400AD 31 Free Company Longbow Free Company Skirmisher 1400AD Swiss Skirmisher 1400AD Swiss Polearm 1400AD Swiss Light Horse 1400AD Scandanavian Knight 1400AD Scandanavian Knight 1400AD Scandanavian Axeman 1400AD Scandanavian Pike 1400AD Scandanavian Spear 1400AD Scandanavian Crossbow 1400AD Scandanavian Artillery 1400AD Scandanavian Skirmisher 1400AD Teutonic Knight 1400AD Teutonic Knight 1400AD Teutonic Auxiliary 1400AD Teutonic Crossbow 1400AD Italian Knight 1400AD Teutonic Light Horse 1400AD Italian Light Horse 1400AD 32 Italian Pike 1400AD Italian Spear 1400AD Italian Auxiliary 1400AD Spanish Light Horse 1400AD Italian Crossbow 1400AD Italian Skirmisher 1400AD Spanish Knight 1400AD Spanish Spear 1400AD Spanish Auxiliary 1400AD Spanish Crossbow 1400AD Spanish Skirmisher 1400AD Serbian Knight 1400AD Serbian Horse Archer 1400AD Serbian Spear 1400AD Serbian Auxiliary 1400AD Serbian Archer 1400AD Serbian Skirmisher 1400AD Byzantine Knight 1400AD Byzantine Cavalry 1400AD Byzantine Horse Archer 1400AD 33 Byzantine Spear 1400AD Byzantine Skirmisher 1400AD Granadine Knight 1400AD Granadine Cavalry 1400AD Granadine Horse Skirmisher 1400AD Granadine Spear 1400AD Granadine Crossbow 1400AD Granadine Skirmisher 1400AD Lithuanian Knight 1400AD Polish Knight 1400AD Russian Cavalry 1400AD Lithuanian Light Horse 1400AD Lithuanian Auxiliary 1400AD Lithuanian Skirmisher 1400AD Polish Cavalry 1400AD Russian Light Horse 1400AD Polish Light Horse 1400AD Russian Spear 1400AD Polish Skirmisher 1400AD Russian Skirmisher 1400AD 34 Golden Horde Cavalry 1400AD Golden Horde Horse Archer Ottoman Cavalry 1400AD Ottoman Horse Archer 1400AD Ottoman Skirmisher 1400AD Mamluk Skirmisher 1400AD Timurid Archer 1400AD Golden Horde Archer Golden Horde Skirmisher 1400AD Ottoman Janissary 1400AD Ottoman Artillery 1400AD Mamluk Cavalry 1400AD Mamluk Horse Archer 1400AD Mamluk Auxiliary 1400AD Timurid Cavalry 1400AD Timurid Auxiliary 1400AD Timurid Horse Archer 1400AD Timurid Elephant 1400AD Timurid Skirmisher 1400AD Timurid Artillery 1400AD 35 The Infantry Fight Back, Knights Decline 1430AD Hussite Knight 1430AD Hussite Artillery 1430AD Hussite Cavalry 1430AD Hussite War Wagon 1430AD Hussite Light Horse 1430AD Albanian Light Horse 1445AD Hussite Polearm 1430AD Albanian Polearm 1445AD 36 Albanian Auxiliary 1445AD Albanian Skirmisher 1445AD Burgundian Knight 1450AD Burgundian Knight 1450AD Burgundian Pike 1450AD Burgundian Longbow 1450AD Burgundian Crossbow 1450AD Hospitallar Knight 1450AD Hospitallar Spear 1450AD Hospitallar Crossbow 1450AD Hospitallar Artillery 1450AD Hospitallar Skirmisher 1450AD Burgundian Pike 1475AD Burgundian Light Horse 1475AD Burgundian Polearm 1475AD Burgundian Longbow 1475AD Burgundian Artillery 1475AD English Knight 1480AD Burgundian Pike 1475AD English Knight 1480AD 37 English Polearm 1480AD English Longbow 1480AD English Artillary 1480AD English Skirmisher 1480AD French Light Horse 1480AD French Skirmisher 1480AD Imperial Pike 1490AD French Pike 1480AD English Archer 1480AD French Knight 1480AD English Auxiliary 1480AD French Knight 1480AD French Longbow 1480AD French Artillery 1480AD Imperial Knight 1490AD Imperial Knight 1490AD Imperial Light Horse 1490AD Imperial Crossbow 1490AD Imperial Skirmisher 1490AD Swiss Knight 1500AD 38 Swiss Light Horse 1500AD Swiss Polearm 1500AD Swiss Pike 1500AD Swiss Skirmisher 1500AD 39 Bibliography Images culled from http://www.dbaol.com, Online Armies, Copyright © Wargaming.net 1999-2006 on 1st September 2010 EST +10. Maps culled from The Penguin Atlas of Medieval History by Colin McEvedy, published by Penguin Books, London. 1988 40
