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References
S. A. M. Adshead. "Tamerlane and the Global Arsenal, 1370-1405"
from his Central Asia in World History, Chapter 5
http://coursesa.matrix.msu.edu/~fisher/hst373/readings/tamerlane.html
Sources on Tamerlane
http://www.deremilitari.org/resources/sources/tamerlane.htm
D. Nicolle. "Medieval Warfare Source Book"
Brockhampton Press
Mulfuzat Timury http://persian.packhum.org/persian/pf?file=21101050&ct=0. Timur's autobiography
Fischel, W.J. (1956). A New Latin Source on Tamerlane's Conquest of Damascus (1400/1401): (B. de Mignanelli's "Vita Tamerlanu" 1416). Oriens 9(2):201-232.
TIMURID - 1360 to 1480
These are the armies of Timur the Lame and his son Shah Rukh (of Herat). They fought and defeated the greatest armies of the time, sometimes repeatedly, and were noted for their discipline and ruthlessness. Timur seems to have introduced more willingness for close combat and it may be that some troops should be "Audacious" as a result. Although cavalry were paramount troops the use of infantry, especially well-equipped archers, was not uncommon. The use of elephants was new to "Mongol" armies and the elephant corps was considerable under Shah Rukh. No Timurid army should be without a skull tower to remind the opponent of the fate that awaits them.
ARMY LIST
2-4 Timurid Cavalry Divisions
1 Timurid cavalry (c)
0-1 Tarkhan guard cavalry
1-2 Timurid cavalry
0-2 Timurid Infantry Division
1-2 Timurid archers (c)
0-2 Allied Divisions
1 Allied cavalry (c)
Note: The nationality of the first ally must be determined as Persian, Turkoman or Georgian. A second Allied Division must be Mongol representing Uzbeks (only after 1450AD).
Additional units
0-3 Turkoman or horse archers 1
0-2 Persian militia 2
0-1 Afghan archers 3
0-1 Afghan foot 3
0-2 Mongol horse archers 4
0-2 Elephants 5
0-1 Hostages 6
0-4 Allied cavalry 7
Light Defences (stakes) 8
1 May only join Timurid Cavalry or a Turkoman/Persian Allied division.
2 May only join a Timurid Infantry Division or a Persian Allied Division
3 May only join a Timurid Infantry Division
4 May only join a Mongol Allied Division
5 May only join Timurid Divisions
6 May only join Timurid Divisions
7 May join any Timurid Cavalry or Allied Division
8 To cover the frontage of Persian militia units
UNITS
Timurid cavalry
Medium horse archers - Initiative 7 (may be Elite)
4 bases - 72 - 80(Elite)
6 bases - 102 - 114(Elite)
These are the line regiments of the Timurid army
Tarkhan guard cavalry
Armoured horse archers - Initiative 7 - Experts
2 bases - 62
4 bases - 112
These are the fully-armoured "heores" equipped to the highest levels and prepared for personal combat
Timurid archers
Medium archers - Initiative 6 (may be Brittle)
6 bases - 38 - 32(Brittle)
8 bases - 48 - 40(Brittle)
Some Timurid archers were well-equipped enough to be considered line troops while others were levy militias
Allied cavalry
Medium horse archers - Initiative 7 - Allied
4 bases - 62
6 bases - 87
These are Turkoman, Georgian, Persian or similar horse archers
Turcoman or Mongol horse archers
Light horse archers - Initiative 6
4 bases - 60 - 52(Allied)
6 bases - 84 - 72(Allied)
Those in Allied Divisions are always Allied
Afghan archers
Light or Medium archers - Initiative 6
6 bases - 38
8 bases - 48
Mercenary mountaineers
Afghan foot
Medium shieldsmen - Initiative 6
6 bases - 32
8 bases - 40
Mercenary mountaineers
Elephants
Medium or Light Elephant - Initiative 6
1 base as Detachment - 32
Hostages
Light Irregulars - Initiative 5 - Brittle
6 bases - 17
Civilians, prisoners and the condemned used as a living screen to disrupt the enemy
Light Defences (stakes)
4 per base frontage
These are "mobile"
de Mignanelli describes the Mamlukes has having __good horses, helmets, armour, very fine breastplates, and everything else needed for battle, with the exception of armour for their hips and shins, to which they were not accustomed__...
Sharaf ad-Din said that the Egypitan cavalry were the finest in the world, and in one of the clashes in Dec 25, 100 Egyptian horsemen routed a thousand of Tamerlane's advance guard Fischel, p215, n3.
de Mignanelli also claims to have talked to various sources about Timur's army. His description included the remark that __He {Timur} did not have warriors with lances because they did not know how to use lances. They had only swords and bows; in place of cuirass and breastplates they always carried larged shields. he led almost thirty thousand men with him and he had small horses accustomed to a hard life__
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