Early Thematic Byzantine, AD 651 - AD 743

Draft list by Ulf Olsson

The Early Byzantine List covers the armies of the Byzantine state from the introduction of the Thematic system until the Emperor Constantine V established the first Tagmata regiments.

The Byzantine army of the period AD 634 - AD 660 suffered a string of very serious defeats in heavy fighting against the Muslim Arabs. In the process the Empire lost all its African and eastern provinces except Anatolia. At the same time, invading Slavs and Bulgars had taken over most of the Balkans.

In about AD 650 the surviving parts of the army of the eastern provinces had retreated into Anatatolia abandoning all of Palestine, Syria and Egypt.

The loss of revenue from the lost provinces put severe strain on the economy. At this time a new military organisation based on armies permanently based in the remaining provinces began to take shape. Each province, called a Theme, received its own permanent army corps.

The army was almost constantly at war in the east, where the Arabs mounted several serious invasions as well as yearly raids across the frontier. The reformed army slowly managed to contain the Arab onslaught and begin to push back the Slavs in the Balkan. After AD 660 the Empire lost no further major territory despite constant enemy attacks on several fronts. The Byzantine army usually avoided pitched battle, and relied on maneuver and attrition to wear down invading enemies. The Byzantines occasionally counterattacked, but usually on a small scale.

There were also several major wars against the newly established Bulgar state and continuous small-scale warfare against Slavic tribes in the Balkans.

The army had very mixed success when it did fight major battles. Under competent leadership it was often victorious, but it also frequently suffered defeat when leadership was less inspiring. In addition, there were several civil wars and military rebellions.

The early part of the period can be regarded as the Byzantine Dark Ages with major upheavals, loss of territory and a sharply declining economy. By the mid-8th century, however, the state and army had recovered to a considerable extent.

For a list of sources used to compile this list, please see Byzantine Sources.

Army List

Terrain: Normal - Hilly

0-1 Opsikion Theme Division

1c Elite Kavallarioi

1-3 1st Rate Thematic Kavallarioi

If the Opsikion Theme Division is used, it must be commanded by the C-in-C.

1-3 Thematic Cavalry Division

1c 1st Rate Thematic Kavallarioi

0-1 1st Rate Thematic Kavallarioi (may only be used AD 661 - AD 743)

1-2 2nd Rate Thematic Kavallarioi

0-1 Kursores

1st rate Kavallarioi may not outnumber 2nd rate Kavallarioi in a Thematic Cavalry Division.

0-2 Thematic Infantry Division

1c Hoplitai

0-1 Hoplitai

0-1 Akontistai

0-1 Toxotai

0-2 Thematic Levy Division

1c Trapezitai or Thematic Levy Archers or Thematic Levy Javelinmen

1-2 Thematic Levy Archers

1-2 Thematic Levy Javelinmen

At least one Thematic Levy Division must be used if any infantry is fielded. There must be at least one Thematic Levy Division for each Thematic Infantry Division used.

0-1 Allied Armenian Division

1c Armenian Ally Cavalry

1 Armenian Ally Spearmen

0-1 Armenian Ally Archers

An Allied Armenian Division may only be used on the Eastern Frontier.

0-1 Allied Lombard Division

1c Lombard Ally Cavalry

1-2 Lombard Ally Spearmen

1 Lombard Ally Archers

An Allied Lombard Division replaces one Thematic Infantry Division. A Lombard Division can only be used in Italy.

0-1 Allied Georgian Division

1c Georgian Ally Cavalry

0-1 Georgian Ally Azatks

0-1 Georgian Ally Spearmen

0-1 Georgian Ally Archers

An Allied Georgian Division can only be used on the Eastern frontier.

0-1 Slav Ally Division

1c Slav Ally Tribal Warriors

1-3 Slav Ally Tribal Warriors

0-1 Slav Ally Tribal Archers

A Slav Ally Division can be used anywhere AD 650 - AD 705, but only in the Balkans AD 706 - AD 743.

Additional Units

A Thematic Levy Division or a Allied Division may not receive any additional units.

0-1 Lombard or Armenian Noble Cavalry (Note 1)

0-2 Akritai or Trapezitai (Note 2)

0-1 Steppe Nomad Mercenaries (Note 3)

0-20 Ditch and bank camp defences (Note 4)

0-2 Bolt-shooters and Stone-throwers (Note 5)

Additional Unit Notes

1. Lombard/Armenian Noble Cavalry may not be added to Thematic Infantry Division.
2. Akritai or Trapezitai may not be added to Thematic Infantry Division.
3. Steppe Nomad Mercenaries may not be added to a Thematic Infantry Division.
4. Ditch and bank camp defences may only be used if defending in a positional battle. At least 10 widths of camp fortifications must be used if any are. A fortified camp must completely enclose the area of the camp or abut the Byzantine rear table edge and/or a river or sea. The camp enclosure must be continous except for one or two gaps representing the camp gates. The gate gap(s) must be exactly one base width wide.
5. Artillery may only be deployed inside a Byzantine camp and cannot be moved during the game.

Mounted Units

Elite Kavallarioi

Heavy Cavalry - Initiative 7 (Bow)

3 Bases 57 Pts

4 Bases 72 Pts

Comments:

Bodyguard unit of veterans of the Opsikion Theme. This is the elite of the Byzantine army and consists of full-time regular soldiers based in and around Constantinople itself.

1st Rate Thematic Kavallarioi

Heavy Cavalry - Initiative 6 (Bow, Deep Line)

3 Bases 48 Pts

4 Bases 60 Pts

Comments:

The 1st Rate Thematic Kavallarioi represent the very best of the Thematic cavalry. They are well trained and equipped.

2nd Rate Thematic Kavallarioi

Heavy Cavalry - Initiative 6 (Brittle, Deep Line)

3 Bases 42 Pts

4 Bases 52 Pts

Comments:

Represents the bulk of provincial cavalry with less training and equipment. They lack skill in horse archery and consist almost entirely of lancers.

Trapezitai and Akritai

Light Cavalry - Initiative 6 (Bow, Wave)

2 Bases 32 Pts

4 Bases 52 Pts

Comments:

Trapezitai are equipped lightly cavalry scouts and spies based in border regions. Some independently-minded Thematic border troops are called Akritai and engage in constant small-scale raiding warfare against very similar Muslim borderers.

Kursores or Steppe Nomad Mercenaries

Light Horse Archers - Initiative 6 (Wave)

2 Bases 36 Pts

4 Bases 60 Pts

Comments:

Light cavalry mainly armed with bows. Kursores are horse archers detached from the main body of Kavallarioi units to act as skirmishers in close co-operation with the lancers of their parent units. However, the Byzantine provincial units always had problems maintaining horse archer skills. Quality of Thematic units was highly variable and it is doubtful if all Thematic units had Kursores that could be detached.

The Byzantines also sometimes recruited units of Alan, Khazar or other steppe nomads as mercenaries.

Lombard or Armenian Noble Cavalry

Heavy Cavalry - Initiative 6 (Audacious)

4 Bases 60 Pts

Comments:

Noble retinues with good mounts and equipment. They are skilled but lack discipline. They are not a part of the regular army.

Lombard, Georgian or Armenian Ally Cavalry

Heavy Cavalry - Initiative 6 (Ally, Audacious)

3 Bases 42 Pts

4 Bases 52 Pts

Comments:

Heavy cavalry of contingents allied to the Byzantines. Skilled and well equipped, but not necessarily reliable.

Foot Units

Hoplitai

Medium Shieldsmen - Initiative 6 (Brittle)

6 Bases 26 Pts

8 Bases 32 Pts

Optional Light Archer Detachment + 5 Pts

Comments:

These units represent the heavy infantry component of the main Byzantine infantry force of the period. The heavy infantry were supposed to be well drilled and disciplined, but their performance indicates that this was not the case.

Akontistai

Light Shieldsmen - Initiative 6 (Brittle)

4 Bases 20 Pts

6 Bases 26 Pts

Optional Fire Siphoneer Detachment (Light Shock) + 5 Pts

Max 1 Akontistai Unit in the army may be upgraded with a Fire Siphoneer Detachment

Comments:

These units represent the light infantry component of the main Byzantine infantry force of the period. They consist of fast-moving javelinmen. One Akontistai unit can be supported by specialist troops using Greek Fire siphons and/or incendiary grenades.

Toxotai

Medium or Light Archers – Initiative 6 (Brittle)

6 Bases 32 Pts

8 Bases 40 Pts

Comments:

Lightly equipped infantry archers of the Themes.

Thematic Levy Archers

Medium or Light Archers – Initiative 5

4 Bases 23 Pts

6 Bases 31 Pts

Comments:

Lightly equipped infantry archers based in the Themes. Although soldiers of the regular army, they lack training and organisation. They lacked equipment and training for open battle and often proved unreliable in conventional warfare. They were, however, very valuable as lightly equipped infantry operating in guerrilla-style border warfare.

Thematic Levy Javelinmen

Medium or Light Irregulars – Initiative 5

4 Bases 17 Pts

6 Bases 22 Pts

Comments:

Lightly equipped infantry javelinmen archers based in the Themes. See Thematic Levy Archers above.

Lombard Ally Archers

Light or Medium Archers – Initiative 5 (Ally)

4 Bases 20 Pts

Comments:

Infantry archers from the Italian parts of the empire. They formed part of the regular local defence forces, but were of limited skill and reliability.

Georgian or Armenian Ally Archers

Light or Medium Archers – Initiative 6 (Ally)

4 Bases 24 Pts

Comments:

Infantry archers from the peripheral parts of the empire and/or allied states. They formed part of allied levies, but were of limited skill and reliability.

Lombard, Georgian or Armenian Ally Spearmen

Medium Shieldsmen - Initiative 5 (Ally)

6 Bases 26 Pts

8 Bases 32 Pts

Comments:

Infantry spearmen from the peripheral parts of the empire and/or allied states. They formed part of allied levies, but were of limited skill and reliability.

Slav Ally Tribal Warriors

Medium Irregulars - Initiative 6 (Ally)

6 Bases 20 Pts

8 Bases 24 Pts

Comments:

Warriors from Slav tribes allied to the Byzantines and operating under their own leaders. They were lightly equipped with javelins and shields. Large contingents were transported to Asia Minor and used against the Arabs by Justinian II, where some of them deserted to the enemy.

After Justinian's reign, entire tribal contingents could still be Byzantine allies, but operated only in ther Balkans.

Slav Ally Tribal Archers

Light Archers - Initiative 6 (Ally)

4 Bases 24 Pts

Comments:

Lightly equipped archers from Slav tribes allied to the Byzantines as described above.

Bolt Shooters and Stone Throwers

Artillery

1 Base 20 Pts

Artillery can only be used if defending in a positional battle. It must be deployed inside a Fortified Camp.

Comments:

The Byzantine army had a range of sophisticated artillery pieces of various sizes and types. Most were used in sieges, but the lighter types were also used for defending the army’s marching camps.

Fortified Camp

Medium Fortification

1 Width 8 Pt

The Fortified Camp may only be used if defending in a positional battle.

Comments:

According to regulations, the Byzantine army was always supposed to erect Roman-style marching camps in enemy territory. This was not always done, however. In addition, some battles took place a considerable distance away from fortified camps, so the fortified camp is not compulsory.