Middle Abbasid Caliphate AD 786 – AD 836

Draft list by Ulf Olsson

This list covers the army of the Abbasid Caliphs from the accession of Harun Al-Rashid until Al-Mu’tasim moves the capital to Samarra. During this period Turk Ghilman appears after the civil wars following the death of Harun Al-Rashid.

The Abbasid state was at its height, but it also started to show some signs of the internal problems that would eventually bring it down. The regions of Khurasan and North Africa gained de-facto independence, for example. Nevertheless, succeeding generations often considered this era to have been a golden age, which in some ways it actually was.

The Abbasid army was a formidable force. It was a quite sophisticated organization and could draw on the resources of a vast empire which may well have been the most prosperous of its time.

The exact composition of an army depended to some extent on the area in which it operated. An Abbasid army must state its area of operations. The following areas are available:

• Syria - This is the frontier with Byzantium. It is assumed to also include Armenia and eastern Turkey. A major theatre of operations for the entire period.
• Iraq - The centre of the Abbasid state. A major theatre of operations during civil wars.
• The East - Includes Khurasan and Persia and any expeditions into Central Asia. At times a major theatre of operations against local rebellions and Turk tribal groups. The region and its army was administered by the semi-independent Tahirids from AD 821 on.
• Egypt - Also includes the Arabian peninsula. Not usually a major theatre of operations.

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

Army List

Terrain in Syria and Iraq: Dry - Plains

Terrain in The East: Dry - Hilly

Terrain in Egypt: Dry - Coastal

0-1 Ghilman Guard Division (Only AD 814 – AD 836)

1c Ghilman Guard

0-1 Ghilman Guard

The Ghilman Guard Division must be used if the Caliph or his heir is the C-in-C. If the Ghilman Guard Division is used it must be commanded by the C-in-C.

0-1 Abbasiyyah Division (Only AD 794 – AD 836)

1c Abbasiyyah

0-1 Abbasiyyah

0-1 Khurasani Light Horse Archers

The Abbasiyyah Division must be used if the Caliph or his heir is the C-in-C in AD 794 – AD 813, in which case it must be commanded by the C-in-C.

0-3 Ahl Khurasan Division

1c Ahl Khurasan Cavalry

1-2 Ahl Khurasan Cavalry

At least 1 Ahl Khurasan Division must be used AD 786 – AD 794.The C-in-C must command an Ahl Khurasan Division if neither the Ghilman Guard Division nor the Abbasiyah Division are used.

0-2 Ahl Al-Sham Division (Only in Syria)

1c Ahl Al-Sham Cavalry

0-2 Ahl Al-Sham Cavalry

At least 1 Ahl Al-Sham Division must be used if in Syria AD 786 – AD 813.

0-1 Abna Division (Only in Iraq or if the Caliph or his heir is the C-in-C)

1c Abna Spearmen

0-2 Abna Spearmen

2-4 Infantry Division

1c Spearmen or Veteran Spearmen

1-2 Spearmen

0-1 Foot Archers

An Infantry Division may not include a unit of foot archers if any Spearmen units in the Division has an archer detachment.

0-1 City Levy Division (Only in Baghdad during the civil wars AD 809 – AD 813)

1c City Levy or City Irregulars

0-1 City Irregulars

1-2 City Levy

0-2 Foot Archers

The City Levy Division can not receive any additional units.

0-1 Ally Bedouin Division (May not be used in the East)

1c Bedouin Ally Medium Horse or Bedouin Ally Light Horse

1-2 Bedouin Ally Light Horse

Additional units:

No Allied Division can receive additional units

0-2 Dailami Mercenary Infantry (Note 1)

0-1 Dailami Mercenary Archers (Note 1)

0-1 Khurasanian Horse Archers or Khurasanian Light Horse Archers (Note 2)

0-2 City Levy (Note 3)

0-2 Tribal Hillmen (Note 4)

0-4 Bedouin Light Horse (Note 5)

1. Dailami may be added to an Abna Division and/or any Division commanded by the C-in-C.
2. Khurasanians may be added to a Ghilman or Ahl Khurasan Division. Khurasanians may not be used as an Additional Unit if the Abbasiyah Division is used.
3. City Levy may be added to an Infantry Division.
4. Tribal Hillmen may be added to an Infantry Division
5. Bedouin Light Horse can be added to any Ghilman, Abbasiyah, Ahl Khurasan or Ahl Al-Sham Division

Mounted Units

Ghilman Guard (Only in AD 814 – AD 836)

Heavy Horse Archers or Medium Horse Archers – Initiative 7, (Wave, Expert)

2 Bases - 52 Pts if Heavy, 44 if Medium

4 Bases - 91 Pts if Heavy, 76 if Medium

Comments:

Abbasid rulers started using Ghilman after the civil wars following the death of Harun Al-Rashid. The Ghilman were the most effective troops of their day, but were also very expensive. In addition they came to exercise considerable political influence that eventually caused severe problems.

Ahl Khurasan Cavalry or Ahl Al-Sham Cavalry

Heavy Cavalry – Initiative 6 (Wave)

2 Bases - 36 Pts, 32 Pts if Brittle

4 Bases - 60 Pts, 52 Pts if Brittle

The Ahl Al-Sham must be Brittle in AD 814 – AD 836, and may be graded as Brittle at other dates.

Comments:

These units represent the well equipped high-status cavalry forces of the Abbasid state. Both Ahl Khurasan and Ahl Al-Sham were mailed lancers in the traditional Arab style, and there were probably little if any difference in equipment or appearance between them.

The Ahl Khurasan were the core of the original Abbasid revolutionary from Khurasan and continued to be an effective force for generations.

The Ahl Al-Sham was the old elite of the preceding Umayyad Caliphs and fought against the Abbasids during the Abbasid revolution, but took service with them once the Umayyad regime collapsed. The Umayyad capital had been Damascus and the Ahl Al-Sham continued to be stationed near it. Their effectiveness gradually deteriorated along with their prestige and privileges, as first the Abbasiyyah and then the Ghilman gained influence.

Bedouin Ally Medium Horse

Medium Irregular Horse - Initiative 6 (Ally, Wave)

4 Bases - 40 Pts

6 bases - 54 Pts

Comments:

Bedouin Ally Medium Cavalry are the more heavily equipped members of Bedouin clans under tenuous Abbasid control.

Bedouin Light Horse

Light Irregular Horse – Initiative 6 (Wave)

4 Bases - 48 Pts, 40 Pts if Allied

6 Bases - 66 Pts, 54 Pts if Allied

Bedouin Light Cavalry in Bedouin Ally Divisions are Allies. Bedouin in other Divisions are not Allies.

Comments:

The Bedouin Light Cavalry consist of the less heavily equipped tribesmen of Bedouin clans, see above. Non-allied Bedouin Light Cavalry include smaller bodies of tribal Arab auxiliaries and various border fighters along with religious volunteers.

Abbassiyah or Khurasanian Horse Archers (Only in AD 794 – AD 836)

Medium Horse Archers – Initiative 7 (Wave)

2 Bases - 42 Pts

4 Bases - 72 Pts

Comments:

These units represent the rather heavily equipped members of a large contingent of Khurasanians recruited in AD 794 to serve as a new guard corps (Abbasiyyah means ‘Guardians of the Abbasids’) to counter the influence of the Abna and the Ahl Khurasan. They were gradually supplanted by the Ghilman from AD 814 on. Other heavily equipped Khurasanians were also used at times, especially in Khurasan itself.

Khurasanian Light Horse Archers (Only in AD 794 – AD 836)

Light Horse Archers – Initiative 6 (Wave)

4 Bases - 60 Pts

6 Bases - 84 Pts

Comments:

These units represent more lightly equipped members of the Abbasiyah. It also covers other lightly equipped Khurasanis recruited by the Abbasids. See above.

Foot Units

Dailami Mercenary Infantry

Medium Shock – Initiative 6

4 Bases - 32 Pts

6 Bases - 42 Pts

Comments:

Dailami Mercenaries were professional infantry of good quality. They were primarily armed with javelins, swords and some axes.

Dailami Mercenary Archers

Light Archers or Medium Archers – Initiative 6

4 Bases - 28 Pts

6 Bases - 38 Pts

Comments:

A proportion of Dailami could be archers instead of javelinmen. See above.

Abna’ or Veteran Spearmen

Heavy Shieldsmen – Initiative 6

6 Bases – 38 Pts

8 Bases – 48 Pts

OR

Medium Shieldsmen - Initiative 6

6 Bases – 32 Pts, 39 Pts if Including Light Archer Detachment

8 Bases – 40 Pts, 48 Pts if Including Light Archer Detachment

Abna’ spearmen may be graded as Heavy or Medium, Veteran spearmen must be medium. Veteran Spearmen, but not Abna', may include a Light Archer Detachment

Comments:

The Abna’ were the descendants of those Ahl Khurasan troops stationed in Baghdad. They gradually evolved into a highly regarded, well equipped, and highly paid infantry force with considerable political influence. Some veteran spearmen of the frontier areas may have developed similar skill (but were not as influential, lavishly paid or well equipped).

Spearmen

Medium Shieldsmen – Initiative 6 (Brittle)

6 Bases - 26 Pts, 33 Pts if including Light Archer Detachment.

8 Bases - 32 Pts 40 Pts if including Light Archer Detachment.

May have Light Archer Detachment.

Comments:

The Spearmen represent the majority of Abbasid infantry equipped with spear and shield. Some had helmets and/or mail hauberks, although many probably wore little or no armour. Abbasid spearmen closely resembled their Byzantine counterparts in both equipment and performance and were often supported by archers.

Foot Archers

Medium or Light Archers – Initiative 6

4 Bases - 28 Pts, 24 Pts if Brittle

6 Bases - 38 Pts, 32 Pts if Brittle

May be graded as Brittle. Up to 1 Foot Archer Unit in a Division may have a Naffatun Light Shock Detachment + 4 Pts

Comments:

The Foot Archers represent the lightly equipped archers deployed in separate bodies. Some archers could be supported by naffatun incendiary troops.

Tribal Hillmen or City Irregulars

Light or Medium Irregulars – Initiative 6

6 Bases - 26 Pts

8 Bases - 32 Pts

Comments:

The Tribal Hillmen depicts the irregular infantry provided by various mountain clans. The City Irregulars depict the warlike, but undisciplined and badly equipped city dwellers that took up arms to considerable effect during the fighting in Baghdad during the civil wars.

City Levy

Medium Irregulars – Initiative 5

6 Bases - 22 Pts

8 Bases - 26 Pts

Comments:

City Levies depict the less warlike portions of the hastily mobilized city-dwellers occasionally used by the Abbasids, especially during the civil wars. In city fighting they sometimes proved effective, but were unreliable and ill-equipped.