Konstantinian Byzantine, AD 1042 - AD 1071

Draft list by Ulf Olsson

The successors of Emperor Basil II were politically unimpressive and were kept busy holding on to their thrones by the never-ending intrigues of the Imperial court. They certainly did not pursue any expansionist foreign policy and did not really think they needed the big, expensive and independent-minded military machine they had inherited. In addition, the Empire of the mid 11th century did not feel itself threatened by any serious external enemies.

In AD 1042, Empereror Constantine the IX decided to save money by effectively disbanding the old Thematic forces and commute their service into a tax instead. The military duties were taken over by expanded Tagmatic units and various mercenaries. This was a disastrous mistake, but probably seemed a good idea at the time since it diminished the powerbase of the provincial military nobles. Furthermore, the quality of the Thematic forces had declined dramatically but still cost the same.

The quality of the army declined during the period due to budget cuts, internal squabbles and general lack of interest on the part of a string of weak Emperors. Still, the military machine functioned reasonably well for a generation.

The Emperor Romanos tried to revive the Thematic organisation when facing the Seljuq Turks, but it was too little, too late. With the Tagmatic forces defeated at Manzikert and no Thematic forces in operation, there were no reserves to stop the Turks taking over large parts of Anatolia. In the aftermath of Manzikert a civil war broke out among the Byzantines which prevented any real military recovery for several years. The Empire never recovered.

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

Army List

Terrain: Normal - Hilly

0-1 Imperial Tagmatic Division

1c Kavallarioi of Imperial Tagmata

1-2 Kavallarioi of Imperial Tagmata

0-1 Varangian Guard

If the Imperial Tagmatic Division is used, it must be commanded by the C-in-C. The Varangian Guard can only be used in the Imperial Tagmatic Division if the Varangian Division is not used.

1-2 Provincial Tagmatic Division

1c Kavallarioi of Provincial Tagmata

1-2 Kavallarioi of Provincial Tagmata

0-1 Hyperkerastai

0-3 Taxiarchy Division

1c Taxiarchy Hoplitai

0-1 Taxiarchy Hoplitai

1-2 Taxiarchy Akontistai

0-1 Norman Mercenary Division

1c Norman Mercenary Milites

1-2 Norman Mercenary milites

0-1 Varangian Division

1c Varangian Guard

1 Varangian Guard

1-2 Pecheneg or Turk Mercenary Division

1c Pecheneg or Turk Mercenaries

0-2 Pecheneg or Turk Mercenaries

A Pecheneg or Turk Mercenary Division may be classed as Ally AD 1042 - AD 1060. It must be classed as Ally in AD 1061 - AD 1071

0-1 Allied Armenian Division

1c Armenian Ally Cavalry

1 Armenian Ally Spearmen

0-1 Armenian Ally Archers

0-1 Allied Lombard Division

1c Lombard Ally Cavalry

1-2 Lombard Ally Spearmen

1 Lombard Ally Archers

An Allied Lombard Division replaces one Taxiarchy Division. A Lombard Division must be used in Italy. It cannot be used outside Italy.

1-2 Thematic Levy Division (Only in the East AD 1067 - AD 1071)

1c Thematic Levy Javelinmen or Thematic Levy Archers

0-1 Thematic Levy Archers

1-2 Thematic Levy Javelinmen

A Thematic Levy Division cannot receive any Additional Units.

Additional Units

0-1 Kataphraktoi (Note 1)

0-1 Lombard or Armenian Noble Cavalry (Note 2)

0-1 Prokorsatores (Note 3)

0-1 Armenian Mercenary Spearmen (Note 4)

1-2 Norman Mercenary Milites (Note 5)

0-2 Pecheneg or Turk Mercenaries (Note 6)

0-20 Ditch and bank camp defences (Note 7)

0-2 Bolt-shooters and Stone-throwers (Note 8)

Additional Unit Notes

No Additional Units may be added to an Allied Division

1. Kataphraktoi may only be added to the Imperial Tagmatic Division. It cannot be used in Italy.
2. Lombard/Armenian Noble Cavalry may not be added to Taxiarchy Division.
3. Prokorsatores may not be added to Taxiarchy Division.
4. Armenian Mercenary Spearmen may only be added to a Taxiarchy or Imperial Tagmatic Division.
5. Norman Mercenary Milites may only be used as Additional Units if the Norman Division is not used. Norman Mercenary Milites may not be added to a Taxiarchy Division or a Pecheneg or Turk Mercenary Division.
6. Pecheneg or Turk Mercenaries may not be added to a Taxiarchy Division.
7. 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.
8. Artillery may only be deployed inside a Byzantine camp and cannot be moved during the game.

Mounted Units

Kataphraktoi

Armoured Cavalry - Initiative 7 (Elite, Bow, Deep Line)

2 Bases - 52 Pts

3 Bases - 72 Pts

Comments:

Very heavily armoured shock cavalry on armoured horses drawn from the Tagmatic elite regiments. This unit was supposed to deliver the main ‘punch’ to an enemy battle-line. It operated in deep wedge formation and was closely supported by Kavallarioi and Prokorsatores. The Katafraktoi were very effective, but also very expensive to raise and maintain.

Kavallarioi of Imperial Tagmata

Heavy Cavalry - Initiative 7 (Bow)

3 Bases - 57 Pts

4 Bases - 72 Pts

Comments:

Includes the Scholae, Hetaireia, Excubitai, Vigla, Arithmos, etc. This is the elite of the Byzantine army and consists of full-time regular cavalry soldiers based in and around Constantinople itself. It retained very high quality in this period.

Kavallarioi of Provincial Tagmata

Heavy Cavalry - Initiative 6

3 Bases - 48 Pts, 42 Pts if Brittle

4 Bases - 60 Pts, 52 Pts if Brittle

May be classed as Brittle AD 1042 - AD 1060. Must be classed as Brittle AD 1061 - AD 1071.

Comments:

Represents the full-time professional cavalry of the provinces. They lack skill in horse archery and consist almost entirely of lancers. The quality of the provincial forces declined during this period.

Prokorsatores

Light Cavalry - Initiative 6 (Bow, Wave)

2 Bases - 32 Pts

4 Bases - 52 Pts

Comments:

Prokorsatores were the best units of light cavalry in the regular Byzantine army. It consists of lancers supported by horse archers. One of its main battlefield tasks was to support and shield the advance of the Katafraktoi.

Hyperkerastai

Light Horse Archers - Initiative 6 (Wave)

2 Bases - 36 Pts

4 Bases - 60 Pts

Comments:

Light cavalry mainly armed with bows.

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.

Norman Mercenary Milites

Light Chevaliers – Initiative 6 (Audacious)

2 Bases - 60 Pts

3 Bases - 78 Pts

Comments:

Norman mercenaries in Byzantine service. They are the ‘prototype’ for true medieval knights and very effective, if somewhat over-enthusiastic at times.

Pecheneg or Turk Mercenaries

Light Horse Archers - Initiative 6 (Wave)

2 Bases - 36 Pts, 32 Pts if Allied

4 Bases - 60 Pts, 52 Pts if Allied

A Pecheneg or Turk Mercenary unit may be classed as Ally AD 1042 - AD 1060. It must be classed as Ally in AD 1061 - AD 1071

Comments:

These units depict Pecheneg or Turk Mercenaries in Byzantine service. They were effective troops, but were not always loyal.

Lombard 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

Varangian Guard

Heavy Shock - Initiative 7 (Deep Line)

4 Bases - 42 Pts

6 Bases - 57 Pts

8 Bases - 72 Pts

Comments:

The Varangians in Byzantine service developed into a part of the regular army with considerable discipline and a great reputation for combat effectiveness, as well as a remarkable reputation for political reliability. Whether they always lived up to their reputation is less than certain, though.

See: Varangians- Depiction from the Skylitzes Madrid MS

http://tinyurl.com/nqnbf

Taxiarchy Hoplitai

Medium Shieldsmen + Medium Archer Detachment + Menavlatoi Detachment (Light Shock)

Initiative 5 (Deep Line, Hollow Square)

6 Bases - 36 Pts

8 Bases - 42 Pts

Comments:

These units represent the heavy infantry component of the main Byzantine infantry force of the period. The heavy infantry was well disciplined and consisted of spearmen and archers. They operated together with light infantry in a sophisticated brigade-like structure. These ‘brigades’ often deployed in a box-like hollow-square formation. The quality of these units was in decline during the period.

Taxiarchy Akontistai

Light Shieldsmen + Light Archer Detachment - Initiative 5 (Hollow Square)

4 Bases - 27 Pts

6 Bases - 34 Pts

Comments:

These units represent the light infantry component of the ‘brigades’ described above. They consist of fast-moving javelinmen supported by archers and slingers. The quality of these units was in decline during the period.

Thematic Levy Archers (only in the East AD 1067 - AD 1071)

Medium or Light Archers – Initiative 5

4 Bases - 23 Pts

6 Bases - 31 Pts

Comments:

Lightly equipped infantry archers based in the Themes. The Emperor Romanos tried to revive the Thematic organisation in the face of the Seljuq Turks. The soldiers of the Themes had been disbanded a generation before, and the soldiers raised lacked equipment and were ancient veterans or untrained young men. If given time, they may have become good troops.

Thematic Levy Javelinmen (only in the East AD 1067 - AD 1071)

Medium or Light Irregulars – Initiative 5

4 Bases - 17 Pts

6 Bases - 22 Pts

Comments:

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

Armenian Mercenary Spearmen

Heavy Shieldsmen – Initiative 6 (Hollow Square)

6 Bases - 38 Pts

8 Bases - 48 Pts

Comments:

Mercenary heavy infantry of good quality. Not part of regular army.

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 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.

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.