Tribal Slav AD 600 – AD 1280

Draft list by Ulf Olsson

This list covers the armies of independent tribal Slav armies. Some tribes periodically formed confederations that could evolve into formidable kingdoms such as the Moravian state that was destroyed by the Magyars.

At the start of the period the Sclavinians and Antae had a major impact in the Balkans until incorporated into the Avar, Bulgar, Magyar and Byzantine states.

This list also covers other Slav tribes in Russia and Poland before the integration into emerging Rus and Polish states.

Major Slav tribes and confederations existed along the Baltic shores, in present-day Germany, the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

The last major tribal Slav entity covered by this last is the Wends, who were very stubborn pagan opponents of the Germans and Danes. The Wends also adopted Viking-style amphibious warfare and raided extensively in the Baltic well into the 13th Century.

The Slav nations covered by this list include:

• Balkan Slav tribes, such as the Sclavinians and Antes: AD 600 - AD 800.
• Western Slav tribes and nations of Germany, Bohemia and Moravia: AD 600 - AD 1003.
• Baltic Slav tribes such as the Wends: AD 600 - AD 1280.
• Eastern Slav tribes of today's Poland, Russia and the Ukraine: AD 600 - AD 1054.

The Slavs (Saqaliba), however are a numerous folk...Their fields are of millet and they have a drink (prepared from honey). Their weapons are axes and spears, and their shields are the finest. They have a chief called Swyt and every leader they had was called by this name. The deputy is called Swbh. --Muhammad 'Aufi, from his Jawami al-hikayat.

Army List

Terrain for Balkan and Western Slavs: Normal - Hilly

Terrain for Baltic Slavs: Normal - Coastal

Terrain for Eastern Slavs: Normal - Plains

0-1 Chieftain’s Division

1c Tribal Noble Retinue

0-1 Tribal Noble Retinue

0-3 Tribal Warriors

0-1 Tribal Archers

If the Chieftain’s Division is used it must be commanded by the C-in-C.

1-2 Slav Tribal Division

1c Tribal Noble Retinue or Tribal Warriors

2-3 Tribal Warriors

0-1 Tribal Archers

2-4 Slav Ally Tribal Division

1c Tribal Ally Noble Retinue or Tribal Ally Warriors

1-3 Tribal Ally Warriors

0-1 Tribal Ally Archers

0-1 Viking Division (only Wends AD 750 – AD 1070 or in Russia AD 750 – AD 860)

1c Viking Huskarls

1-3 Viking Mercenaries

A non-Allied Viking Division may be commanded by the C-in-C if in Russia AD 750 – AD 860, in which case the Chieftain’s Division may not be used. A Viking Division which is not commanded by the C-in-C must be Allied.

0-1 Magyar or Pecheneg Ally Division (only in Moravia or Bohemia AD 800- AD 1003)

1c Ally Horse Archers

1-2 Ally Horse Archers

Additional Units

0-2 Tribal Noble Cavalry (Note 1)

0-1 Tribal Archers (Note 2)

0-2 Mercenary Horse Archers (Note 3)

0-2 Mercenary East Frankish Caballarii (Note 4)

Additional Unit Notes

No allied Division may receive Additional Units, except Tribal Noble Cavalry which may be added to an Allied Slav Division.

1. Tribal Noble Cavalry can be added to any Slav Division.
2. Tribal Archers may be added to any non-allied Slav Division.
3. Mercenary Horse Archers may be added to Chieftain's Division or a non-Allied Slav Tribal Division. They may only be used in Moravia and Bohemia AD 800 - AD 1003 and by Eastern Slavs at any date.
4. Mercenary East Frankish Caballarii can only be used by the Moravian or Bohemian states. They may only be added to the Chieftain's Division.

Units

Tribal Noble Retinue

Medium Shieldsmen – Initiative 6 (Elite, Audacious)

4 Bases 32 Pts, 24 Pts if Ally

6 Bases 40 Pts, 32 Pts if Ally

OR

Heavy Irregular Horse – Initiative 6

2 Bases 36 Pts, 32 Pts if Ally

3 Bases 48 Pts, 42 Pts if Ally

Comments:

This unit represents the personal warrior following of a major tribal Chieftain.

Tribal Noble Cavalry

Medium Irregular Horse – Initiative 6

3 Bases 39 Pts, 33 Pts if Ally

4 Bases 48 Pts, 40 Pts if Ally

Comments:

Many Slav tribes could field substantial numbers of cavalry. This unit represents the mounted noble tribal warriors not directly associated with a major tribal Chieftain.

Tribal Warriors

Medium Irregulars – Initiative 6

6 Bases – 26 Pts , 13 Pts if Ally

8 Bases – 32 Pts, 14 Pts if Ally

Tribal Warrior units in a Slav Ally Tribal Division are graded as Ally. One unit of Tribal Warriors in a Division may be regraded to Light Irregulars (same Pts cost).

If West Slav of Moravia and Bohemia AD 800 – AD 1003 all non-Allied Tribal Warriors must be regraded to Medium Shieldsmen. Tribal Warriors in allied Slav Divisions remain Irrgeulars.

Medium Shieldsmen – Initiative 5 (Deep Line)

6 Bases 26 Pts

8 Bases 32 Pts

Comments:

The Tribal Warriors represent the bulk of tribal Slav warriors.

Tribal Archers

Medium or Light Archers – Initiative 5

4 Bases – 23 Pts, 17 Pts if Ally

Tribal Archers in a Slav Ally Tribal Division are graded as Ally.

Comments:

The Slav Archers represent bow-armed Slav tribal warriors. They did not use very sophisticated bows, but sometimes did use poisoned arrows.

Mercenary Horse Archers (only in Moravia and Bohemia AD 800 - AD 1003 and Eastern Slavs)

Light Horse Archers – Initiative 6 (Wave)

2 Bases – 36 Pts

4 Bases – 60 Pts

Comments:

The Mercenary Horse Archers consists of Bulgars or Magyars.

Mercenary Frankish Caballarii (only Slavs of Moravia and Bohemia AD 800- AD 1003)

Heavy Cavalry – Initiative 6 (Audacious)

2 Bases – 36 Pts

3 Bases – 48 Pts

Comments:

The Mercenary Frankish Caballarii represent the heavy Frankish cavalrymen reported to be present at the court of Moravia in the 9th Century.

Viking Huskarls

Heavy Shock – Initiative 6 (Elite, Deep Line, Audacious)

4 Bases 44 Pts, 36 Pts if Allied

6 Bases 60 Pts, 48 Pts if Allied

All units in a Viking Division led by the C-in-C are not Allied, units of any other Viking Division must be allied.

Comments:

The Viking Huskarls represent a Viking Jarl’s personal following of professional warriors. Vikings were occasionally hired by Wends of the southern shore of the Baltic. Vikings, called Varjags by the Slavs and Russians, were also allied to various tribal groups in today’s Russia and the Ukraine. In early Russia, the Viking/Varjag sometimes led, or helped lead, alliances with local Slav tribes and are then considered to be the C-in-C. The Viking activities in Russia were quickly absorbed into the emerging Rus state, however.

Viking Mercenaries

Heavy Shieldsmen with Axemen Heavy Shock Detachment– Initiative 6 (Ally, Deep Line, Audacious)

4 Bases 33 Pts, 25 Pts if Allied

6 Bases 43 Pts, 31 Pts if Allied

All units in a Viking Division led by the C-in-C are not Allied, units of any other Viking Division must be allied.

Comments:

The Viking Mercenaries represent the well equipped rank-and-file warriors in the service of a Viking Jarl. See above.

Ally Horse Archers

Light Horse Archers – Initiative 6 (Ally, Wave)

4 Bases – 52 Pts

Ally Horse Archers may be upgraded to Medium (same Pts cost) if commanded by the Division’s General.

Comments:

The Ally Horse Archers represent steppe nomads allied to Slav tribes.