INTRODUCTION Ardean military is primarily state-based one. It consists of the central army (palatini) and the provincial army (comitatenses). Central army is a standing army of fully professional soldiers, and is always ready for combat. Provincial army consists of a small core of paid standing troops in each province, with most of the army consisting of part-time soldiers supported by farmers, who only receive campaign pay and live off the land rest of the time. Not counted are the militia (insurrectio) which may be raised in directly-threatened areas when necessary. In extreme danger, militia is raised by carrying a bloody sword across the country. It is led by officers called levatori gentium or ductori; not answering the call is punishable by death. Overall commander of the army is the Emperor, who is supposed to maintain at least a level of military competence. He has to have training, ability to ride, wield weapons, and to be literate in strategy and military structure. ARMY UNIT TYPES Border troops (Limitanei, Akritai) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akritai Limitanei is a general term for border troops, be it standing army or militia, consisting predominantly of light infantry and cavalry. They act as raiders, scouts and border guards, and are usually deployed in units no larger than cohorts. Generally they are recruited among local populace (like most of the army), particularly trackers and hunters familiar with local terrain. Among other tasks, limitanei perform regular deep incursions into enemy territory. They themselves profit from such raids, often taking cattle with them. They also destroy smaller enemy outposts, burn crops and villages, while avoiding direct conflict with enemy soldiers. At coasts, such troops often take small boats into raids against enemy trade ships. City watch (Vigili) Vigili are special units tasked with maintaining law and order within cities. In emergency, they may also be used to reinforce city garrison. Central army (Palatini / Praesentalis, Tagmata – The Black Army) Central army (palatini, praesentalis, exercitus imperatoris) consists of standing full-time soldiers, garrisoned in and around the capital city. It is structured to deal with revolt by any one of provincial armies, and possibly even two of them. Central army itself is divided into several units: Scholae / Scholai, Excoubitorii / Exkoubitores, Vigilantes / Vigla and Periti / Hikanatoi. Provincial army (Comitatenses, Themata) Provincial army (comitatenses, exercitus imperii) consists of full-time paid soldiers and part-time soldiers supported by farmers. Provincial army operates under command of regional governors, which oversee the regular training and maintenance of soldiers under their command. They are given plots of land in exchange for military service, and during peacetime sustain themselves solely from land income. When campaigning, they are given campaign pay. Ideally, those troops would not be peasants themselves, so as not to be distracted from military service; though many in light infantry may be. TROOP TYPES AND EQUIPMENT While below roles are standard, in actuality it is possible for troops to go out of their assigned roles. Cavalry may be called to dismount and fight like infantry, and infantry may be called to mount horses or mules if quick march is necessary. Heavy infantry Heavy infantry is typically equipped with full plate armour open-faced sallet helmet combined with falling buffe. This allows easy head movement and good vision, while still providing good protection from missiles when necessary. Disadvantage of sallet helmet is that it sits freely on the head, which means that even strikes that do not penetrate the helmet may still disable the person. Light infantry Light infantry is typically equipped with open-faced helmet, gambeson, oval shield, sword and a spear. They may also be equipped with javelins, lead darts and/or throwing axes. Better-equipped light infantry (called "medium infantry") will also have a chain shirt. Sling does not require great physical strength yet can achieve range of around 400 meters, better than a bow; however, it requires even longer practice to become proficient in. Crossbowmen Infantry utilizes wrench-and-pulley crossbow, which allows for significant power, but at the expense of slow firing rate. Equipment is otherwise identical to light infantry. Archers Archers are rarer than crossbowmen, owing to training. Infantry bow is capable of sending arrows over 330 meters, with killing range of 200 meters against unarmoured person. It can penetrate mail armour at 60 meters and Ardean lamellar armour at 20 meters. Plate armour cannot be penetrated. Heavy lance cavalry Heavy cavalry utilizes full plate armour, similar to that of infantry. Heavy cavalry armour weights some 35 – 40 kg, but since weight is distributed over entire body, it is possible for cavalryman to fight on foot. Due to need for assistance when putting on armour, each heavy cavalryman has two helpers – oftentimes light cavalry riders who are also tasked with missile support in battle. Heavy missile cavalry Heavy missile cavalry abandons heavy lance in favour of bow or crossbow. Otherwise equipment is the same as that of heavy lance cavalry. Cavalry bow is capable of shooting arrows over distance of 275 meters, with killing range of 170 meters. Light lance cavalry Light lance cavalry is equipped with sallet helmet with visor, a small shield, a sword and a lance. They may also carry either a mail shirt or a lamellar corselet over a padded surcoat, or else just a surcoat. Light missile cavalry Light missile cavalry uses bows and/or throwing axes. Bow is lighter than that of heavy cavalry, with maximum range of 135 m and killing range of 80 meters. Each cavalryman carries a quiver of 40 arrows. Armour is same as that of lance cavalry. Limitanei cavalry Limitanei cavalry is even lighter than normal light cavalry. They specialize in surprise attacks and raids, burning enemy villages and stealing cattle. Many such cavalry are irregular, living from what they can capture from the enemy. They often carry silk cravats, which are used as first aid for wounds. They have no armour, while weapons consist of a longsword or a sabre, as well as a polearm (axe, warhammer or mace) and a crossbow. Limitanei horses are small and hardy. Medicai Medicai are medics, people trained in medical arts. Deputatii Deptutatii are rescuers, whose duty is to take wounded from the battle and bring them to medics in the rear. They carry flasks of water, and have two ladders attacked to the saddles of their horses on the left side for help in raising soldiers onto the saddle. TROOP PROPORTIONS Central army (Palatini, Tagmata) 15% heavy armoured cavalry (cataphractii) 61% heavy cavalry (lancers) 24% light cavalry Provincial army (Comitatenses, Themata) 30% cavalry (10% heavy cavalry, 20% light cavalry – half of each are missile troops) 70% infantry (20% heavy infantry, 20% light infantry, 30% archers) Navy: 30% of army size RECRUITMENT During campaigns, soldiers receive pay from state, but outside of that they live off the land. Because of this, each soldier is given a plot of land to live from in exchange for military service. This land is still state-owned; soldier is merely a user. These troops are required to appear at yearly muster, and serve on a seasonal basis. Each provincial soldier is given a certain value of land, depending on requirements of service. One pound of gold is worth 20 solidi, and will purchase between 6 and 15 ha, or 60 000 – 150 000 m2 of land. One peasant may own 8 to 20 ha of land; as such, many light infantrymen are peasants. Price of a war horse is 20 solidi, draught horse is 10 solidi; mail armour is 100 solidi, full plate armour for cavalryman is 320 solidi (540 solidi with horse armour), and infantry plate half-armour is 140 solidi. Open-faced helmet is 4 solidi. A person owning land of two pounds of gold (40 solidi) has to have a helmet, a spear, and a gambeson. Military service itself is hereditary. Land passes from oldest son to oldest son, or else to closest (capable) male relative in case that soldier does not have a son or son is not capable of military service for one reason or another. In this way, land is not divided. People who do not have enough individually are to band together and provide equipment for one of them. Likewise, those individuals who possess more than minimum value are required to equip and provide additional soldier(s). Original minimum land requirements are as follows: heavy cavalry: 12 pounds of gold – 1 200 000 m2 of land light cavalry: 4 pounds of gold – 400 000 m2 of land (40 peasant families; 80 solidi) infantryman: 2 pounds of gold – 200 000 m2 of land sailor: 2 pounds of gold – 200 000 m2 of land However, armour technology had advanced from the time of original legislation, with plate armour supplementing other forms of armour, and largely replacing old lamellar armour. As such, following minimum requirements hold true (note: addition to land ½ the value of armour): heavy cavalry: 18 pounds of gold / 1 800 000 m2 (4 pounds + 270 solidi / 13,5 pounds) light cavalry: 4 pounds of gold / 400 000 m2 heavy infantry: 5,5 pounds of gold / 550 000 m2 (2 pounds + 70 solidi / 3,5 pounds) medium infantry: 4,5 pounds of gold / 450 000 m2 (2 pounds + 50 solidi / 2,5 pounds) light infantry: 2 pounds of gold / 200 000 m2 sailor: 2 pounds of gold / 200 000 m2 With 15 million people, area under cultivation is 692 000 square kilometers [Calculation as follows: 12 acres per family of 5, 95% of people as farmers = 171 000 000 acres = 692 012 km2], which represents 54% of the area of the Empire. About one-quarter of all cultivable lands of the Empire are given for the military, for a total of 173 000 km2. Using percentages as numbers of troops, 2 heavy cavalrymen, 4 light cavalrymen, 6 heavy infantrymen, 2 medium infantryen, 4 light infantrymen, 4 archers, 1 marine and 6 sailors would require a total of 12 400 000 m2 of land, or 12,4 km2. This gives 14 000 batches, providing for a total force of 28 000 heavy cavalry, 56 000 light cavalry, 84 000 heavy infantry, 28 000 medium infantry, 56 000 light infantry, 56 000 archers, 14 000 marines and 84 000 sailors. Total is thus 406 000 troops, of which 308 000 ground troops and 98 000 naval troops. Large dromon has two banks of oars with a total of 100 oars with 100 oarsmen, middle-sized dromon with a single bank of oars has 50 oars with 50 oarsmen and small dromon (barca) has 20 oars and 20 oarsmen. In addition to rowers, large dromon also has a captain, a standard-bearer, two pilots, a bowman and five assistants; medium the same, and small dromon a commander and a helmsman. Crew is thus 210 for large dromon (two crews of oarsmen), 110 for medium dromon and 22 for small dromon. Number of soldiers is 70 for large dromon, 25 for medium dromon and no soldiers for small dromon. Thus total complement is 280 for large, 140 for medium and 22 for small dromon. Large dromon is 32 meters long, and so is middle-sized dromon. Small dromon or barca is 14 meters in length, 2 meters in width and 0,3 meters in draught, with total side height of 0,7 m. Horse transport is a large dromond for whom lower bank of oars had been removed, and hold converted for horses. Horses are transported triple-file, with 36 horses per large transport and 24 horses per small transport (a converted large dromond). Large transport has crew of 160 men and small transport of 130 men. With 14 000 marines and 84 000 sailors, fleet has 100 large dromons (7 000 marines, 21 000 sailors), 280 medium dromons (7 000 marines, 31 000 sailors), 500 small dromons (11 000 sailors) and 130 large transports (21 000 sailors). Transports can carry 4 680 horses. Empire maintains standing army of full-time soldiers. Large portion of this army is concentrated within and around the imperial capital. Each province also has a detachment of full-time soldiers, typically stationed within provincial capital as well as various fortresses. These standing, salaried troops form the core of provincial armies, which are then supplemented by the part-time militia. Standing army numbers a total of 46 200 ground troops, 2 100 marines and 12 600 sailors, with fleet of 30 large dromons and 40 large transports. It is supported from mlitary lands like provincial forces are, but also receives regular pay in addition to campaign pay. It is thus included in the totals already noted before. Central division of standing army – the Black Army – serves as Emperor's personal army. It numbers a total of 6 200 ground troops. In extremis, military service may be required of all citizens of age 17. to 46. (iuniores); if necessary, citizens of ages 47. to 60. (seniores) will also be called up. These levies are generally lightly armed, usually having only a spear, a shield, and a simple open-faced helmet. In normal circumstances, teenagers over age 13 join as servants of older soldiers, and when they reach age of 19 they become fully-fledged soldiers. Usual proportion is one servant per soldier. Widows of soldiers killed in service are given 5 pounds of gold for compensation. Military commanders receive regular pay, with generals (magister militum, strategos) receiving 12 pounds of gold per year. Pay of the cavalryman is 12 solidi (nomisma) per year, and of officers 1 to 3 lbs of gold per year. Problems with system Main problem with the system is that – especially in northern parts of the Empire or else on the periphery – formation of military clans (clans of military field army commanders) leads to extensive network of clientage and patronage. As such, some provincial armies may achieve private character. This in turn can lead to feudal-like conflicts between powerful families, using what are de iure state armies for their own personal interest. Even without that, soldiers themselves and their commanders are highly conscious of imperial affairs and the way in which the Empire is being governed. The result is that army will invariably rebel against a weak or incompetent ruler. LEADERSHIP Commanders are required to read miltary manuals, and they tend to be professional soldiers. They have to understand strategy, tactics, and exhibit both courage and caution. General must also understand logistics and morale. He has to be serious, sober and incorruptible, as well as excellent public speaker. He should be of exceptional piety, and have children so as to be motivated. Much like any other army, loss of a general means defeat and dispersal of the army. Most generals are from well-off families with tradition of military command, as they are better educated and are essentially raised for command from childhood. Even so, a commander has to be successful to keep his post. Initiative from below is limited – army must not be allowed to fall apart into groups, especially against highly mobile nomads. Stress on discipline and protocol means that initiative from below is undesirable. However, it also means that military is highly dependant on its commanders. Commanders have to hold discipline and authority, and if they fall, cohesion dissolves. ARMY UNITS Army units are organized to rans to level fo five or four soldiers. Legion (legio, meros) Each legion is assigned one province which supports it. Cohors (cohors, tagma) Cohors can be of two types: thousand-man cohorts (cohors milliaria) and five hundred-man cohorts (cohors quinquagenaria). Cavalry cohorts are called alae. Cohors equitatae are not cavalry cohorts, but rather mixed cohorts of ¾ infantry and ¼ cavalry. Each cohort has a tribunus (commander), vicarus (assistant commander), adjutor (clerk), optio (quartermaster), surgeon, two heralds, two standard-bearers (draconarii), a trumpeter and a drummer. Centuria (centuria) Centuria has hundred men. Decuria (decuria) Decuria has ten men. As each decuria shares a tent, it is also called contubernium. RANKS Magister Militum (magister militum, strategos) Magister Militum is commander of an army. Commander of the army in Emperor's presence is magister militum praesentalis (or domestikos). Regional standing armies are under command of magister utrisque militae. Legate (legatus, merarch) Legate commands a legion. Tribune (tribunus, ilarch) Tribune commands a cohort. He is assisted by a vicarus in day-to-day command. Centurion (centenarius, hekacontarch) Commands a centuria. Decurion (circitor, dekarch) Commands a decuria. Soldier (pedes, eques) An infantryman or a cavalrman. Trainee / recruit (tiro) Person still underground training. Receives half-pay. A cohort may maintain 50 – 100 tirones in order to quickly replace losses. Prefect of the camp (praefectus castrorum) Prefect commands permanent military camps and bases, irrespective of size. Commander of mountain pass (saltarius, kleisourarch) Commands scouts and guards stationed at a particular mountain pass. MARCHING ORDER When on march, light infantry moves ahead, to sides and to rear of the army. They form scouts – outermost are scouting pairs, followed by larger groups of scouts. Lastly there are fast-reaction units of light infantry and cavalry. Light cavalry may form advance and rear guard in front and rear of the main force. Advance guard is in front of the main army. It consists of one infantry legion supported by cavalry, or else one infantry cohors supported by cavalry. After them follow ten men from eachy centuria tasked with making a camp, and after them follow engineers tasked with removing obstacles. They are followed by commanders' baggage train. Baggage train is followed by commander and his bodyguard (typically heavy cavalry), itself followed by heavy cavalry. Heavy cavalry is followed by siege train (mules carrying dissassembled siege equipment), and siege train is followed by high-ranking officers. After them come legions in six files, and after legions follow mercenaries. Rear guard is formed by heavy infantry and heavy cavalry. Normal marching rate is 20 – 25 kilometers per day (including setting up fortified camp), with 40 – 50 kilometers per day during forced march, which generally can only be maintained for a day or two. Normal march speed on even terrain is 4,8 kph, and on hilly terrain it is 4 kph. Division of 5 000 infantry has 20 minute gap between front and rear elements. With 15 mile army, it takes 9 hours to complete the march; a 22 mile army would take 12 hours (1 000 cavalry is 6 miles, 5 000 infantry is 5 kilometers or 3 miles). Each soldier with him carries food for three days, but most of baggage – tents, food, equipment – is carried by mules. If baggage train is drawn by oxen as opposed to mules, march rate falls to 16 kilometers per day. On a good road and with no baggage train, march rate can be up to 40 kilometers per day, but such a rate is exhausting and causes high attrition. Up to 50 kilometers per day can be achieved with an all-mounted force, but only for two days or so. Small units can move more rapidly – infantry could march up to 50 kilometers per day in forced march, and cavalry 65 – 80 kilometers per day. Army in enemy territory often has to forage, again reducing marching speed to 20 kilometers per day or less. These marching speeds are similar for other armies as well. News carried by courier travel at rate of about 100 kilometers per day. CAMP Camp must be secured at any stop during the march. Even night camp is always to be fortified with a dug trench and pallisade of shields (pavises). Companies of soldiers detailed the task of foraging were guarded by additional companies. Officers would patrol outside the pallisade, especially at night, to ensure the guards were doing their duty. EQUIPMENT AND LOGISTICS Equipment is provided by guilds of fabricenses. These are either state- or privately- -owned guilds that are given allowance by the emperor to produce weapons for the army. Soliders purchase equipment with income they receive from their lands, or else from their own wage. A system of factories (fabricae) allows for standardized equipment production. These lay either on major waterways, or else close to sources of raw materials. Specialized fabricae, called clibanaria(e), produce plate armour for heavy infantry and cavalry as well as cavalry equipment. These are overseen by Master of Offices (magister officiorum). Each group of workers is responsible for monthly quota of objects they produce. Soldiers have to buy equipment themselves, and equipment is often procured locally. Logistical apparatus is overseen by praetorian prefect. Where possible, goods are procured locally, but in friendly territory there are necessary limits to army's self-sustinence. Thus well-maintained roads – via millitaria – are of vital importance. These are eight meters wide. By law, minor public roads have to be 16 feet (4,8 meters) wide, but some roads are up to 8 meters (26 feet) wide. For a two-week march, a 15 000 men force requires 288 400 kg of grain for soldiers' rations; horses and mules significantly increase this. State warehouses receive goods collexted as tax, many of which are used to support the army, as inland thematic lands and warehouses provide food, fodder and basic supplies. Special logistical troops obtain mules and other pack animals. Heavy infantry regiments are provided with one mule per pair of soldiers. Each troop detachment, depending on size, should have a person or group trained in medical treatment of wounds. A small body of men are detailed during the battle to take care of the wounded as well as to convey water to the front lines. Post syste includes regular rest stations (mansiones) and relay mounts for fast post, and oxcarts for slow post. Stations are at half-day's or full day's journey on foot.
That is quite a detailed scenario you've developed. Is this for a game, or are you planning to write a novel or series with it? If this is a story scenario (not a game) I reckon the following is a weakness : I'd say that is a weakness that could be worked on, however. In other words, if a commander falls that shouldn't mean the end of the struggle, battle or war. Not only does that make the whole rest of the organisation somewhat useless, but it provides a HUGE target for the enemy. Kill the commander and you've won the war. That works in chess, but not in real life. I think that might apply in real life if a commander is particularly charismatic. The followers would lose heart if the commander falls. But building it into the system itself would pretty much ensure a quick end to any conflict. (Nobody is immune to diseases or accidents either.) I'd say while commanders should fulfill all the requirements you've listed (if they come from an elite group) they should also be instantly replaceable—via a chain of command (as happens in real life combat) if they are killed or badly wounded. Otherwise any cause will last only as long as one man stays alive. Which, I suspect, under these circumstances, will not be very long at all.
This feels very much like the late Roman/Byzantine military structure (right down to the latin names of the various units). Nicely summarised, but it doesn't appear to be original.
Sorry about late reply, got buried in research and kinda forgot about the forum... I am planning to write a novel, rather a series of novels, but I am still doing worldbuilding stuff. That bit about the loss of a general I got from Byzantine military manuals, where it is pointed out that general should not endanger himself, because his death can lead an army to lose heart. Of course, that is not a strict rule, and quite few Byzantine armies displayed significant resillience even after death of a general, but there was always at least some kind of negative impact. Commentary by author who compiled these manuals actually noted this overreliance on a commander as being important difference between premodern and modern armies.
I have a question, is basis 10 for units too much, or should it be reduced to, say, basis 5? Byzantine units often used one or the other, and I fear that legion-level unit may be too large to be used effectively on the battlefield: ARMY UNITS Army units are organized to ranks to level fo five or ten soldiers. Legion (legio, meros) Each legion is assigned one province which supports it, from a total of 18 provinces. Prescribed number is 2 000 heavy cavalry, 2 000 light cavalry, 3 000 heavy infantry, 4 000 crossbowmen and 1 000 shield bearers, for a total of 12 000 troops in main battle line, of which 4 000 cavalry and 8 000 infantry. In addition, legion will have 1 000 javeliners and 1 000 slingers acting as skirmishers, as well as 1 000 light infantry and 1 000 light cavalry acting as scouts and skirmishers, bringing a total to 16 000 men. To this are added staff, which at total of 20 cohorts (see below) counts 220 men. Additional 200 light cavalry and 400 light infantry is supported from same area but forms independent cohorts tasked with ranging and garrison duties. Cohors (cohors, tagma) Cohors can be of two types: thousand-man cohorts (cohors milliaria) and 500-man cohorts (cohors quinquagenaria), albeit actual numbers are not exact. Cavalry cohorts are called alae. Cohors equitatae are not cavalry cohorts, but rather mixed cohorts of ¾ infantry and ¼ cavalry. Each cohort has a tribunus (commander), vicarus (assistant commander), adjutor (clerk), optio (quartermaster), surgeon, two heralds, two standard-bearers (draconarii), a trumpeter and a drummer. Typical infantry cohort is 300 heavy infantry, 400 crossbowmen and 100 pavesarii. Cavalry cohort is 200 heavy cavalry and 200 light cavalry. Skirmisher cohort is 500 men. Independent cohorts have 200 light cavalry and 400 light infantry each. Centuria (centuria, kentarchia) Centuria has hundred men. Decuria (decuria, kontoubernion) Decuria has ten men. As each decuria shares a tent, it is also called contubernium.
