Zagwe Kingdom

Strengths & weaknesses

• Ordinary Unit

Description

These artillery pieces resemble giant crossbows, on a simple wheeled carriage. They can hurl javelins with great accuracy, and the power of these machines means that their bolts can pierce any armour.

Strengths & weaknesses

• Ordinary Unit

Description

Constructed of wood and capable of flinging stones large enough to crush a man's head, the catapult was a common site on the ancient Roman battlefield. Now in the medieval era, the catapult is being replaced by newer and more powerful weapons.

Strengths & weaknesses

• Ordinary Unit

Description

Constructed of wood and capable of flinging stones large enough to crush a man's head, the catapult was a common site on the ancient Roman battlefield. Now in the medieval era, the catapult is being replaced by newer and more powerful weapons.

Strengths & weaknesses

• Ordinary Unit

Description

The counter-weight Trebuchet is an evolution of the man-powered mangonel and catapults dating back before the 11th century. It has quickly spread throughout the world as an effective siege engine capable of lobbing large wall- crushing boulders.

Strengths & weaknesses

• Ordinary Unit

Description

It is slow to reload and lacks the distance of drawn bows but makes up for it in power.

Strengths & weaknesses

• Ordinary Unit

Description

These knights dominate both society and the battlefield in medieval Europe. Under the feudal system each man owes military service to his lord in return for protection, a grant of land, and the peasants to work it. Trained as warriors from birth, their favourite tactic is the headlong charge. Despite the simple tactics, their strong armour, heavy lances, and martial prowess mean that only the most resolute can resist them

Strengths & weaknesses

• Ordinary Unit

Description

Knights would often dismount and fight on foot when the situation demanded it. Dismounted they make excellent heavy infantry.

Strengths & weaknesses

• Ordinary Unit

Description

"Squires are used to do what a knight would consider too low, and mounted sergeants are used to do what a squire would consider too low even for him" -- "Since common peasant couldn't afford a horse, but there was still the need for a rapid scout unit (and noble knights considered scouting a dishonourable task), trusted sergeants who showed cunning behaviour were given second-choice horses and used as a light and fast cavalry force, usually sent ahead of the main army to scout the area and harass enemy light troops or carriages. Being fast, they can easily outmanoeuver infantry and heavy cavalry, allowing them to hit fast and hard unprotected targets such as archers or supply convoys, but they should never be used against actual cavalry and trained infantry."

Strengths & weaknesses

• Ordinary Unit

Description

"To be ranked a servant may seem ridiculous to a noble, but for most, it is the best they can hope to achieve" -- Coming from the Latin term "servientem", meaning "servant", sergeant is a rank used in almost every European army of the time (and still today). While each nation had its own technical meaning for the rank, generally the sergeant was the highest rank a low-born commoner could aspire to, since all higher offices were reserved for the nobles. Being promoted sergeant required that a soldier had survived many battles, and had performed many acts of valour (usually visible from the scars most sergeants sported), and meant better equipment and a higher salary (usually a larger part of the loot), which for most soldiers could mean the difference between returning to their homes as a serf and becoming an actual free land-owner. Usually sergeants oversaw training and equipment of small units, and led them in battle. Sometimes, sergeants were grouped together and used as a powerful fist to break the enemy lines, or to defend a focal point: well armed and experienced, these veterans are not to be underestimated.

Strengths & weaknesses

• Ordinary Unit

Description

It is slow to reload and lacks the distance of drawn bows but makes up for it in power.

Strengths & weaknesses

• Ordinary Unit

Description

These knights dominate both society and the battlefield in medieval Europe. Under the feudal system each man owes military service to his lord in return for protection, a grant of land, and the peasants to work it. Trained as warriors from birth, their favourite tactic is the headlong charge. Despite the simple tactics, their strong armour, heavy lances, and martial prowess mean that only the most resolute can resist them

Strengths & weaknesses

• Ordinary Unit

Description

Knights would often dismount and fight on foot when the situation demanded it. Dismounted they make excellent heavy infantry.

Strengths & weaknesses

• Ordinary Unit

Description

"Squires are used to do what a knight would consider too low, and mounted sergeants are used to do what a squire would consider too low even for him" -- "Since common peasant couldn't afford a horse, but there was still the need for a rapid scout unit (and noble knights considered scouting a dishonourable task), trusted sergeants who showed cunning behaviour were given second-choice horses and used as a light and fast cavalry force, usually sent ahead of the main army to scout the area and harass enemy light troops or carriages. Being fast, they can easily outmanoeuver infantry and heavy cavalry, allowing them to hit fast and hard unprotected targets such as archers or supply convoys, but they should never be used against actual cavalry and trained infantry."

Strengths & weaknesses

• Ordinary Unit

Description

"To be ranked a servant may seem ridiculous to a noble, but for most, it is the best they can hope to achieve" -- Coming from the Latin term "servientem", meaning "servant", sergeant is a rank used in almost every European army of the time (and still today). While each nation had its own technical meaning for the rank, generally the sergeant was the highest rank a low-born commoner could aspire to, since all higher offices were reserved for the nobles. Being promoted sergeant required that a soldier had survived many battles, and had performed many acts of valour (usually visible from the scars most sergeants sported), and meant better equipment and a higher salary (usually a larger part of the loot), which for most soldiers could mean the difference between returning to their homes as a serf and becoming an actual free land-owner. Usually sergeants oversaw training and equipment of small units, and led them in battle. Sometimes, sergeants were grouped together and used as a powerful fist to break the enemy lines, or to defend a focal point: well armed and experienced, these veterans are not to be underestimated.

Strengths & weaknesses

• Ordinary Unit

Description

"Squires are used to do what a knight would consider too low, and mounted sergeants are used to do what a squire would consider too low even for him" -- "Since common peasant couldn't afford a horse, but there was still the need for a rapid scout unit (and noble knights considered scouting a dishonourable task), trusted sergeants who showed cunning behaviour were given second-choice horses and used as a light and fast cavalry force, usually sent ahead of the main army to scout the area and harass enemy light troops or carriages. Being fast, they can easily outmanoeuver infantry and heavy cavalry, allowing them to hit fast and hard unprotected targets such as archers or supply convoys, but they should never be used against actual cavalry and trained infantry."

Strengths & weaknesses

• Ordinary Unit

Description

"I... do profess and promise chastity, giving up all property, and obedience to God and the Blessed Virgin Mary and to you...Master of the Teutonic Order, and to your successors, according to the Rules and Regulations of the Order. And I will be obedient to you, and to your successors, even unto death." -- The Ritterbrüder are the highest ranking members of the Teutonic Order, taking an additional vow of chastity: usually members of great German noble houses, these men fear no enemy, both in politics and on the battlefield. Armed and equipped with the finest products of the Empire's most renowned blacksmiths, the Ritterbrüder ride into battle atop powerful steeds, pride and joy of generations of breeding.Their charge can shatter all but the most stubborn pike formations, and usually their enemies don't even try to resist, breaking formation in a desperate attempt to flee their doom, only to be trampled upon by their stallions. The Ritterbrüder however aren't invincible, as all this armour makes their charge quite slow: as such, light skirmishers can safely shower them in arrows and javelins, only to retreat when the Ritterbrüder try to chase them. Thus, they must be supported by light troops, otherwise they might find themselves cornered and taken out one by one by a cunning foe.

Strengths & weaknesses

• Ordinary Unit

Description

"Half-brother, Double the fury" -- The Haldbrüder were full-fledged members of the Order, but ranked lower since they took only half the oath (they didn't take the chastity vow). Still, their zeal, fanatism and martial prowess match their higher ranking brothers. Being usually members of minor noble houses, they can afford horses and finely crafted armours, and as such serve as medium shock cavalry, trampling over lesser enemies while the Ritterbrüder engage the enemy elite troops. Since their armours aren't as heavy as the ones used by the Ritterbrüder, they are better at flanking the enemy and fighting against the fast Lithuanian cavalry.

Strengths & weaknesses

• Ordinary Unit

Description

These artillery pieces resemble giant crossbows, on a simple wheeled carriage. They can hurl javelins with great accuracy, and the power of these machines means that their bolts can pierce any armour.

Strengths & weaknesses

• Ordinary Unit

Description

The counter-weight Trebuchet is an evolution of the man-powered mangonel and catapults dating back before the 11th century. It has quickly spread throughout the world as an effective siege engine capable of lobbing large wall- crushing boulders.

Strengths & weaknesses

• Ordinary Unit

Description

The Aqäytat, later Aqét-jar were the common designation for foot soldiers. They were the closest to professional soldiers in the Ethiopian state of the Zagwe period. (Merid W. Aregay, 'Military Elites in Medieval Ethiopia' Journal of Ethiopian Studies, Vol. 30, No. 1 (June 1997), pp. 39, 67) When the territory of the medieval Christian kingdom expanded, the organisation of the military regiments evolved from regionally dominated military troops to professional soldiers, called the č̣äwa. Instituted by Zär’a Ya‘qob as the imperial standing army, the mobile striking force of the Sewa formed the backbone of the Imperial Ethiopian army, frequently stationed in the frontiers or region where the Negusa Nagast's rule are challenged. The Sewa were originally recruited from slaves and noble sons, but later on also includes conquered people known for their warlike qualities, posted away from their homeland. The Sewa regiments each composed from a single tribal or ethnic background, and only their offsprings can be inducted to the regiment.

Strengths & weaknesses

• Ordinary Unit

Description

Särawit is the plural form of särwe, meaning troops or a military leader. Soldiers in Amdä Ṣǝyon's military regiments were known by the name of särawit. They were divided in two main parts: the royal court army and provincial regiments composed of infantry and cavalry corps. The term was used since the Aksumite era. I(Merid W. Aregay, 'Military Elites in Medieval Ethiopia' Journal of Ethiopian Studies, Vol. 30, No. 1 (June 1997), pp. 34; Ayenachew Derese. Evolution and Organisation of the Ç̌äwa Military Regiments in Medieval Ethiopia. Annales d'Ethiopie. Volume 29, année 2014. pp. 85)

Strengths & weaknesses

• Primitive Ways of Horseriding
• Riders might be excellent riders but overall disadvantaged against those with saddles and wide stirrups

Description

The king of Ethiopia maintains a traveling capital, moving from region to region throughout the year. It is then also fitting that his bodyguard be as mobile as his palace.

Strengths & weaknesses

• Primitive Ways of Horseriding
• Riders might be excellent riders but overall disadvantaged against those with saddles and wide stirrups

Description

The king of Ethiopia maintains a traveling capital, moving from region to region throughout the year. It is then also fitting that his bodyguard be as mobile as his palace.

Strengths & weaknesses

• Ordinary Unit

Description

The Hadar were sent to the frontiers of the Ethiopian state to settle and pacify. Ethiopian army regiments were settled in military colonies as a mean to garrison, ensuring royal control of the area, and as a way to provide livelihood for the regiment.(Merid W. Aregay, 'Military Elites in Medieval Ethiopia' Journal of Ethiopian Studies, Vol. 30, No. 1 (June 1997)

Strengths & weaknesses

• Primitive Ways of Horseriding
• Riders might be excellent riders but overall disadvantaged against those with saddles and wide stirrups

Description

The mounted aristocracy is as revered in Ethiopia as it is in the Sudan. Though while their northern neighbours fight as heavy horsemen, here battles are fought with javelin, thrown with brutal accuracy and sureness of heart. The Ge'ez term "Jan" or the Amharic "Gan", meaning Royal, were bestowed to certain Sarwe regiments. Even though the regiments called Jan-Amora and Jan-Qäntäfa were associated with kings of the Solomonic dynasty, it is quite probable that their origins go back to the Zagwé days. Not only is the word jan of Agäw origin, but its use as a royal attribute goes back to this period. (Merid W. Aregay, 'Military Elites in Medieval Ethiopia' Journal of Ethiopian Studies, Vol. 30, No. 1 (June 1997), pp. 39)

Strengths & weaknesses

• Ordinary Unit

Description

The Habesha tribes, or Angadä, formed a shock element of the Ethiopian army. Comprised of the young men of the region, they were light and able fighters beyond the rest of the infantry force. Regiments in the Ethiopian Army were commonly organized from a single tribe, and the commanders or Nagast grew from the tribal chief (Merid W. Aregay, 'Military Elites in Medieval Ethiopia' Journal of Ethiopian Studies, Vol. 30, No. 1 (June 1997), pp. 33-34).

Strengths & weaknesses

• Primitive Ways of Horseriding
• Riders might be excellent riders but overall disadvantaged against those with saddles and wide stirrups

Description

The cavalry sarawit form the flying wings of the Ethiopian army, pelting the enemy with javelins before riding them down in a rout.

Strengths & weaknesses

• Ordinary Unit

Description

Särawit is the plural form of särwe, meaning troops or a military leader. Soldiers in Amdä Ṣǝyon's military regiments were known by the name of särawit. They were divided in two main parts: the royal court army and provincial regiments composed of infantry and cavalry corps. The term was used since the Aksumite era. I(Merid W. Aregay, 'Military Elites in Medieval Ethiopia' Journal of Ethiopian Studies, Vol. 30, No. 1 (June 1997), pp. 34; Ayenachew Derese. Evolution and Organisation of the Ç̌äwa Military Regiments in Medieval Ethiopia. Annales d'Ethiopie. Volume 29, année 2014. pp. 85)

Strengths & weaknesses

• Ordinary Unit

Description

The first primitive gunpowder siege artillery, bombards were created in China and Western Europe in the early 14th century and spread to the rest of the world by the late 14th century. They are forged from bronze or iron, and designed to fire stone balls that crumble enemy defences.

Strengths & weaknesses

• Ordinary Unit

Description

These knights dominate both society and the battlefield in medieval Europe. Under the feudal system each man owes military service to his lord in return for protection, a grant of land, and the peasants to work it. Trained as warriors from birth, their favourite tactic is the headlong charge. Despite the simple tactics, their strong armour, heavy lances, and martial prowess mean that only the most resolute can resist them

Strengths & weaknesses

• Ordinary Unit

Description

Knights would often dismount and fight on foot when the situation demanded it. Dismounted they make excellent heavy infantry.

Strengths & weaknesses

• Ordinary Unit

Description

These knights dominate both society and the battlefield in medieval Europe. Under the feudal system each man owes military service to his lord in return for protection, a grant of land, and the peasants to work it. Trained as warriors from birth, their favourite tactic is the headlong charge. Despite the simple tactics, their strong armour, heavy lances, and martial prowess mean that only the most resolute can resist them

Strengths & weaknesses

• Ordinary Unit

Description

Knights would often dismount and fight on foot when the situation demanded it. Dismounted they make excellent heavy infantry.

Strengths & weaknesses

• Ordinary Unit

Description

"Half-brother, Double the fury" -- The Haldbrüder were full-fledged members of the Order, but ranked lower since they took only half the oath (they didn't take the chastity vow). Still, their zeal, fanatism and martial prowess match their higher ranking brothers. Being usually members of minor noble houses, they can afford horses and finely crafted armours, and as such serve as medium shock cavalry, trampling over lesser enemies while the Ritterbrüder engage the enemy elite troops. Since their armours aren't as heavy as the ones used by the Ritterbrüder, they are better at flanking the enemy and fighting against the fast Lithuanian cavalry.

Strengths & weaknesses

• Ordinary Unit

Description

"I... do profess and promise chastity, giving up all property, and obedience to God and the Blessed Virgin Mary and to you...Master of the Teutonic Order, and to your successors, according to the Rules and Regulations of the Order. And I will be obedient to you, and to your successors, even unto death." -- The Ritterbrüder are the highest ranking members of the Teutonic Order, taking an additional vow of chastity: usually members of great German noble houses, these men fear no enemy, both in politics and on the battlefield. Armed and equipped with the finest products of the Empire's most renowned blacksmiths, the Ritterbrüder ride into battle atop powerful steeds, pride and joy of generations of breeding.Their charge can shatter all but the most stubborn pike formations, and usually their enemies don't even try to resist, breaking formation in a desperate attempt to flee their doom, only to be trampled upon by their stallions. The Ritterbrüder however aren't invincible, as all this armour makes their charge quite slow: as such, light skirmishers can safely shower them in arrows and javelins, only to retreat when the Ritterbrüder try to chase them. Thus, they must be supported by light troops, otherwise they might find themselves cornered and taken out one by one by a cunning foe.

Strengths & weaknesses

• Ordinary Unit

Description

Särawit is the plural form of särwe, meaning troops or a military leader. Soldiers in Amdä Ṣǝyon's military regiments were known by the name of särawit. They were divided in two main parts: the royal court army and provincial regiments composed of infantry and cavalry corps. The term was used since the Aksumite era. I(Merid W. Aregay, 'Military Elites in Medieval Ethiopia' Journal of Ethiopian Studies, Vol. 30, No. 1 (June 1997), pp. 34; Ayenachew Derese. Evolution and Organisation of the Ç̌äwa Military Regiments in Medieval Ethiopia. Annales d'Ethiopie. Volume 29, année 2014. pp. 85)

Strengths & weaknesses

• Primitive Ways of Horseriding
• Riders might be excellent riders but overall disadvantaged against those with saddles and wide stirrups

Description

The king of Ethiopia maintains a traveling capital, moving from region to region throughout the year. It is then also fitting that his bodyguard be as mobile as his palace.

Strengths & weaknesses

• Ordinary Unit

Description

The Aqäytat, later Aqét-jar were the common designation for foot soldiers. They were the closest to professional soldiers in the Ethiopian state of the Zagwe period. (Merid W. Aregay, 'Military Elites in Medieval Ethiopia' Journal of Ethiopian Studies, Vol. 30, No. 1 (June 1997), pp. 39, 67) When the territory of the medieval Christian kingdom expanded, the organisation of the military regiments evolved from regionally dominated military troops to professional soldiers, called the č̣äwa. Instituted by Zär’a Ya‘qob as the imperial standing army, the mobile striking force of the Sewa formed the backbone of the Imperial Ethiopian army, frequently stationed in the frontiers or region where the Negusa Nagast's rule are challenged. The Sewa were originally recruited from slaves and noble sons, but later on also includes conquered people known for their warlike qualities, posted away from their homeland. The Sewa regiments each composed from a single tribal or ethnic background, and only their offsprings can be inducted to the regiment.

Strengths & weaknesses

• Primitive Ways of Horseriding
• Riders might be excellent riders but overall disadvantaged against those with saddles and wide stirrups

Description

The mounted aristocracy is as revered in Ethiopia as it is in the Sudan. Though while their northern neighbours fight as heavy horsemen, here battles are fought with javelin, thrown with brutal accuracy and sureness of heart. The Ge'ez term "Jan" or the Amharic "Gan", meaning Royal, were bestowed to certain Sarwe regiments. Even though the regiments called Jan-Amora and Jan-Qäntäfa were associated with kings of the Solomonic dynasty, it is quite probable that their origins go back to the Zagwé days. Not only is the word jan of Agäw origin, but its use as a royal attribute goes back to this period. (Merid W. Aregay, 'Military Elites in Medieval Ethiopia' Journal of Ethiopian Studies, Vol. 30, No. 1 (June 1997), pp. 39)

Strengths & weaknesses

• Primitive Ways of Horseriding
• Riders might be excellent riders but overall disadvantaged against those with saddles and wide stirrups

Description

The king of Ethiopia maintains a traveling capital, moving from region to region throughout the year. It is then also fitting that his bodyguard be as mobile as his palace.

Strengths & weaknesses

• Ordinary Unit

Description

The Habesha tribes, or Angadä, formed a shock element of the Ethiopian army. Comprised of the young men of the region, they were light and able fighters beyond the rest of the infantry force. Regiments in the Ethiopian Army were commonly organized from a single tribe, and the commanders or Nagast grew from the tribal chief (Merid W. Aregay, 'Military Elites in Medieval Ethiopia' Journal of Ethiopian Studies, Vol. 30, No. 1 (June 1997), pp. 33-34).

Strengths & weaknesses

• Primitive Ways of Horseriding
• Riders might be excellent riders but overall disadvantaged against those with saddles and wide stirrups

Description

The cavalry sarawit form the flying wings of the Ethiopian army, pelting the enemy with javelins before riding them down in a rout.

Strengths & weaknesses

• Ordinary Unit

Description

The Hadar were sent to the frontiers of the Ethiopian state to settle and pacify. Ethiopian army regiments were settled in military colonies as a mean to garrison, ensuring royal control of the area, and as a way to provide livelihood for the regiment.(Merid W. Aregay, 'Military Elites in Medieval Ethiopia' Journal of Ethiopian Studies, Vol. 30, No. 1 (June 1997)

Strengths & weaknesses

• Ordinary Unit

Description

Särawit is the plural form of särwe, meaning troops or a military leader. Soldiers in Amdä Ṣǝyon's military regiments were known by the name of särawit. They were divided in two main parts: the royal court army and provincial regiments composed of infantry and cavalry corps. The term was used since the Aksumite era. I(Merid W. Aregay, 'Military Elites in Medieval Ethiopia' Journal of Ethiopian Studies, Vol. 30, No. 1 (June 1997), pp. 34; Ayenachew Derese. Evolution and Organisation of the Ç̌äwa Military Regiments in Medieval Ethiopia. Annales d'Ethiopie. Volume 29, année 2014. pp. 85)

Strengths & weaknesses

• Ordinary Unit

Description

PLACEHOLDER

Strengths & weaknesses

• Ordinary Unit

Description

The Gun to end all Guns. The Great Bombard is made for one purpose only, the utter destruction of enemy defences. This massive Bombard fires a stone ball weighing well over half a ton, obliterating any but the most massive walls in one shot. Unfortunately the down side of all this firepower is that it takes an eternity to reload.

Strengths & weaknesses

• Ordinary Unit

Description

These knights dominate both society and the battlefield in medieval Europe. Under the feudal system each man owes military service to his lord in return for protection, a grant of land, and the peasants to work it. Trained as warriors from birth, their favourite tactic is the headlong charge. Despite the simple tactics, their strong armour, heavy lances, and martial prowess mean that only the most resolute can resist them

Strengths & weaknesses

• Ordinary Unit

Description

Knights would often dismount and fight on foot when the situation demanded it. Dismounted they make excellent heavy infantry.

Strengths & weaknesses

• Ordinary Unit

Description

"Half-brother, Double the fury" -- The Haldbrüder were full-fledged members of the Order, but ranked lower since they took only half the oath (they didn't take the chastity vow). Still, their zeal, fanatism and martial prowess match their higher ranking brothers. Being usually members of minor noble houses, they can afford horses and finely crafted armours, and as such serve as medium shock cavalry, trampling over lesser enemies while the Ritterbrüder engage the enemy elite troops. Since their armours aren't as heavy as the ones used by the Ritterbrüder, they are better at flanking the enemy and fighting against the fast Lithuanian cavalry.

Strengths & weaknesses

• Ordinary Unit

Description

"I... do profess and promise chastity, giving up all property, and obedience to God and the Blessed Virgin Mary and to you...Master of the Teutonic Order, and to your successors, according to the Rules and Regulations of the Order. And I will be obedient to you, and to your successors, even unto death." -- The Ritterbrüder are the highest ranking members of the Teutonic Order, taking an additional vow of chastity: usually members of great German noble houses, these men fear no enemy, both in politics and on the battlefield. Armed and equipped with the finest products of the Empire's most renowned blacksmiths, the Ritterbrüder ride into battle atop powerful steeds, pride and joy of generations of breeding.Their charge can shatter all but the most stubborn pike formations, and usually their enemies don't even try to resist, breaking formation in a desperate attempt to flee their doom, only to be trampled upon by their stallions. The Ritterbrüder however aren't invincible, as all this armour makes their charge quite slow: as such, light skirmishers can safely shower them in arrows and javelins, only to retreat when the Ritterbrüder try to chase them. Thus, they must be supported by light troops, otherwise they might find themselves cornered and taken out one by one by a cunning foe.

Strengths & weaknesses

• Ordinary Unit

Description

This fearsome artillery piece is the pinnacle of late Medieval gun engineering. With greater range, damage and accuracy than all the guns that come before it, no enemy emplacements nor troops can stand up to its fearsome bombardment

Strengths & weaknesses

• Ordinary Unit

Description

Resembling the iron bowl from which it gains its name, the Mortar was created to lob shots over intervening walls. Useful in dealing with units skulking behind walls for protection, or to whittle away besieging troops outside your own walls. The mortar's capabilities makes it an excellent siege weapon for both attacker and defender.

Strengths & weaknesses

• Ordinary Unit

Description

Särawit is the plural form of särwe, meaning troops or a military leader. Soldiers in Amdä Ṣǝyon's military regiments were known by the name of särawit. They were divided in two main parts: the royal court army and provincial regiments composed of infantry and cavalry corps. The term was used since the Aksumite era. I(Merid W. Aregay, 'Military Elites in Medieval Ethiopia' Journal of Ethiopian Studies, Vol. 30, No. 1 (June 1997), pp. 34; Ayenachew Derese. Evolution and Organisation of the Ç̌äwa Military Regiments in Medieval Ethiopia. Annales d'Ethiopie. Volume 29, année 2014. pp. 85)

Strengths & weaknesses

• Ordinary Unit

Description

Särawit is the plural form of särwe, meaning troops or a military leader. Soldiers in Amdä Ṣǝyon's military regiments were known by the name of särawit. They were divided in two main parts: the royal court army and provincial regiments composed of infantry and cavalry corps. The term was used since the Aksumite era. I(Merid W. Aregay, 'Military Elites in Medieval Ethiopia' Journal of Ethiopian Studies, Vol. 30, No. 1 (June 1997), pp. 34; Ayenachew Derese. Evolution and Organisation of the Ç̌äwa Military Regiments in Medieval Ethiopia. Annales d'Ethiopie. Volume 29, année 2014. pp. 85)

Strengths & weaknesses

• Primitive Ways of Horseriding
• Riders might be excellent riders but overall disadvantaged against those with saddles and wide stirrups

Description

The king of Ethiopia maintains a traveling capital, moving from region to region throughout the year. It is then also fitting that his bodyguard be as mobile as his palace.

Strengths & weaknesses

• Ordinary Unit

Description

The Aqäytat, later Aqét-jar were the common designation for foot soldiers. They were the closest to professional soldiers in the Ethiopian state of the Zagwe period. (Merid W. Aregay, 'Military Elites in Medieval Ethiopia' Journal of Ethiopian Studies, Vol. 30, No. 1 (June 1997), pp. 39, 67) When the territory of the medieval Christian kingdom expanded, the organisation of the military regiments evolved from regionally dominated military troops to professional soldiers, called the č̣äwa. Instituted by Zär’a Ya‘qob as the imperial standing army, the mobile striking force of the Sewa formed the backbone of the Imperial Ethiopian army, frequently stationed in the frontiers or region where the Negusa Nagast's rule are challenged. The Sewa were originally recruited from slaves and noble sons, but later on also includes conquered people known for their warlike qualities, posted away from their homeland. The Sewa regiments each composed from a single tribal or ethnic background, and only their offsprings can be inducted to the regiment.

Strengths & weaknesses

• Primitive Ways of Horseriding
• Riders might be excellent riders but overall disadvantaged against those with saddles and wide stirrups

Description

The mounted aristocracy is as revered in Ethiopia as it is in the Sudan. Though while their northern neighbours fight as heavy horsemen, here battles are fought with javelin, thrown with brutal accuracy and sureness of heart. The Ge'ez term "Jan" or the Amharic "Gan", meaning Royal, were bestowed to certain Sarwe regiments. Even though the regiments called Jan-Amora and Jan-Qäntäfa were associated with kings of the Solomonic dynasty, it is quite probable that their origins go back to the Zagwé days. Not only is the word jan of Agäw origin, but its use as a royal attribute goes back to this period. (Merid W. Aregay, 'Military Elites in Medieval Ethiopia' Journal of Ethiopian Studies, Vol. 30, No. 1 (June 1997), pp. 39)

Strengths & weaknesses

• Primitive Ways of Horseriding
• Riders might be excellent riders but overall disadvantaged against those with saddles and wide stirrups

Description

The cavalry sarawit form the flying wings of the Ethiopian army, pelting the enemy with javelins before riding them down in a rout.

Strengths & weaknesses

• Ordinary Unit

Description

The Hadar were sent to the frontiers of the Ethiopian state to settle and pacify. Ethiopian army regiments were settled in military colonies as a mean to garrison, ensuring royal control of the area, and as a way to provide livelihood for the regiment.(Merid W. Aregay, 'Military Elites in Medieval Ethiopia' Journal of Ethiopian Studies, Vol. 30, No. 1 (June 1997)

Strengths & weaknesses

• Ordinary Unit

Description

The Habesha tribes, or Angadä, formed a shock element of the Ethiopian army. Comprised of the young men of the region, they were light and able fighters beyond the rest of the infantry force. Regiments in the Ethiopian Army were commonly organized from a single tribe, and the commanders or Nagast grew from the tribal chief (Merid W. Aregay, 'Military Elites in Medieval Ethiopia' Journal of Ethiopian Studies, Vol. 30, No. 1 (June 1997), pp. 33-34).

Strengths & weaknesses

• Ordinary Unit

Description

Särawit is the plural form of särwe, meaning troops or a military leader. Soldiers in Amdä Ṣǝyon's military regiments were known by the name of särawit. They were divided in two main parts: the royal court army and provincial regiments composed of infantry and cavalry corps. The term was used since the Aksumite era. I(Merid W. Aregay, 'Military Elites in Medieval Ethiopia' Journal of Ethiopian Studies, Vol. 30, No. 1 (June 1997), pp. 34; Ayenachew Derese. Evolution and Organisation of the Ç̌äwa Military Regiments in Medieval Ethiopia. Annales d'Ethiopie. Volume 29, année 2014. pp. 85)

Strengths & weaknesses

• Primitive Ways of Horseriding
• Riders might be excellent riders but overall disadvantaged against those with saddles and wide stirrups

Description

The king of Ethiopia maintains a traveling capital, moving from region to region throughout the year. It is then also fitting that his bodyguard be as mobile as his palace.