Historical Overview Section
The Early Navarrese 824-1045
The kingdom of Navarre was formed when local Basque leader Inigo Arista was declared King in Pamplona (traditionally in 824) and led a revolt against the regional Carolingian Frankish authorities. This wasn't entirely unsurprising, as the Carolingian Frankish had kinda forgotten about their Spanish possessions on account of being overly busy bashing each other across the head in succession disputes back home.
In 905, the dynasty founded by Inigo Arista was overthrown by some unpleasant neighbours (they objected to Inigo planting a fast growing conifer hedge, it all got out of hand, you know the rest...) and Sancho I Garcés (905–25), nephew of the Count of Ribagorza, was placed in the throne. He fought against the Andalusian Moors with repeated success and managed to extend his garden, sorry, kingdom to encompass joined Ultra-Puertos, or Basse-Navarre, to his own dominions extending its territory as far as Nájera. As a thanksgiving for his victories, he founded, in 924, the convent of Albelda, so Nun could claim he wasn't religious enough. Before his death, the Andalusians had been driven from his country. His son and eventual successor, Garcia Sanchez I (931–70)carrie don bashing the Andalusian and took the county of Aragon, previously only nominally a vassal state, under direct control from Pamplona.
Garcia Sanchez's son, Sancho II Garces (there was a name shortage in the late 10th century so names were often recycled) ruled as king of Pamplona from 970 to 994. On the occasion of the donation of the villa of Alastue by the king of Pamplona to the monastery of San Juan de la Peña in 987, he styled himself "King of Navarre", the first time that title had been used, but other sources cite him as the third to do so; however, he was at least the seventh king of Pamplona.
Under Sancho III the Great (reigned 1000–35, clearly chose his own epithet) and his immediate successors Pamplona reached the height of its power and extent. In 1028 Sancho III of Navarre led the kingdom to its zenith: he ruled over Pamplona, Castile and Aragon, ran a protectorate racket in Leon and Gascony, and conquered Ribagorza and Sobrarbe. He also seized land from the Astur-Leonese, subjected Castile to vassalage and marched armies to the heart of Leon thus ruling the north of Iberia from the boundaries of Galicia to those of the count of Barcelona.
When Sancho died he split the kingdom between his sons and the realm was divided thus once more, into Navarre, Aragón, and Castile, to the evident delight of Slitherine and Osprey as it enabled them to sell us all even more books with the Feudal Catalan and Early Crown Of Aragon, Feudal Navarrese and Aragonese and Feudal Castilian Leonese or Portuguese all appearing as separate lists in Oath of Fealty.
Using the army in FoG
- Do you really need someone to tell you? Decent lancer cavalry, mostly rubbish foot...
- Seriously though, supported Def Spearmen are half decent - if you can tease enemy offensive spear into a charge, and then intercept charge with the lancers you may be OK.
- The MF are really only there for rear support, with no melee weapon they are dogmeat in most combat situations.
- Otherwise max out on LF to pad out the Cv lancer strike force.
- 3x6 Basque LH might be a good idea.
- Just put your new suggestions on a new line, starting with an "*"
UK Tournament Results with this army
Useful Links
User-contributed links about this army:
- Sancho III on Wikipedia
- Balagan.org Wargaming site on the Reconquista
- put the link text readers will see in here write some more detail about the link here
Allies
- Andalusian Before 860 Wolves from the Sea 28 Mandatory LH, optional drilled/undrilled lancers and optional bits and pieces of foot
- Leonese - Astur-Leonese From 860 Wolves from the Sea Lancers, optional supported Def Spearmen and a few LF too.
Painting and Collecting the Army
- Paint schemes, insignia, shield designs? Put it here.
15mm Manufacturers supplying figures for this army
You can see some of the figures in the Ancients Photo Gallery also on this site.
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- Essex Miniatures Plenty of dark age types, sell Middle Frankish army sets, so similar to these, or slightly small compared to some other manufacturers Normans
- Donnington Plenty of Dark Ages, 13 Normans, plus Merovingians and Aquitanians amongst others around this era.
- Gladiator Miniatures by Fighting 15's (Gladiator Games) generic dark age ranges, extensive Norman & similar era ranges
- Old Glory Frankish/German ranges, 7 Norman figure codes
- Magister Militum (includes former Chariot ranges) Navigators dark ages ranges worth considering
- Museum Their Franks can OK for later in the period, small number of figures in a Norman range
- Minifigs UK figures for this era in their dark ages section, Dark Ages & Norman Range
- Irregular Minis Norman mounted are one piece castings
- Lancashire Games worth looking at their Lombards and Normans
- Tin Soldier Carolingians, 9 Normans
- 2 Dragons Slavs, Carolingians & Normans may have appropriate figures Tremendous variety of Carolingians & Normans
- Isarus (more former TTG figures) 6 cavalry, 8 foot
- Khurasan - newish Frankish ranges
- Viking Forge Franks
- Alan Touller Spanish medievals perhaps? Or a bit late? Also some Normans in their Byzantine range
- Camelot Games (Italy) Vikings maybe ?
- Miniature Wars Dark Age Franks
- Legio heroica Crusades range could be OK late in period
- East Riding Miniatures El Cid & Early Crusades maybe?
- Strategia et Tactica Early Crusader?
- QRF models * An extensive European Dark Ages range which although concentrating on the British Isles has Saxon spears, slings and bows as well as Norman Cavalry that would all look good for this era. (Feudal Castings & Friekorps ranges) Anglo Normans from feudal castings - separate arms for multipose lancers
- Battle Line (NZ) former TTG Ranges - as above
Army Lists
Sample army lists for this army
Name of Army / Date
- Using asterisks inthe edit mode creates a bulleted list in the actual site
- This is a lot easier to do than easier than setting up tables
- For FoG I suggest listing your army in order or march
- with troop desctiptions on each line, for example
- 4 HF Armoured Average Drilled Impact Foot Swordsmen
- 8 LG Undrilled Unarmoured Poor Bowen
- Dont forget to include your Generals !!!
Include any notes you want here, including comments on how to use - or play against - the army.
Remember to leave a line before you copy the above section as a template for your own list
eBay Listings
UK Bookstore
