Abbasid

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Historical Overview Section

The Abbasid dynasty of caliphs, who built their capital in Baghdad after overthrowing the Umayyad caliphs from all but Spain. It was built by the descendant of Muhammad's youngest uncle, Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib. It was created in Harran in 750 C.E. and shifted its capital in 762 C.E from Harran to Baghdad. It flourished for two centuries, but slowly went into decline with the rise to power of the Turkish army it had created, the Mamluks. Within 150 years of gaining power across Persia, they were forced to cede power to local dynastic amirs who only nominally acknowledged their power, and had to cede Al Andalus to an escaped Umayyad royal and the Maghreb and the African territories (Ifriqiya) to independent entities such as the Aghlabids and the Fatimids. Even as soon as 820 the Samanids had begun the process of exercising independent authority in Transoxiana and Greater Khorasan, the Shia Hamdanids in Northern Syria, and the successive Tahirid, Alid and Saffarid dynasties of Iran. By the early 10th century, the Abbasids almost lost control to the growing Persian faction known as the Buwayhids that replaced the Samanids as the Buwayhids were quietly able to assume real power in the bureaucracy at Baghdad. All these autonomous provinces slowly took on the characteristic of de facto states with hereditary rulers, armies, and revenues and operated under only nominal caliphal suzeranity, which may not necessarily be reflected by any contribution to the treasury.

In the East Mahmud of Ghazni took the title of sultan, as opposed to the "amir" that had been in more common usage, signifying the Ghaznavid Empire's independence from Caliphial authority even as a matter of form. By the 11th century, the loss of respect for the caliphs had gone even further, as the Seljuks, Khwarezmshahs, Almoravids and other Islamic rulers no longer mentioned the caliph's name in the Friday Khutba, or struck it off their coinage. The Fatimids contested the Abbasids for even the titular authority. The Buwayhids were defeated in the mid-11th century with the aid of the Seljuks under Toghril Beg; however, the Seljuks then themselves took over de facto lordship of the Empire, and the Caliph bestowed on Toghril Beg the title of Sultan of the East and the West. The Seljuks publicly pledged allegiance to the Caliph, but left him in control of little actual terrritory beyond Baghdad. Caliph Al-Muqtafi was the 1st Abbasid Caliph to regain the independence of the Caliphate,after nearly 250 years of foreign rule,he successfully defended Baghdad against the Seljuqs,thus securing Iraq for the Abbasids

Their rule was ended in 1258, when Hulagu Khan, the Mongol conqueror, sacked Baghdad. While they continued to claim authority in religious matters from their base in Egypt under the Mamluks for some time after this conquest, the dynasty finally disappeared with Al-Mutawakkil III, who was carried away as a prisoner of the palace to Constantinople by Selim I where he only had a ceremonial role, until his death in 1543.

Using the army in FoG

  • Do not dismiss the poor spear, they are so cheap but don't be afraid to use them in the main line. You can use them in the center of your line. By placing the spear in the center the enemy will have to match your formation with his own troops which will usually be much more expensive.
  • This leaves room on the flanks which is where your Ghilmen are best used.
  • Maxing out terrain - especially fields - gives the Dailami and other MF bowmen a real advantage over mounted opponents and can allow them to work well with the Ghilmen

UK Tournament Results with this army

User-contributed links about this army:

Allies


Put information on allied contingents here - including recommendations on which to use, and why

15mm Manufacturers supplying figures for this army

You can see some of the figures in the Ancients Photo Gallery also on this site. This listing only covers "arabic" figures - Turk/Hunninc/Mongol figures are omitted as nearly everyone does some of them.

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Core Troops


Which troops are absolutely needed for this army, and what are your thoughts on how to organise, paint and buy them.

Army Lists

Sample army lists for this army
800 AP list with solid foot

  • 1 LF Archers LF unprotected Average Undrilled bow - - - 8
  • 2 Berber Arab Lancers LH unprotected Average Undrilled - lancers Swordsmen - 4
  • 3 Berber Arab Lancers Cv Protected Average Undrilled - lancers Swordsmen - 4
  • 4 Berber Arab Lancers LH unprotected Average Undrilled - lancers Swordsmen - 4
  • 5 Zanj HF Protected Average Drilled - Light spear Swordsmen - 6
  • 5.1 suporting LF LF unprotected Average Drilled bow - - - 3
  • 6 Zanj HF Protected Average Drilled - Light spear Swordsmen - 6
  • 6.1 suporting LF LF unprotected Average Drilled bow - - - 3
  • 7 Deaf Spearmen HF Protected Average Drilled - defensive spearmen - - 6
  • 7.1 suporting LF LF unprotected Average Drilled bow - - - 3
  • 8 Turkish Ghilmen Cv armoured superior Drilled bow Swordsmen - 4
  • 9 Turkish Ghilmen Cv armoured superior Drilled bow Swordsmen - 4
  • 10 Turkish Ghilmen Cv armoured superior Drilled bow Swordsmen - 4
  • 11 Dailami MF armoured superior Drilled - Impact foot Swordsmen - 4
  • 11.1 supporting light archers LF unprotected superior Drilled bow - - - 2
  • 12 Volunteers MF Protected superior Undrilled - Impact foot Swordsmen - 6
  • Generals TC - - - - - - - 1
  • Generals TC - - - - - - - 3

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