Dailami

Navigation - HomePage - The Rise of Rome - Storm of Arrows - Immortal Fire - Legions Triumphant - Swords and Scimitars - Eternal Empire - Decline and Fall - Wolves from The Sea - Swifter Than Eagles

Historical Overview Section

The Buyids, also known as Buwayhids Buwaihids, Buyyids, or Ä€l-i BÅ«ya were an Iranian people who founded a Shi'a dynastic confederation of Persia from Daylaman, a region in northern Iran, on the southern shore of the Caspian Sea.

In pre-Islamic times they had served as mercenaries for the Sassanid Persian kings of Iran, but were independent from their rule. They were considered a formidable military force, especially because of their ability as foot soldiers. According to the Byzantine historians Procopius and Agathias, the Dailamites were a warlike people and skilled in close combat, being armed each with a sword, a shield and spears or javelins. They supported the rebellion of Bahram Chobin against Khosrau II, but he later employed an elite detachment of 4,000 Dailamites as part of his guard. The Sassanid general Wahriz, who was sent by Khosrau I in 570 to capture Yemen, was also probably of Dailamite descent, and his troops included Deilamites, who would later play a significant role in the conversion of Yemen to the nascent Islam. The Dailami were the only peoples the ((Arab Conquest) didn't manage to conquer, although they did convert to Islam. According to the historian al-Tabari, the Dailamites, along with the Turks, were considered the worst enemies of the Muslims ans the Abbasid Arab caliphate skirmished but still failed to conquer the mountainous territory of Daylam.

During the 900s, Buwayhid dynasties took power away from the Abbasid Arab Caliphate in Fars (southwestern Iran, 934-1062); Rayy (977-1029); Jibal (932-1028); Kerman (936-1048). From 945-1055, a Buwayhid dynasty ruled Baghdad and most of Iraq. The BÅ«yid army consisted of their fellow Dailamite Iranians, who served as foot soldiers, and of the Turkish cavalry that had played a prominent role in the 'AbbÄsid military. The Dailamites and Turks often quarreled with each other in an attempt to be the dominant force within the army.

During the mid-1000s, the Buwayhid dynasties all fell to the Ghaznavids and the Seljuk Turk dynasty & their allies.

Dailami were the most sought-after infantry of their day, with an excellent reputation. The Dailami in non-Dailami armies were "elite" bodies in the armies using them. The Dailami Dynasties list allows them to be downgraded to Average on the assumption that the larger the force the less likely it would be to be especially effective.

Useful Links

User-contributed links about this army:

Fanaticus banner download page with some banners that can be used for this army
Dailami Research on TNE
La Domination des Dailamites In English !
Encyclopedia Iranica always worth searching

Using the Army in FoG

Firstly you really need to decide what you are. Are you a Dailami army with Ghilmen or a Gilhmen army with Dailami? As there are plenty of Ghilman armies out there, why not focus on this as a Dailami army with Ghilmen though? The troops are expensive, and so realistically you can only afford 2-3 BGs of Ghilmen, and you also need 1-2 BGs of LH, the rest of the army can be Dailami foot.
What about the Elephants? A single BG of El can slow down an army that is likely to manoeuvre a lot, however may prove invaluable against certain opponents who may otherwise be able to run down your Dailami in the open. Also relative to the cost of other BGs they are actually cheap and can be used for bulk in this army! Even as a strategic reserve that is never committed an EL BG can occupy your enemies attention to their detriment. The Dailami MF archers are good to drive off enemy cavalry, especially when supported by Elephants, and can replace Ghilmen in the counter-cavalry role.
Dailami don't need terrain. They like to manoeuvre. Superior infantry with the help of generals can pass most Cohesion tests, so the -1 for being MF losing in the open wonâ€™t worry you too much, and remember that the -1â€™s for losing to lancers and losing to mounted are NOT cumulative. MF, Armoured, Superior, Impact Foot Swordsmen are among the most flexible troops available.
The supporting LF are really a distraction â€“ taking the Dailami in units of 6 with no rear support seems to be enough for most situations.

Allies - possible allied contingents

As the dailami troops are so expensive a Khurasanian ally gives you a cheap general with the same troops as the main list â€“ but allows some to be even cheaper and Undrilled. The additional Bedouin LH can also help overwhelm an enemy mounted skirmish wing
Other nice allies are the Kurds, so you can take 6 Kurdish armoured lancers in the main army, and a Kurdish ally with 8 more armoured lancers to change the expected face of the army quite dramatically - and avoiding the need to take Ghilmen of your own.

UK Tourney Results

17 / 27 Dailami Britcon 2007 15mm (open)

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.

Essex Miniatures - many generic Arabs, possibly too generic for todays tastes in their Ancients selection, plus a newer 50-strong Arab range of more tailored figures in their Crusades ranges that may be more suitable. They have Dailami figures
Donnington - 35+ arabs
Museum Miniatures - several nice Arab/Persian/Turkish ranges, often using the same figures in each!
Gladiator Miniatures by Fighting 15's (Previously Black Hat) 33-strong Crusades Moslems Range
Old Glory 15's, several Arab Ranges. The main Arab Conquest era Dailami range has five (or six) different posses, with swords and spears. They also have a Seljuk Dailami pack with three poses. The ones from the Arab conquest range may be better.
Minifigs Venerable Crusader range with Arabs
Irregular Miniatures 39 Arab & Turk figures from a generic range
Lancashire Games - Several large "value" packs of Arab troops
LKM Direct - Freikorps ranges have Medieval Turks
Tin Soldier 16 Arabs in one range
Outpost Wargame Services A specialist in this period/region, 30+ Crusade-period Islamic's and some Dailami infantry which mix well with others.
East Riding Miniatures Some berbers in a small El Cid Range may be suitable
Khurasan Miniatures again a specialist period for Khurasan, with several Persian/eastern ranges. They have dedicated Dailami figures
Viking Forge several Arab & Turkish ranges
Falcon Figures Ottoman range
Battle Line Miniatures 27 Generic Arabs
Eureka - Australian Site Grumpys Miniatures Perian & Afghan Ranges are quite fun
50 Paces.com their website shows an "Arab" range, but no figure codes listed
Lurkio New UK manufacturer with a dedicated Sassanid range which includes some Dailami

Army Lists

Sample army lists for this army
800AP (FC & 2 TCs)

1 Indian Zott Swordsmen MF Unprotected Average Undrilled - Skilled Swordsmen - 4
2 Separately deployed Archers LF Unprotected Average Drilled Bow - - 6
3 Bedouin Cavalry LH Unprotected Average Undrilled - Lancer Swordsmen - 4
4 Dailami MF Armoured Superior Drilled - Impact Foot Swordsmen - 6
5 Dailami MF Armoured Superior Drilled - Impact Foot Swordsmen - 6
6 Dailami MF Armoured Superior Drilled - Impact Foot Swordsmen - 6
7 Ghillmen CV Armoured Superior Drilled Bow Swordsmen - 4
8 Dailami MF Armoured Superior Drilled - Impact Foot Swordsmen - 6
9 Dailami MF Armoured Superior Drilled - Impact Foot Swordsmen - 6
10 Dailami MF Armoured Superior Drilled - Impact Foot Swordsmen - 6
11 Elephants EL - Average Undrilled - - - 2

1 Infantry 6 + 3 Medium Foot, Superior, Drilled Armoured Impact Swordsmen + 3 LF Superior Bowmen Unprotected
2 Infantry 6 + 3 Medium Foot, Superior, Drilled Armoured Impact Swordsmen + 3 LF Superior Bowmen Unprotected
3 Infantry 6 + 3 Medium Foot, Superior, Drilled Armoured Impact Swordsmen + 3 LF Superior Bowmen Unprotected
4 Infantry 6 + 3 Medium Foot, Superior, Drilled Armoured Impact Swordsmen + 3 LF Superior Bowmen Unprotected
5 Archers 8 Light Foot Superior Drilled Unprotected Bowmen
6 Ghulam Noble Cavalry 4 Superior Drilled Armoured Bow Sword cavalry
7 Ghulam Noble Cavalry 4 Superior Drilled Armoured Bow Sword cavalry
8 Ghulam Noble Cavalry 4 Superior Drilled Armoured Bow Sword cavalry
9 Arab mercenary cavalry 4 Average Undrilled Unprotected Lance Sword Light Horse
10 Arab mercenary cavalry 4 Average Undrilled Unprotected Lance Sword Light Horse
11 Ghulams 4 Armoured Undrilled Superior Lance Sword Cavalry
12 Elephants 2 Average Elephants

See how this was used at Britcon 2007 Edit: This list can't possibly be correct as it works out at over 800AP without generals...!

Used at Milano 2009, 2nd on 20, Open, 1000AD to 1500AD.

C-in-C TC
3 Sub-commanders TC
4 Turkish ghilman, Cavalry, Armoured, Superior, Drilled, Bow, Swordsmen
4 Turkish ghilman, Cavalry, Armoured, Superior, Drilled, Bow, Swordsmen
4 + 2 Dailami foot, Medium Foot, Armoured, Superior, Drilled, Impact foot, Swordsmen + Light Foot, Unprotected, Superior, Drilled, Bow
4 + 2 Dailami foot, Medium Foot, Armoured, Superior, Drilled, Impact foot, Swordsmen + Light Foot, Unprotected, Superior, Drilled, Bow
4 + 2 Dailami foot, Medium Foot, Armoured, Superior, Drilled, Impact foot, Swordsmen + Light Foot, Unprotected, Superior, Drilled, Bow
4 + 2 Dailami foot, Medium Foot, Armoured, Superior, Drilled, Impact foot, Swordsmen + Light Foot, Unprotected, Superior, Drilled, Bow
4 + 2 Dailami foot, Medium Foot, Armoured, Superior, Drilled, Impact foot, Swordsmen + Light Foot, Unprotected, Superior, Drilled, Bow
4 + 2 Dailami foot, Medium Foot, Armoured, Superior, Drilled, Impact foot, Swordsmen + Light Foot, Unprotected, Superior, Drilled, Bow
6 Dailami archers, Light Foot, Unprotected, Superior, Drilled, Bow
4 Bedouin cavalry, Light Horse, Unprotected, Average, Undrilled, Lancers, Swordsmen
4 Bedouin cavalry, Light Horse, Unprotected, Average, Undrilled, Lancers, Swordsmen
4 Indian Zott mercenaries, Medium Foot, Unprotected, Average, Undrilled, Skilled Swordsmen

1 Bedouin LH unprotected Average Undrilled - lancers Swordsmen - 4
2 Bedouin LH unprotected Average Undrilled - lancers Swordsmen - 4
3 LF Bowmen LF unprotected Average Undrilled bow - - - 6
4 Dailami MF armoured superior Drilled - Impact foot Swordsmen - 4
4.1 supporting light archers LF unprotected superior Drilled bow - - - 2
5 Dailami MF armoured superior Drilled - Impact foot Swordsmen - 4
5.1 supporting light archers LF unprotected superior Drilled bow - - - 2
6 Dailami MF armoured superior Drilled - Impact foot Swordsmen - 4
6.1 supporting light archers LF unprotected superior Drilled bow - - - 2
7 Dailami MF armoured superior Drilled - Impact foot Swordsmen - 4
7.1 supporting light archers LF unprotected superior Drilled bow - - - 2
8 Ghilmen Cv armoured superior Drilled bow Swordsmen - 4
9 Ghilmen Cv armoured superior Drilled bow Swordsmen - 4
10 Ghilmen Cv armoured superior Drilled bow Swordsmen - 4
11 Smellies El - Average Undrilled - - - - 2
12 Zott Dung Sweepers MF unprotected Average Undrilled - - skilled swordsmen - 4 * Generals TC - - - - - - - 4

This army design shows just the type of indecisive poor thinking that this wiki cautions against.

Sample army

3TC+ 1 Kurdish Ally TC
6 Kurdish Ally archers LF Unpr. Undr. Ave. Bow
4 Bedouin LH Unpr. Undr. Lancer/Sw
4 Bedouin LH Unpr. Undr. Lancer/Sw
6 Dailami MF Superior Armoured Drilled IF/Sw
6 Dailami MF Superior Armoured Drilled IF/Sw
6 Dailami MF Superior Armoured Drilled IF/Sw
6 Dailami MF Superior Armoured Drilled IF/Sw
1x8 Dailami archers MF Superior Prot. Drilled Bow
6 Dailami MF Superior Protected Drilled IF/Sw
Kurdish ally lancers Cv Superior Undri. Armoured Lancer/Sw
Kurdish ally lancers Cv Superior Undri. Armoured Lancer/Sw

Remember to leave a line before you copy the above section as a template for your own list