Historical Overview Section
The term "Sumerian" is the common name given to the ancient inhabitants of southern Mesopotamia by their successors, the Semitic Akkadians. The successor Akkadian Empire was an empire centered in the city of Akkad and its surrounding region in Ancient Iraq (Mesopotamia). It reached the height of its power between the 24th and 22nd centuries BC, following the conquests of king Sargon of Akkad.
On assuming the crown Sargon entered upon a career of foreign conquest, four times invading the Syro-Canaanite and three years thoroughly subduing the countries of "the west" to unite them with Mesopotamia "into a single empire" to create an empire that reached as far as the Mediterranean Sea and Anatolia, and extending his rule to Elam, and as far south as Magan (Oman), an area over which he reigned for 56 years. This consolidation of the city-states of Sumer and Akkad reflected the growing economic and political power of Mesopotamia. Troubles multiplied toward the end of his reign. A later Babylonian text states "In his old age, all the lands revolted against him, and they besieged him in Akkad (the city)"…but "he went forth to battle and defeated them, he knocked them over and destroyed their vast army". Also shortly after, "the Subartu (mountainous tribes of) the upper country—in their turn attacked, but they submitted to his arms, and Sargon settled their habitations, and he smote them grievously".
These difficulties broke out again in the reign of his sons. Revolts broke out during the 9-year reign of his son, Rimush, who fought hard to retain the empire—and in the fifteen year reign of Rimush's elder brother, Manishtushu. Both appear to have been assassinated. Within 100 years the Empire of Akkad collapsed, almost as fast as it had developed, ushering in a short Dark Age. Later, the 3rd dynasty of Ur was the last great "Sumerian renaissance", but already the region was becoming more Semitic than Sumerian, with the influx of waves of Martu (Amorites) who were later to found the Neo-Babylonian Empire.
The Military
The almost constant wars among the Sumerian city-states for 2000 years helped to develop the military technology and techniques of Sumer to a high level. The first war recorded was between Lagash and Umma in ca. 2525 BC on a stele called the Stele of Vultures. It shows the king of Lagash leading a Sumerian army consisting mostly of infantry. The infantrymen carried spears, wore copper helmets and carried leather or wicker shields. The spearmen are shown arranged in a coherent formation, which would have required training and discipline; this implies that the Sumerians may have made use of professional soldiers.
The Sumerian military used carts harnessed to onagers. These early chariots functioned less effectively in combat than did later designs, and some have suggested that these chariots served primarily as transports, though the crew carried battle-axes and lances. The Sumerian chariot comprised a four or two-wheeled device manned by a crew of two and harnessed to four onagers. The cart was composed of a woven basket and the wheels had a solid three-piece design.
Sumerian cities were surrounded by defensive walls. The Sumerians engaged in siege warfare between their cities, but the mudbrick walls failed to deter some foes.
Using the army in FoG
- The army rests on a blocking force of loads of big units of protected drilled defensive spear. Use them to block the enemy advance and as long as they don't suffer unfortunate cohesion tests they are generally fine.
- They cannot win alone though, so you do need a strike force to be aggressive with somewhere else.
- The list fortunately allows for plenty of good-in-period drilled superior foot bases of various types.
- If you have more ideas add them here.
UK Tournament Results with this army
Useful Links
User-contributed links about this army:
- Sumerians in Wargaming from Thomo's hole.
- Sumerian army notes on Fanaticus
- 1/72ns HaT Sumerians from fanaticus
- put the link text readers will see in here write some more detail about the link here
Allies
Put information on allied contingents here - including recommendations on which to use, and why.
Painting and Collecting the Army
- Paint schemes, insignia, shield designs? Put it here.
15mm Manufacturers supplying figures for this army
This is a full listing of all known 15mm manufacturers Sumerians. A listing of who supplies what can be found in my 15mm Suppliers directory . If anyone uploads any, you may be able to see some of the figures in the Ancients Photo Gallery also on this site.
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- Essex Miniatures -almost certainly have a range
- Magister Militum Sumerian Range
- Falcon Figures Biblical Sumerians
Army Lists
Sample army lists for this army
Name of Army / Date
Akkadian
- 6 LF, Unprotected, Average, Undrilled, Bow
- 6 LF, Unprotected, Poor, Undrilled, Bow
- 6 LF, Unprotected, Poor, Undrilled, Sling
- 8 Mob
- 8 HF, Protected, Average, Drilled, Defensive spear
- 8 HF, Protected, Average, Drilled, Defensive spear
- 8 HF, Protected, Poor, Drilled, Defensive spear
- 8 HF, Protected, Poor, Drilled, Defensive spear
- 8 HF, Protected, Average, Drilled, Defensive spear
- 8 HF, Protected, Average, Drilled, Defensive spear
- 8 HF, Unprotected, Superior, Drilled, Heavy Weapon
- 8 MF, Protected, Superior, Drilled, Offensive spear
- 8 MF, Protected, Superior, Drilled, Offensive spear
- 8 MF, Unprotected, Superior, Drilled, Bow
- 4 TCs
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