Loading...
 
Skip to main content
Page actions
Print

Historical Overview Section

The Khazar Khanate emerged from the great Turkic powers of the Eurasian steppe and, by the 7th century, had established a powerful empire stretching from the lower Volga and Don to the North Caucasus, Crimea and the Pontic steppe. A formidable cavalry power, the Khazars controlled important trade routes between northern Europe, Byzantium and the Islamic world, while extracting tribute from many neighbouring peoples.

The Khazars spent much of the 7th and 8th centuries fighting the expanding Arab Caliphates, becoming the principal barrier preventing Arab expansion north of the Caucasus. Their great wars against the Umayyads culminated in repeated invasions and counter-attacks across the Caucasus, with the Khazars successfully resisting the Arab advance. During this period they were also closely allied with the Byzantine Empire, occasionally campaigning alongside the Byzantines against common enemies.

The Royal Army period, from approximately 738 to 965, represents the mature Khazar military tradition: a powerful combination of steppe cavalry, horse archers, armoured lancers and supporting infantry drawn from the Khanate's diverse subject peoples. The Khazars fought the Arabs, Alans, Bulgars and other steppe peoples, while maintaining a shifting network of alliances with Byzantium, the Alans, Magyars and later the Oghuz.

During the 9th century the Khazars faced growing pressure from the Pechenegs and the expanding Rus'. Their relationship with Byzantium also became increasingly complicated, alternating between cooperation and rivalry. Around 889–890, the Khazars allied with the Oghuz against the Pechenegs, helping drive them westwards and dramatically reshaping the political balance of the steppe.

The final decades brought a succession of enemies from several directions. Rus' raiders increasingly threatened the Volga trade routes, while Byzantine diplomacy sought to weaken Khazar influence by cultivating alliances with the Rus', Pechenegs and other neighbours. The decisive blow came from the Rus' prince Sviatoslav, whose campaigns of the 960s destroyed major Khazar centres including Sarkel and, around 968–969, the capital at Atil.

Although Khazar political power collapsed in the 10th century, Khazar peoples, rulers and military traditions survived for some time among the competing powers of the steppe. The later date of 1083 therefore represents the wider chronological legacy of Khazar-style warfare rather than the continued existence of a unified Khazar Khanate.

Using the army in ADLG

  • A classic steppe army, with shoot and scoot elite cavalry as the main arm.
  • hint 2

Useful Links

User-contributed links about this army. Add links in this format:

as an example

  • Khazar Army usage statistics from the ADLG ranking site

Army Lists

Sample army lists for this army
161 Khazar Codgers 2026 Young
Brilliant
4 Nobles Heavy cavalry impact Elite 12 48
3 Slav Warriors Medium swordsmen ------ 6 18
1 Levy Archers Light infantry bow ------ 4 4
1 Horse Archers Light cavalry bow ------ 6 6
1 Slav Skirmishers Light infantry javelin ------ 4 4
==
2 Nobles Heavy cavalry impact Elite 12 24
1 Horse Archers Light cavalry bow ------ 6 6
1 Levy Archers Light infantry bow ------ 4 4
==
Brilliant
2 Khurasanians Heavy cavalry bow Elite 13 26
3 Horse Archers Light cavalry bow ------ 6 18
2 Guard Spearmen Heavy spearmen armour ------ 10 20
1 Horse Archers Medium cavalry bow ------ 9 9
1 Levy Archers Light infantry bow ---- 4 4

Comments