Historical Overview Section
The Goths were a single nation mentioned in several sources up to the 3rd century when they apparently split into at least two groups, including the Ostrogoths of this list. These Goths established a vast and powerful kingdom, during the 3rd and 4th centuries, between the Danube and the Dniepr in what is now Romania, Moldavia and western Ukraine.
The rise of the Huns around 370 overwhelmed the fledgling Gothic kingdoms, and many of the Goths migrated into Roman territory in the Balkans, while others remained north of the Danube under Hunnic rule. They became one of the many Western Hunnic vassals fighting in Europe, at Adrianople in 378, and also Chalons in 451 against the Dominate Roman and Foederate Roman armies respectively.
The collapse of Hunnic power in the 450s following the death of Attila the Hun in 453 saw them allied with the former vassal and rival, the Gepids, and led by Theodemir they broke the Hunnic power of Attila's sons in the Battle of Nedao in 454. The Ostrogoths started dealing with Rome as allies and enemies, and eventually ended up beingh invited to conquer Italy by the Early Byzantines and became the Italian Ostrogothic kingdom.
The Heruls are first mentioned by Roman writers in the reign of Gallienus (260-268), when they accompanied the Goths ravaging the coasts of the Black Sea and the Aegean. By the end of the 4th century the Heruls were subjugated by the Ostrogoths, and when the Ostrogothic kingdom was destroyed by the Huns in about 375, the Heruls became subject to the Western Hunnic empire. Only after the fall of the Hunnic realm in 454, were the Heruls able to create their own kingdom in southern Slovakia at the March and Theiss rivers. After this kingdom was destroyed by the Lombards, Herul fortunes waned. Remaining Heruls joined the Lombards and moved to Italy, and some of them sought refuge with the Gepid s.
Records indicate that the Heruli served in the armies of the Byzantine emperors for a number of years, in particular in the campaigns of Belisarius, when much of the old Roman territory, including Italy, Syria, and North Africa was recaptured. Several thousand Heruli served in the personal guard of Belisarius throughout the campaigns. They disappear from historical record by the mid-6th century.
Using the army in ADLG
- A mounted force can get across the table pretty fast, with the Light Horse to slow the enemy down if necessary. One can therefore hit the enemy quickly and hard.
- Plenty if MF archers can be a threat to mounted opponents and bulk out the army
- A “General included” option maximises that number elements in an army that basically goes forward unless you throw high on pips!
- Huns as an ally gives you at least some troops you can easily control and skirmish with
Useful Links
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Army Lists
Sample army lists for this army
Codgers 2024 95 Ostrogoth Taylor
Brilliant
4 Ostrogoth Horsemen Heavy cavalry impetuous Elite
2 Ostrogoth Horsemen Heavy cavalry impetuous ------
2 Huns Light cavalry bow Elite
5 Light Infantry Bow Light infantry bow ------
==
Ordinary Included
1 Ostrogoth Horsemen (Included General) Heavy cavalry impetuous Elite
3 Ostrogoth Horsemen Heavy cavalry impetuous Elite
2 Huns Light cavalry bow Elite
==
Hunnic Ordinary included Ally
1 Nobles (Included General) Heavy cavalry bow Elite
2 Horsemen Medium cavalry bow Elite
2 Horsemen Light cavalry bow Elite
Dave Allens Alicante Insane Ostrogoth
Strategist
5 Ostrogoth Horsemen Heavy cavalry impetuous Elite
1 Ostrogoth Horsemen Medium cavalry impetuous ------
4 Huns Light cavalry bow Elite
2 Bowmen Bowmen ------
==
Ordinary Included
1 Ostrogoth Horsemen (inc General) Heavy cavalry impetuous Elite
4 Warriors on Foot Heavy swordsmen impetuous ------
4 LI Bow Light infantry bow ------
==
Ordinary, Included, Unreliable
2 Ostrogoth Horsemen (inc General) Heavy cavalry impetuous Elite
2 LI Bow Light infantry bow ------
Fortified Camp
94 Ostrogoth (Cutner - Britcon 2019)
Strategist
3 HC Nobles Elite
3 HC Nobles
2 Elite Huns LH Bow
2 Bowmen
==
Hunnic Ally Ordinary Included
1 Noble HC Bow Elite
3 Horsemen MCv Bow Elite
1 LH Bow Elite
==
Included Ordinary Sub
5 Warriors Impetuous Swd Foot
2 Bowmen
1 LF Bow
Convention Carcaïenne 2017 200ap
Strategist, 10
6, Warriors on foot, Heavy infantry impetuous, 48
2, Bowmen, 14
4, Light Infantry Bow, 16
2, Nobles, Medium cavalry impetuous, 14
==
Ordinary, included, -3
4, Nobles, Heavy cavalry impetuous Elite, 44
1, Huns, Light cavalry bow, 6
==
Ordinary, included & unreliable, -6
1, Nobles, Heavy cavalry impetuous, Elite, 11
2, Nobles, Medium cavalry impetuous, 14
1, Huns, Light cavalry bow, 6
3, Bowmen, Mediocre, 15
==
5 fortifications, 1 fortified bagage
Strategist
3 Nobles Heavy cavalry impetuous Elite
4 Bowmen Light infantry bow ------
5 Nobles Medium cavalry impetuous ------
==
Ordinary
2 Nobles Medium cavalry impetuous ------
3 Nobles Heavy cavalry impetuous Elite
==
Ordinary Hun Ally
3 Horsemen Medium cavalry bow Elite
2 Horsemen Light cavalry bow
1 Horsemen Heavy cavalry bow ------
USTT 2018 200ap
Strategist
3, Heavy Nobles, Heavy cavalry impetuous, Elite
3, Nobles, Medium cavalry impetuous, ------
1, Huns, Light cavalry bow, Elite
2, Light Infantry Bow, Light infantry bow, ------
1, Huns, Light cavalry bow, ------
==
Ordinary
3, Heavy Nobles, Heavy cavalry impetuous, Elite
3, Nobles, Medium cavalry impetuous, ------
2, Light Infantry Bow, Light infantry bow, ------
==
Ordinary Included Hun Ally
2, Horsemen, Medium cavalry bow, Elite
3, Elite Light Horsmen (1 Incl Gen), Light cavalry bow, Elite
2, Light Horsemen, Light cavalry bow, ------
1, Lights, Light infantry bow, ----
USTT 2018
Competent
6 Heavy cavalry impetuous
2 Light cavalry bow Elite
==
Competent
6 Medium cavalry impetuous Elite
2 Light cavalry bow
==
Odinary
5 Heavy swordsmen impetuous
5 Light infantry bow
200 Points
Ordinary Included
3 Nobles Heavy cavalry impetuous Elite
3 Nobles Medium cavalry impetuous Ordinary
5 Archers Light infantry bow Ordinary
==
Ordinary Included
1 Nobles Heavy cavalry bow Elite
4 Horsemen Light cavalry bow Ordinary
1 Horsemen Medium cavalry bow Ordinary
2 Heruls Heavy cavalry impetuous Ordinary
==
Brilliant Included
3 Nobles Heavy cavalry impetuous Elite
3 Nobles Medium cavalry impetuous Ordinary
2 Huns Light cavalry bow Elite
I went for the “General included” option to maximise that number elements in an army that basically goes forward unless you throw high on pips!!!
The Hun Ally does well; although I never threw a one first time in three games so maybe I am biased!!
Impetuous cavalry, whether HC or MC, can be very effective against foot given reasonable dice! I blew one legion away on impact and was surprised that the cavalry were able to hang on in varying scenarios!
I would also add that a mounted force crosses the table pretty quickly and, with Light Horse to slow the enemy down if necessary, can therefore hit the enemy early and hard. At all events I enjoyed using the army and would do so again but perhaps with the addition of some MF archers as Julian Lopez suggested to help contest any bad going that you cannot move/remove!!!
400AP 6-command Ostrogoth & Gepid combined army
- 4 LH
- 4 HCv Impact
- 4 LH Bow
==
- 3 Elite HC
- 1 Ordinary HC
- 4 javelin LH
- 1 LI Javelin
==
- 6 Cv (3 Elite, 3 Ordinary)
==
- 6 Cv (3 Elite, 3 Ordinary)
==
- 6 Cv (3 Elite, 3 Ordinary)
==
- 6 Cv (3 Elite, 3 Ordinary)