The Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem was established in 1100 and was finally
extinguished in 1291. Continually at war and with a minority population,
there was a constant shortage of manpower, which the normal system of
feudalism was unable to provide.
The Military Orders, soldiers who had taken oaths of obedience before
God (and could therefore be relied upon, unlike most Medieval troops),
were one of the most important sources of manpower in the Crusader states.
Contingents of the Templars or Hospitallers, appeared in every army of
the Kingdom of Jerusalem from the 12th century onwards. These warrior
monks were formidable opponents, for example the black and white banner
of the Templars signified;
'they were fair and kindly to their friends , but black and terrible
to their enemies'
The infantry in the Crusader states ranged from pilgrims armed with no
more than a spear or bow - some indeed believed that faith alone would
overcome their enemies - through to well-armed and armoured mercenaries.
By the middle of the late-12th century the crossbow was the weapon par
excellence of the Frankish infantryman.
Outranging the bows of their mainly mounted opponents, crossbows could
be a battle winner for the Franks, if they could be protected either by
the shields of spearmen or the threat of a mounted charge, which prevented
the Arab cavalry from getting too close.
However missile power could only make a battle a stand-off, to be truly
decisive a charge by the Frankish knights was required, launched too soon
and the Arabs would merely evade it and tempt the knights out to where
they could be cut off from the infantry and destroyed. If the Arabs themselves
were tired, the charge could contact and sweep them from the field. It
took a good commander to get the timing right.
Shield designs are transfers (decals) from the Veni
Vidi Vici range and where spears/lances were added to the figures brass
wire spears were used (stops them bending but watch out, they are
sharp). Basing is done by using a flocking gel from Renaissance
Ink painted dark earth, drybrushed with sand and then with patches
of GW grass added (thinned down PVA glue sprinkled with the grass does
the trick).
Most of the amies figures are from Gripping Beast but there are some from
other manufacturers (see unit descriptions). |
