This 15mm DBA 2.2 Army consists of 15 elements: Miniatures by Essex
1 x (General) 3Cv, 9 x 2Lh, 1 x 2Lh or 3Cv, 1 x 2Lh or 7Hd or 2Ps
Historical Enemies: Byzantines, Early Russians, Seljuq Turks, Early Hungarians, Volga Bulgar's, Pecheneg and the feared Mongol's.
Brief Historical Notes: The Cumans and Kipchak were a Turkic nomadic people and during the early part of the 11th century the two Turkic nomadic people's formed Cumania a confederation state occupying most of the western region of the Eurasian steppes.
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The Cumans raided, fought and allied anyone on their borders most common enemies were the Byzantines and Russian Principalities. The Cumans manage to chalk up a few victories against the Rus i.e. 1093 AD Battle of the Stugna River and in 1202 AD the Cumans sacked Kiev.
The Cumans-Kipchak allied with the Byzantines to defeat and wipe out the Turkic Pecheneg nation, at the battle of Levounion, which was really an ambush, near the Marista river. 40,000 Cumans took part during the battle or slaughter early Monday morning April, 28th 1091. Some sources indicate or suggest 20,000 Byzantine troops, 5,000 Vlachs and 800 Flemish Mercenaries slaughtered the women and children and the Cumans - Kipchak butchered the male population. The remnants of the Turkic Pechenegs, if any, fled to Hungary.
The Cumans allied with their former enemy, the Russians, to fight against the invading Mongols after suffering several defeats i.e. The Battle of Kalka River 1223 AD the Cumans were finally crushed in 1238 AD near the Prut River. The surviving Cuman - Kipchak population fled to present day Hungary and Bulgaria.
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Bravo, wonderful painting, Phil! I love your series, each army as lovely as the last.
ReplyDeleteI didn't realize the Cuman empire stretched as far as it did. And second, who do you think the Székelys were descended from? They claim the Huns but maybe it could have been the Cumans or Pechenegs.
Thanks Monty, um....I'm no road scholar, I'm just a amateur reader of historical/warfare researcher :o) and from what I read so far I would say Székelys/Hungarians have had some form of Turkic DNA from the Hunnic, Avars, Magyar's, and Pechenegs, but my money is on the Ugrian tribes (Kipchak and Cumans)
Delete- interesting to note the word Hungary is Latin built from the (H)ungarī, Ungrī, Ugrī,
I'm no historian...but I do like your take on it. There were so many waves of tribes. Thanks for the observation on Latin as that is quite clever. I do wish I'd had a proper education, with Latin!
DeleteExcellent. I echo Monty's comment re great series.
ReplyDeleteThanks Mark, trying to work how to do the campaign board/maps for the series. I tried 2D with no effect. I will try soon 3D campaign boards.......
DeleteLovely Cumans Phil!
ReplyDeleteThanks! :o) Mark, cheers
DeleteWonderful army Phil, always amazing detail on these small scale figures.
ReplyDeleteThanks Chris :o)
Deletecheers,
Terrific army, Phil! Love the details on both the robes and shields.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jonathan apperciate your kind words... adding the extra details to the Horse Archers robes helps bring out the character of the figures..
Deletecheers,
Phil - Really enjoying seeing your posts on great looking DBA armies - as you know I've recently gotten into DBA and can appreciate your work in 15mm even more. Best, Dean
ReplyDeletethank you Dean, I really appreciate your kind words and comments about my DBA armies.
Deletecheers,
very good job
ReplyDeleteare you pay by essex ?
if not they should
great advice for them
Thanks Marco, no I'm not working for Essex :o) Maybe you contact Essex Marco and tell them of my work? :o)
DeleteI'm with Marco! Essex should send you some lead for the great work you continue to do with there line. ;-)
Deletenow, that would be really nice to receive some recognition from Essex.
Deletecheers,
An excellent post Phil...love hte historical background and the minis. I didn't know much about them, and this is a great pleasure to read, look at, and appreciate, this wonderful work.
ReplyDeleteExcellent basing too, and beautiful shields...love this nomadic army!
Best,
Phil.
Thanks Phil, I apperciate your kind words/comments..
DeleteThe Cumans are a good army to command just like the Hun's lots of Light Horse units to harass and out flank your opponents army battle line..
cheers,
Hi Phil . Lovely work,as alway, really like the heavy units. I had a horde of these guys from Essex in my DBM Georgian army. The dodgy moustache on the skirmishers made them look like Freddie Mercury...
ReplyDeleteThanks Phil, appreciate your kind words. The Cumans and the Georgians for that matter, are good armies to have and play with any set of rules...I know what you are saying regarding to Freddie Mercury moustaches :o)
Deletecheers,
Another great looking army. I'm interested that you like commanding LH armies. The most I've had are 4 wih my Comnenan Byzantines, and they get me into plenty of trouble. I'm looking to get some Numidians done at some stage (they're in the lead pile); they're pretty much all light troops and might be easier to work with.
ReplyDeleteHi, running Light Horse/light foot armies are great, it has mobility and if one plays DBA battles/games you really need speed for your elements to advance, attack and withdraw quickly *grin* against your opponent.
DeleteThe Comnena Byzantines are good to run, I would place the 4 x 2Lh in the rear behind your main battle line in column formation facing west or east on the board and move/attack your opponents flanks quickly when needed *grin*
I have so many favorite light armies one of them are the Thracian's lots of Ax foot and Lh to harass your opponent.
cheers,