samedi 15 juillet 2017

[List IV/38] Nasrid emirate (Grenadines) from 1238 to 1492 AD

I will be very intersted in owning an army including a plethora of psiloi elements. A low agressive factor and a compulsory difficult grounds would be intersting assets. Thinking about that, i remember an army i was playing some years ago in 15mm (with the De bellis multitudinis system) with great pleasure.


I had, at the time, carried out research on the history of this kingdom, its culture etc. The historical aspect of this project is, in fact, very interesting and, as is often the case, travels through time and geography. Ultimate interest of this army: renewal. I do not yet have an army from the Arab - Muslim world when I cover most of the world 's cultural areas with my other armies.


The Alhambra grenadine palace

The army composition would be:
3 Generals 3Kn
12 Cavalymen LH
6 Spearmen Sp
3 Crossbowmen 4BW
12 Crossbowmen Ps

Such a light army, helped by its low
agressivity (0) and its compulsory
hilly ground.                                                  



Grenadine flags and standards
  
It would be an army very different from my other ones.  It will impose a style of play totally original compared to those that I usually develop. Moreover, the aesthetics of a large number of skirmishers equipped with a crossbow is not without pleasing me. It would seem (and the comments published in conjunction with the army list, in the DBA book, also mention) that most Grenadian peasants owned a crossbow.

This may greatly annoy any enemy who wishes to penetrate the mountains of the kingdom of Granada.



The Nasrid dynasty, Banu al-Ahmar, Banu Nazari Nazarí in Castilian, or Nasari according to orthography, is an Arab dynasty founded by Mohammed ben Naṣar, who established his power over the kingdom of Granada by creating the emirate of Granada in 1237 This state owes its subsistence to its vassalage to the kings of Castile and Aragon, for whom the Moors pay an annual tribute. This emirate represents the last form of the kingdom of Granada. The "country of al-Andalus" is then reduced to a congruent portion. (Wikipedia source)


The dynasty was established in 1238 by an Arab emir, Mohammed ben Nazar, often called Al-Ahmar ("The Red"), and nicknamed Al-Ghâlib ("the victor") who would descend from the medina Sa`d ibn `Ubâda Tribe of the Banu Khazraj at the time of the death of Mahomet in 632. After the fall of Almohades, they seize several cities and finally of Granada. Al-Ahmar built a fortified residence there that would become the palace of Alhambra. In front of the Christian Reconquista, the Emir of Granada had to declare himself a vassal of the King of Castile, Ferdinand III. The emirs of Granada then sought an alliance with the Maghreb Zianides, who gave their support after the cession of Algeciras. (...) Embellishment of the princely palaces, of a refinement never reached elsewhere in al-Andalus. The artists are at the height of their mastery, the Nasrids encourage them to decorate each piece of their palace, in a sort of horror of the void. Walking on massive marble slabs, they walk in an architectural and spiritual universe, depicting nature on the façades in an allegorical way, and skies strewn with golden stars on rare wooden ceilings. Faced with the advance of the Christian troops, (...) the emirate was defeated on 2 January 1492 . The motto of the Nasrids would have been proclaimed by the first conqueror when he entered under the door of Elvira of Granada:  ولا غالب إلا الله  Wa lā ghālib illa-āllāh (And there is no victor, but God) (Wikipedia source)

Osprey painting of grenadine warriors