Carolingian 714 to 814 AD

This list covers the armies of Charles Martel "The Hammer", Carloman, Pepin "The Short" and Charlemange.

It assumes that the Carolingian power base was strong enough to merit an earlier start date than 751 AD when Pepin the Short (Pepin le Bref), the son of Charles Martel, managed with papal approval and the support of bishops to depose the last Merovingian king, Childeric III (743-751AD). The last Merovingian kings are called "rois fainéants"; literally ‘the kings who do nothing’. The real power was in the hand of the "maître du palais" (mayor of the palace) which was the official status of Charles Martel and his son Pippin the Short.

Era: Triumph of Cavalry   Carolingian 714 to 814 AD CR: H: 4 L: 3   BP: 2 Init: 6
Core
Number Type   Description Key FV PROT Weapon Cost
2 HC Scarae (d) K 5[1]0 +1 Lance 11
2 HC   K 4[1]0 +1 Spear/Javelin 10
2 FT   K 5[1]1 +1 Spears 6
1 SI     3[1]2 +2 Javelins 2
1 SI     2[1]1 +2 Bows 2
Bonus:
3 HC (d) K 5[1]0 +1 Lance 11
3 HC (d!) K 4[1]0 +1 Spear/Javelin 10
2 LC Basques/Bretons K 2[0]0 +1 Javelins 7
1 FT Viking/Frisian K 5[1]2 +1 Spears 6
4 FT   K 5[1]1 +1 Spears 6
2 LI Basques   4[1]2 +1 Javelins 7
1 SI     3[1]2 +2 Javelins 2
3 SI *   2[1]1 +2 Bows 2
1 SI     2[1]1 +2 Staff Slings 2
O   Lombard Allies**          
2 HC Adalings (d) K 5[1]0 +1 Lance 11
1 HC Skilpors (d!) K 4[1]0 +1 Spears/Javelins 10
2 FT Commoners*** K 5[1]1 +1 Spears/Bows 8
2 LHI *** K 4[1]2 +1 Javelins 7
2 LI ***   4[1]2 +1 Javelins 7
2 LI ***   3[1]1 +1 Bows 6
O   Bavarians          
2 FT   K 5[1]1 +1 Spears 6
O   Saxons****          
2 WB   K 5[1]2 +1 Various 8
2 LC   K 2[0]0 +1 Javelins 7
O   Andalusian Arab Allies (714-795AD) *****          
1 HC Jund (d!) K 4[1]0 +1 Lances 10
1 LC Berbers K 2[0]0 +1 Javelins 7
2 FT Arabs****** K 5[1]1 +1 Spears/Bows 8

Terrain:

Core: 1 GR

Bonus: (Max: 2 ) 2 GR, 1 SH, 1 RG, 1 W

Notes:

FV5 Cav are Obligatory Chargers.

Staff Slings may not fire and move.

Allied light troops if no such troops are used, do not count for the extra light division rules.

*The total number of SI Bonus bow fielded may not outnumber that of the total FV5 HC in the army (this includes the Lombard and Arab FT/SI options below).

** If any Lombards are bought, all must be bought

***Any combination of these Units may be chosen but may not exceed 2 Units. Commoners FT Spear Bow may be fielded as: Commoners FT K 5[1]1 AND SI 2[1]1 Bow.

****Saxon LC may only be purchased if the equivalent number of Saxon WB are also purchased

*****These allies are optional and speculative and must agreed upon by both players and/or the umpire.

******Arab FT may be fielded as: Arab FT K 5[1]1 AND SI 2[1]1 Bow.

The Andalusian force represents the troops of a rebellious Emir allying with the Empire. If any Arabs are bought all must be bought.

Sources: ‘Warfare and Society in the Barbarian West 450-900’ Halsall, ‘Early Carolingian Warfare: Prelude to Empire (Middle Ages)’ Bachrach, ‘Caballus et Caballarius in Medieval Warfare’ Bachrach, from ‘The Study of Chivalry: Resources and Approaches’ De Re Militari; ‘The Frankish Kingdoms Under the Carolingians, 751-987’ McKitterick, ‘The Germanic Realms in Pre-Carolingian Central Europe 400-750’ Schutz, ‘Carolingian Chronicles: Royal Frankish Annals and Nithard's Histories’ Schultz, ‘The History of the Lombards’ Paul the Deacon, ‘The Lombards’ Christie; ‘Carolingian Civilization’ Dutton; ‘The Battle of Lechfeld and Its Aftermath, August 955’ Bowlus; ‘Carolingian Arms and Armor in the Ninth Century’ (Viator: Medieval and Renaissance Studies v.21) Coupland, De Re Militari; ‘Charlemagne’s Way of Raising Troops: Capitulare Italicum, Capitulare missorum de exercitu promovendo, Capitulare Aquisgranense’ De Re Militari; ‘Indiculus Loricatorum: Bamberg Codex B.III.11 (olim A nr.73)’ translated by W.North, De Re Militari; ‘The Recruitment of Armies in the Early Middle Ages: What can we know?’ from ‘Military Aspects of Scandinavian Society in a European Perspective, AD 1-1300’ Reuter, De Re Militari; ‘Vademecum: The Saxon Era’ (website); ‘Hungary, The Medieval Period’ The Library of Congress Country Studies (website), A Thousand Years Of The Hungarian Art Of War’ Komjathy

List Authors: O'Cahan, Aligern and Vincent.