The DBA army list III/35 Feudal Spanish 718AD-1340AD is the main Christian army of the Reconquista. This post is part of my series on Troop Identities in DBA Army Lists.
DBA III/35 Feudal Spanish
Arable. Ag: 2
- (a) 718-950AD
- 1 x 3Kn or 4Bd (Gen) [Noble Cavalry]
- 3 x 3Kn [Noble Cavalry]
- 1 x 2LH [Basque or mercenary Berber light horse]
- 2 x 4Sp [Spearmen]
- 5 x 2Ps [Archers, Javelinmen, or Slingers]
- (b) 951-1200AD
- 1 x 3Kn or 4Bd (Gen) [Noble Cavalry; Knights from 1035]
- 3 x 3Kn [Noble Cavalry; Knights from 1035 including Military Order Knights from 1100]
- 1 x 2LH [Basque or mercenary Berber light horse, or Mounted Crossbow from 1150]
- 2 x 4Sp [Spearmen]
- 4 x 2Ps [Archers, Javelinmen, Slingers or Crossbowmen]
- 1 x 3Cv [Caballeros Villanos]
- (c) 1201-1340AD
- 1 x 3Kn (Gen) [Knights]
- 3 x 3Kn [Knights including Military Order]
- 2 x 2LH [Basque or mercenary Berber light horse, Mounted Crossbow or Jinetes]
- 2 x 4Sp [Spearmen]
- 2 x 2Ps [Archers, Javelinmen, Slingers; Crossbowmen]
- 1 x 3/4Cb [Crossbowmen]
- 1 x 3Ax [Javelinmen]
- or 2Ps [Javelinmen]
I don’t like this list for a variety of reasons:
- The Spanish were not particularly class conscious when it came to cavalry. If you could afford a horse you were cavalry. So I find it odd that the list distinguishes Caballeros Villanos from other armoured, lancer cavalry. I’m not aware that they fought in separate units nor fought in a different fashion nor had a particularly lower morale. I would include them with the Knights.
- Too many compulsory light infantry
This DBA list corresponds to five Field of Glory army lists:
- Astur-Leonese 718-1037 (Wolves from the Sea)
- Early Navarrese 778-1035 (Wolves from the Sea)
- Feudal Catalan and Early Crown of Aragon 988-1336 (Oath of Fealty)
- Feudal Navarrese 1035-1328 and Aragonese 1035-1147 (Oath of Fealty)
- Feudal Castilian or Leonese 1037-1350, or Portuguese 1139-1357 (Oath of Fealty)