You can download a PDF of the banners used in this army from Google Docs here:
I thought I’d create a combination Later Crusader/Lusignan Cypriot army and since I like the painting side of things, I opted for the colourful splendour of the cloth horse caparisons of the mid 13th century period.
I used the Alternative Army knight models which depict knights transitioning from the old Norman / First Crusade style knights to ones with horse caparisons and early style enclosed helms.
Why do both armies? Firstly, once you have built one of these armies you’re only a few elements from the other. Then there’s history. The labyrinthine interactions among the Crusader states, Cyprus and the kings and emperors of Western Europe, not to mention the Islamic States provide plenty of wargaming interest.
The Crusader States of the mid 13th century were in decline, however Cyprus under Lusignan rule provided a bright light for Christendom, surviving well beyond the fall of the last mainland Crusader State.
The powerful d’Ibelin family provide the link between Cyprus and the Crusader mainland. The d’Ibelins had large landholdings on the mainland, centred around Beirut, were stalwart supporters of the legal process in the Crusader States, creating much tension with Frederick II, the Holy Roman Emperor and were the power behind the Lusignan throne in Cyprus. Did I mention they were related by marriage to the Komnenan Emperors of Constantinople. Phew! What’s not to like here?
The Forces
My Crusader army represents the Cypriot and other forces at Louis IX France’s 7th Crusade (1248-54). These are led by Henri I Lusignan:
Click here for a good overview of Henri I Lusignan
Guy d’Ibelin, Constable of Cyprus Commander of the Cypriot troops and youngest son of John d’Ibelin, the Old Lord of Beirut:
Philip I de Montfort, Lord of Tyre
John I de Dreux
Templars - Guillaume de Sonnac
In DBA terms the Crusaders have Knights and spear men at their core while the Lusignans slightly downplay these aspects and emphasise firepower through crossbows and archers. The d’Ibelins provide a large component of both my armies, but don’t provide the CinC element for either. It seems that they operate best in the background.
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| Lusignan foot sergeants |
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| d'Ibelan foot sergeants |
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| Caesarean foot sergeants |
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| City of Acre foot sergeants |
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| Kingdom of Cyprus foot sergeants |
Crossbowmen:
Syrian Archers:
Turkopole Light Horse:
Lists (Book II/65 abc)
Featherstone Fighting Factor: 30 - The Crusaders? 30 - Outstandingly mediocre.
Donald says that the Crusaders were hard charging, courageous, impetuous and ill-disciplined. The Military Orders lurched alarmingly between providing steadfast standing armies to being suicidally jealous of other Orders. The number of rivalrous kings, lords and wanna-be players provided just the right number of cooks to spoil their own broth.
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