SASSANID PERSIAN

220 – 637 A.D.

 

Army Type

No

Cost

Description-Remarks

 

 

 

 

Irr Cv S, (Pro1), H, Msl/Shk [Bow][L] (Dmt)[1]

1

28 (38)

C-in-C (BIF 0-1; Dmr. –3) (until 360)[2]

Irr Cv S, (Pro1), H, Msl/Shk [Bow][L] (Dmt)

2

28 (38)

Sub Generals (BIF 0-1; Dmr. –3)

Irr (Reg) Cv S, (Pro1), H, Shk/Msl [L][Bow] (Dmt)

1

30 (40)

C-in-C (BIF 1-2; Dmr. –3) (after 360)[3]

Irr (Reg) Cv S, (Pro1), H, Shk/Msl [L][Bow] (Dmt)

2

30 (40)

Sub Generals (BIF 0-1; Dmr. –3)

Reg Cv S, (Pro1), H, Shk/Msl [L][Bow] (Dmt)

8

15 (20)

Royal household (after 531)

 

 

 

 

Mounted

 

 

 

Irr Cv S (O), (H), Msl/Shk [Bow][L] (Dmt)

42

10 (16)

Ashvaran nobles (until 360)

Irr Cv S (O), (H), (U), Shk/Msl [L][Bow] (Dmt)

48

9 (16)

Ashvaran and dihqan nobles (after 360)

    upgrade Ashvaran to Regular

16

11 (17)

Regular Ashvaran (after 531)

Irr Cat (S) O, Shk

6

12 (15)

Cataphracts (until 493)

Irr LH O, Msl/Shk [Bow]

8

8

Albani, Gelani

Irr LH S, (Pro2), Msl/Shk [Bow]

16

11 (16)

Hephthalite Huns (from 360 to 553) [4]

Irr LH S, (Pro2), Msl/Shk [Bow]

16

11 (16)

Alans (in 550) [5]

Irr El O with howdah, (H), Shk/Msl [Bow]

2 – 6

24 (26)

2 (Heavy) after 628

 

 

 

 

Foot

 

 

 

Reg Plt O (S), Pro1, H, Shk/Msl [Jav]

8

10 (12)

Daylami royal bodyguard (Pro 591-627)

Reg Plt O, (H), Shk/Msl [Jav]

8

6 (7)

Daylami

Irr Sp/Bw Ι (O), 2E, U, Shk/Msl [Bow][Pav]

24

7 (9)

Levy archers and spearmen [6]

Irr Ps O, Msl [Bow] or [Sling]

18

3

Skirmishers

Irr Plt O, Shk/Msl [Jav]

12

4

Elephant guard (after 628)

Irr Rb S, Shk

48

3

Jewish fanatic mob (in 614 in Palestine)

 

 

 

 

arab Allies (until 602)

 

 

 

Irr Cv O, Shk [L]

1

16

Arab Ally: Cautious; BIF 0-1; Dmr. –4

Irr Cv O, Shk [L]

1

8

Arab cavalry

Irr LH O, Shk [L]

2

7

Bedouin cavalry

Irr Sw I, F, Shk

12

4

Arab warriors

Irr Ps O, Msl [Bow][Sling]

4

3

Skirmishers

Irr LCm I, Msl [Bow]

2

5

Camel scouts

 

 

 

 

Armenian Allies (244 – 605)

 

 

 

Irr Cv S, (H), Shk/Msl [L][Bow]

1

26 (28)

Ally General: Unreliable BIF 0-1; Dmr. –3

Irr Cv S, (H), Shk/Msl [L][Bow]

3

13 (14)

Nobles

Irr Cv O, Shk/Msl [L][Bow]

4

10

Cavalry

Irr LH O, Msl/Shk [Bow]

4

8

Horse archers

Irr Plt O, Shk/Msl [Jav]

8

4

Javelinmen

Irr Bw O, Msl [Bow]

6

4

Archers

      or Irr Ps O, Msl [Bow]

8

3

Skirmishers

 

 

 

 

Kushan Allies (until 410)

 

 

 

Irr Cat S, Shk

1

24

Ally General; unreliable BIF 0-1; Dmr. –3

Irr Cat O, Shk

3

12

Cataphracts

Irr LH O, F, (Pro1), Msl [Bow]

12

6 (9)

Horse archers

 

 

 

 

various

 

 

 

Baggage fortified with ditch and palisade

2 per Command

 

 

Irr WE (Siege), Msl

2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



[1] All heavy cavalry can dismount either as Bw S, H, Msl/Shk [Bow], or as Plt S, H Msl/Shk [Bow].

[2] Until 350 AD, Sassanian heavy cavalry were primarily Msl/Shk. After 350 AD, improvements in armour lead to the relegation of archery to the support role.

[3] C-in-C and any Sub-Generals can be Regular after 531, in which case Ashvaran must be upgraded to Reg as well.

[4] Must form national contingent.

[5] Must form national contingent.

[6] Double-depth elements behind pavises. Unlike the Persian Achaemenids, they fight primarily as spearmen with the cohesion bonus of Spearmen (Untrained) and a single rank of bow support.

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