Abbasiya Horse Archers

This group of horse archers were originally painted up as Abbasiya Horse Archers for my up and coming Abbasid Caliphate Army which I'm tailoring to fit the Hamdanid mode of fighting to take on my Thematic Byzantines. Also of course, the Hamdanids were contemporary to the Thematic Byzantine empire at it's oft named, "Golden Age".

I'm currently finishing off the requisite miniatures for the WAB Mongol Mania event that Tim Haslam is putting on in Middleton (basically painting 24 horses at speed in my spare time) where my Thematic Byzantine will be making an appearance (watch out for a report of kinds from that event). I had already  painted nine such miniatures so just had to do the four; as obsessed with miniature painting that I am, I would still prefer to do another nine just so that precisely match the miniatures below! Alas, it is unlikely I will be able to find the time.

These miniatures are from the Footsore Miniatures Armies of the Caliphate range originally sculpted by the brilliant Bill Thornhill, what seems like a long tome ago now! They would do for "Arabised" Seljuks, "Arabised" Khazars, Abbysia from the Abbasid Caliphate, Khwaresmanian horse archers as well as horse archers living at the periphery of the furthest Eastern Roman/Byzantine Themes. They will be standing in as "Arabised" Khazar mercenaries. (Edit: I reckon they would even stand in as the lower echelons of a Mamluk army as well).

Without further ado- I have limited time to paint! (All images are "clickable" should you wish to enlarge them)

Cheers.