Elite Tagmata Thematic Byzantine Kavallarioi

 This unit of Tagmata Byzantine Kavallarioi was finished a couple of weeks ago, just prior to Tim Haslam's "Mongol Mania" WAB event. An event in which my Thematic Byzantines managed fourth from the bottom of the table( out of 20 I believe?). Now, some may think this a mini disaster, but far from it, this is probably my highest ranking thus far out of any tournament/event! 😀

This unit, painted very much along the lines of the barded unit below but obviously in a green theme (forgive the arduous pun). 

The unit of which you are about to see pictures of was painted half at a good patient pace and half at a gallop as I had to paint twelve horses to fit the standard of the Thematic Army thus far. This I singularly failed to do; I apologise in advance, I am a little embarrassed as I could have done a much tighter job on the horses. A small visual hiccup but a hiccup nevertheless.

The soldiers of the Tagmata, probably originally formed restructuring a military organization of the whole army (and possibly to prevent the constant series of assassinations generally lead by the many Strategoi of the Themes). The Tagmata troops were expertly trained to very meticulous, and exacting standards were the cream of the army.

The Tagmatic Kavallaroi would have been armed in very much the same manner as the Tagmatic Kataphractoi first with a peristhethidion (padded armour). Next would come the kremasmata (padded skits faced with mail or lamellar/scale armour). A klivanion (lamellar/scale armour "vest" over the peristhethidion (padded armour) followed by manikella (upper arms splints of mail). Splints would be added to the lower arms and finally a padded helmet with a 360 degree aventail was placed over the head. Truly an exceptional armour for the time. My army is based mainly in the 9thCE but there is always the story sketched out by Anna Komnenos regarding her father Emperor Alexios I Komnenos escaping the Normans in the Byzantine rout at the Battle of Dyrrachium 1081.

More picture below and the resurrected Red Regiment Elite Tagmata Thematic Byzantine Kavallarioi very soon.

In game terms, I have stuck to just four archers in the back rank, though they could be played as a whole back rank or no archers at all. so, a reasonably flexible unit and one in which the pedant in me was tamed! 

The next post will probably be single bases, against my better judgement as I really am not happy with the horseflesh!