Kingdom of Georgia

[callen]

Hi. We've finally resurrected our local group and are just starting our new game. We're starting by the Black Sea, near the northern edge of the Kingdom of Georgia, founding a new covenant outside the current boundaries of any tribunal. We've been reading up on the Kingdom of Georgia. It's a really interesting time there between all the growth (politically and culturally) that has just happened and the Mongols on the doorstep. So, we're excited with the location.

Any advice on good references? Wikipedia is always a great place for me to start to get some names of persons, locations, etc. to look up. But sometimes finding everything after that isn't the easiest. So if anyone knows of an fairly accessible resources to non-historians with fluency in English and Hebrew, it'd be really appreciated.

Thanks,
Chris

[Ovarwa]

Hi,

@callen

Hi. We've finally resurrected our local group and are just starting our new game. We're starting by the Black Sea, near the northern edge of the Kingdom of Georgia, founding a new covenant outside the current boundaries of any tribunal. We've been reading up on the Kingdom of Georgia. It's a really interesting time there between all the growth (politically and culturally) that has just happened and the Mongols on the doorstep. So, we're excited with the location.

Any advice on good references? Wikipedia is always a great place for me to start to get some names of persons, locations, etc. to look up. But sometimes finding everything after that isn't the easiest. So if anyone knows of an fairly accessible resources to non-historians with fluency in English and Hebrew, it'd be really appreciated.

Thanks,
Chris

Ooh, another Hebrew speaker. (I'm rusty.)

Anyway,

Ken

[Xavi]

There you can find some images of Georgian troops

dbaol.com/armies/army_121_figure_1.htm

Here comes the entry for the armies of Georgia (1008 -1683) from the DBM rules set

This list covers the Georgians from their break away from Armenian rule until subjection by the Ottomans. Close neighbours to the dour Armenians, the Georgians were remarkably extrovert and cheerful, a difference which has been attributed to the superior local wines. Their standards were windsock lions tethered by the upper lip, the mouth held open with wire. The Georgians' uncompromising attitude to Islam is shown by their inscribing the title "Sword of the Messiah" on their coins in Arabic to make sure the message got across, by marching on pilgrimage to Jerusalem with banners displayed without paying tribute and daring Arab rulers to stop them, and by naming a border fort "Kiss My Backside" to commemorate the reply to a Turkish summons! Aznauri were the nobles. Initially devoted to charging with the lance and using bows mainly for hunting, they are later depicted emphasising bow rather than lance. We assume the change took place in the early 12th century under Seljuq and Cuman influence. Georgian foot were armed with spear or bow. All had a round shield and most wore lamellar armour. Georgian military strength in the 12th century depended heavily on large numbers of Cumans settled in depopulated parts of the country. Other nomads, such as Serirs, Lesghs, Suans and Jikils, can substitute for up to 4 elements of Cuman LH. All Cumans must be under the command of a Cuman sub-general, except that an allied contingent taken from this list need not include a Cuman general nor otherwise compulsory foot. After 1245, the country broke up into competing kingdoms, with only brief nominal reunions.

The list is composed of knights, light horse and foot archers and spearmen. The knights are not as heavily armoured as their western equivalents, and the foot tends to be of average to poor quality. Bow are fairly good and operare both in skirmish formation and in closely knit companies of archers. There is also a number of javelinmen skirmishers. The light horse can be either retainers of the knights or the mentioned settled Cumans. In general, it seems the army was more "arab style" than European style", even if they were Christians.

Heraldry blog for Georgia:
georgianheraldry.blogspot.com/

I will try to update this with pictures of DBA armies later on.

Hope that helps!
Xavi

[callen]

@Ovarwa

Hi,
Ooh, another Hebrew speaker. (I'm rusty.)

Uh, not me. I won't be able to reply. I can communicate feebly in French and Spanish. But in our group of six we have one Israeli and one rabbi.

Chris