"Ayyubid Egyptian infantry formations?" Topic

I posted a question recently about the composition of the Ayyubid Egyptian army at the time of Saladin. Following some detailed responses, I was informed the infantry were viewed as far less important than the cavalry divisions. They were often used to provide a platform for the cavalry to strike out or rally behind. Taking this tactic into consideration, what was the favoured battlefield infantry formation?

I notice most rule-sets allow for Arab infantry to be composed of a 50/50 mix of spearmen and archers – is this consistent with what we know of the historical tactics?

Thanks in advance,
Raglan

In the known massed battles with the Franj, Ayyubid armies were predominantly cavalry, so I don't see the infantry forming a "platform" for cavalry to shelter behind. That was strictly a Franj tactic, whose armies were always heavily outclassed in cavalry and were predominantly infantry forces. Earlier, Fatimid armies often were more than fifty percent infantry, and that formed solid phalanxes of spear and bow. But by Arsuf the Egyptian infantry in Saladin's army was performing the role of skirmishers, harassing the Franj marching columns in a loose, shifting "cloud" formation. The cavalry was formed up well to the rear, waiting to attack once the infantry had done all that they could to disorganize the Franj formations….

Yes they were used to harass the enemy, however, the horse archers and lighter equipped horse were used for this more often than not, however the infantry were extremely important for sieges, even though the they had a lower status than the cavalry. They were armed with bow, crossbow or spear and shield. They did form up in a block formation armed with spear and shield front ranks and bow armed in the rear or separate firing over head.

There were elite units of horse as was the nafatin (fire-troops) on foot, were considered elite. Other foot for you to consider m'Lord are the naqqabun (miners/engineers), hajjarun (masons), najjarun (carpenters). These were most likely been paid salaries like other professional troops. Under Saladin, the army's support services showed how it outclassed the Frank's – Postal services for communications which included carrier pigeons and couriers, and fire beacons, cities would have arm bazaars, and key cities like Aleppo, Damascus, Cairo, and Mosul had weapons-manufacturing.

In terms of other units, Saladin utilised the best of the old Abbasid and the recent Fatamid systems buying pagan Turkish slaves from Asia (similar to the successful Ghulams under the Abbasids). However, Turks were the largest ethnic group within the army. Another important element are the Arabs resurgent in Syria, providing qufl – infantry raiders who specialised in harassing enemy communications and the lisus cavalry infiltrators disrupting enemy supplies.

Another harassing force was the mutatawi'ah a sort of religious volunteers who although were often around for only short periods, effective troops, however, tended to be on foot (not exclusively!).

Lastly two other units: you have the ahdath an urban militia generally used to police cities but could in an emergency fight alongside the regular army, and the rajjalah often despised by other local troops.

All this information and much more can be readily had via God's Warriors by Nicholson, H & Nicolle, D. as well as Warriors of God by Reston, J, Medieval Warfare Source Book Vol.2 by Nicolle, D, and plenty more but I'm in hurry today.

If you want detail from a wargaming perspective find this treasure chest: "A Wargamers' guide to the Crusades" by Heath, I. But expect to pay a fair bit as it is out of print and rare.

Cracking information Mr Maximus – thank you.

Raglan

The is only scarce material regarding how the infantry was used in the time of the Ayyubids. Ibn al-Athir rarely gives good detail and rarely does he break down any of the components of the infantry. Al-Harawi wrote a military manual for Salah al-din. I was working on a translation, but that has been put aside for grad work. Therefore, you'll have to rely on Gibbs, Hamblin, and David Nicolle's latest book – Crusader Warfare vol. II.

Sadly, the Arabs and the Turks did not give a clear break down of how the infantry was organized, equipped, or trained. Quite often it is referred to in generic terms or the information is scant. There is information out there. The hardest part is it is still in Arabic which is not easy to read.

Thanks,

Raglan