Post by Al-Nasir Muhammad on Apr 22, 2008 17:47:27 GMT
Population
Civillian Population: 8,000,000
Military Population: 2,000,000
Civillian
Male
Middle Aged and Elderly (40+): 1,000,000
Young (15-39): 2,000,000
Children (0-15): 1,000,000
Female
Middle Aged (40+): 1,000,000
Young (15-39): 2,000,000
Children (0-15): 1,000,000
Military
1,000,000 Mamluks
Mamluks are slaves, captured as children or sold by impoverished steppe families. The slave-troops were strangers of the lowest possible status who could not conspire against the ruler and who could easily be punished if they caused trouble, making them a great military asset. Mamluks were frequently used as mercenaries.
After mamluks were converted to Islam, they were trained as cavalry soldiers. Mamluks were to follow the dictates of furusiyya, a code of conduct that not only included values like courage and generosity but also doctrine of cavalry tactics, horsemanship, archery, dismounted combat and treatment of wounds. Mamluks lived within their garrisons and mainly spent their time with each other. Their entertainments included sports like archery competitions and presentations of mounted combat skills at least twice a week. The intensive and rigorous training of each new recruit helped ensure a great deal of continuity in mamluk practices. While technically they were no longer slaves after training, they were still obliged to serve the Sultan. The Sultan kept them as an outsider force, under his direct command, to use in the event of local tribal frictions. The Sultan could also send them as far as the Muslim regions of Iberia. Sultans had the largest number of mamluks, but the other amirs could have their own troops as well. Many mamluks rose to high positions throughout the empire, including army command.
500,000 Desert Spearmen
Desert Spearmen are light, leather-armoured men wielding spears and shields. They are the only full-time infantry of the Egyptian army (Mamluks sometimes fight on foot) and are used mainly to take out cavalry but can hold their own against most light infantry, although they would struggle to hold heavy infantry at bay if left unaided. Their spears are short and light so that they can also carry their light wooden shields, they also carry shortswords to fight if they lose their spears or need to use them for any other reason.
500,000 Desert Archers
Desert archers are lightly armoured with soft leather and wear sandy-coloured clothing to remain camouflaged in the desert environment that they are trained to fight in. Their desert training means they are almost as effective in sandstorms as they are on a clear day while most of their ranged opponents will be left almost useless. The archers also carry short swords and have been trained in ambushes, assassination and guerrilla warfare.
1,000,000 Conscriptable Mamluks
These Mamluks are composed of the young civillian men who have not willingly joined the army, but have been trained just as much as the other Mamluks. Whilst not part of the army the Sultan has the right to call them up to fight whenever he likes, and for however long he likes. See the Mamluk description above for information on the Mamluks.
Civillian Population: 8,000,000
Military Population: 2,000,000
Civillian
Male
Middle Aged and Elderly (40+): 1,000,000
Young (15-39): 2,000,000
Children (0-15): 1,000,000
Female
Middle Aged (40+): 1,000,000
Young (15-39): 2,000,000
Children (0-15): 1,000,000
Military
1,000,000 Mamluks
Mamluks are slaves, captured as children or sold by impoverished steppe families. The slave-troops were strangers of the lowest possible status who could not conspire against the ruler and who could easily be punished if they caused trouble, making them a great military asset. Mamluks were frequently used as mercenaries.
After mamluks were converted to Islam, they were trained as cavalry soldiers. Mamluks were to follow the dictates of furusiyya, a code of conduct that not only included values like courage and generosity but also doctrine of cavalry tactics, horsemanship, archery, dismounted combat and treatment of wounds. Mamluks lived within their garrisons and mainly spent their time with each other. Their entertainments included sports like archery competitions and presentations of mounted combat skills at least twice a week. The intensive and rigorous training of each new recruit helped ensure a great deal of continuity in mamluk practices. While technically they were no longer slaves after training, they were still obliged to serve the Sultan. The Sultan kept them as an outsider force, under his direct command, to use in the event of local tribal frictions. The Sultan could also send them as far as the Muslim regions of Iberia. Sultans had the largest number of mamluks, but the other amirs could have their own troops as well. Many mamluks rose to high positions throughout the empire, including army command.
500,000 Desert Spearmen
Desert Spearmen are light, leather-armoured men wielding spears and shields. They are the only full-time infantry of the Egyptian army (Mamluks sometimes fight on foot) and are used mainly to take out cavalry but can hold their own against most light infantry, although they would struggle to hold heavy infantry at bay if left unaided. Their spears are short and light so that they can also carry their light wooden shields, they also carry shortswords to fight if they lose their spears or need to use them for any other reason.
500,000 Desert Archers
Desert archers are lightly armoured with soft leather and wear sandy-coloured clothing to remain camouflaged in the desert environment that they are trained to fight in. Their desert training means they are almost as effective in sandstorms as they are on a clear day while most of their ranged opponents will be left almost useless. The archers also carry short swords and have been trained in ambushes, assassination and guerrilla warfare.
1,000,000 Conscriptable Mamluks
These Mamluks are composed of the young civillian men who have not willingly joined the army, but have been trained just as much as the other Mamluks. Whilst not part of the army the Sultan has the right to call them up to fight whenever he likes, and for however long he likes. See the Mamluk description above for information on the Mamluks.
