Dark Age Resources 600-1000AD

[Druzhina]

A Syrian or Byzantine Horse Archer, c.600AD on a textile



Druzhina
Illustrations of Soldiers

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Great spot!

[FierceKitty]

Only one? What have you done with Druzhina, you impostor?

[Druzhina]

Illustrations of Romans in a 6th-7thC  Manuscript

Pharaoh's army drowns, from the Ashburnham Pentateuch & a detail


Pharaoh allowing Joseph to go to Canaan, a detail & another detail

Druzhina
sites of wargaming interest

[Druzhina]

Sogdian murals from Panjakent, 6th-8th Centuries

Battle Scene & large image
Sogdian Armoured Cavalry & large image
Sogdians on foot and mounted & large image
Sogdians seated & large image
Sogdians discussing & large image
Sogdian holding a flower & large image

Drawing of, and notes on, a Sogdian Horse Archer by Ian Heath

Druzhina
Illustrations of Soldiers

[Druzhina]

See also Sogdian New Year Festival, Bas Relief, Anyang, Henan, 6th Century & large image

Some figures in the Bezeklik (Bäzäklik) Frescos have been identified as Sogdian on wikipedia. H. Seyrig calls them Tochariens (Tokharians).

Druzhina
Illustrations of Soldiers

[Druzhina]

Asiatic Heavy Cavalrymen

Armoured Avar Cavalryman on a plate from Isola Rizza, 7th-8th centuries & a detail
Armoured Magyar horseman and captive, 9th-10th century on a cup from Nagyszentmiklós & a larger image
Drawings of, and notes on, Asiatic Heavy Cavalrymen by Ian Heath

Druzhina
Illustrations of Soldiers

[Druzhina]

An Anglo-Saxon drawing from the 'Caedmon manuscript', c.1000

Eber and his men drive cattle and found a city & a large image

The 'Life of St. Aubin'. Made in Angers, France.

Saint Aubin defends Guérande, end of the 11th century & a large image

Druzhina
Illustrations of Soldiers

[Druzhina]

Islamic Soldiers on Caskets from Spain
Mounted Hunters on an Umayyad Casket from Cordoba, c.966-968 & large image


Soldiers on a Moorish Casket from Cuenca, Spain, c.1049AD, Lower row of carving & Upper row of carving

Druzhina
Illustrations of Soldiers

[Druzhina]

Carolingian soldiers from the Stuttgart Psalter, Paris, 1st half of the 9th century.



This is probably the source used by Ian Heath for most of the Carolingians in Armies of the Dark Ages 600-1066.
I would be interested in English captions for these, particulary which biblical people are portrayed as horse-archers.

I haven't been able to include a link to the manuscript at the museum because of the [] characters used.

Druzhina
Illustrations of Soldiers

[Druzhina]

I have found a better candidate for the source of Ian Heath's Sogdian horse-archer (above):
Iranian Dish with a Horsearcher Hunting, c.8th Century



See also Sogdian New Year Festival, Bas Relief, Anyang, Henan, 6th Century & large image

Druzhina
Illustrations of Soldiers

[Druzhina]

Commentary on the Apocalypse by Beatus of Liébana, from Saint-Sever SW France, 1060s

The Four Horsemen & a larger image of The Four Horsemen
Monstrous Cavalry & a larger image of Monstrous Cavalry
Ten Kings and their Army & a larger image of Ten Kings and their Army
Victory of the Lamb
Kings mourning about Babylon
Eschatological Combat

Druzhina
Illustrations of Soldiers

[Druzhina]

A horse archer in an Umayyad floor painting, Qasr al-Hayr al-Gharbi c.724–43AD

A larger image of the floor painting with musicians and hunting scene
A drawing of, and notes on, a Khorasanian Horse Archer by Ian Heath, based on this floor painting.

Druzhina
Illustrations of Soldiers

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Interesting how many times the four horsemen appear. 
Great sites again sir.

[Druzhina]

Tokharians and Uighurs of the Central Asian City States in Frescos from the Tarim Basin

Kizil cave donor figures & detail
Cave of the Sixteen Sword Bearers & large image
A sketch of four other sword bearers & a servant of the Sixteen Sword Bearers
Sketches of three sword bearers & a servant of the Sixteen Sword Bearers
Armour on the stele of l'ui-zcika
Eight Kings of the Relics Story, large image, detail of left & detail of right
Armour from the Sanctuary of Avalokitesvara
Armoured Cavalry in Qyzil Cave of the Painter

Wall Paintings from a Christian Temple, Chotscho, Tarim Basin & large image
Warriors in Temple No. 9, Bäzäklik & detail
Donors in Temple 1, Bezeklik
Praṇidhi scene No. 6, Temple No. 9, Bezeklik & detail of donors
Praṇidhi scene No. 14, Temple No. 9, Bezeklik & detail of donors
Cavalryman in the city on the Yâr & large image

MIRROR SITE:
Tokharians and Uighurs of the City States of Central Asia in Frescos from the Tarim Basin
Kizil cave donor figures & detail
Cave of the Sixteen Sword Bearers & large image
A sketch of four other sword bearers & a servant of the Sixteen Sword Bearers
Sketches of three sword bearers & a servant of the Sixteen Sword Bearers
Armour on the stele of l'ui-zcika
Eight Kings of the Relics Story, large image, detail of left & detail of right
Armour from the Sanctuary of Avalokitesvara
Armoured Cavalry in Qyzil Cave of the Painter
Wall Paintings from a Christian Temple, Chotscho, Tarim Basin & large image
Warriors in Temple No. 9, Bäzäklik & detail
Donors in Temple 1, Bezeklik
Pranidhi scene No. 6, Temple No. 9, Bezeklik & detail of donors
Pranidhi scene No. 14, Temple No. 9, Bezeklik & detail of donors
Cavalryman in the city on the Yar & large image

Druzhina
Illustrations of Soldiers