Tuesday 16 February 2010

Fatimid mercenaries

Again in bed with flu (not the swine flu, I hope!), so I post a new set of painted figures from Armand d'Arc's African campaign. This time is the turn for a curious contingent: the Fatimid mercenaries.
The historical Fatimids were an Islamic dynasty that reigned in North Africa, and later in Egypt, from 909 until 1171. The caliphate legitimised its claim through descent from Muhammad by way of his daughter Fātima as-Zahra and her husband Alī ibn-Abī-Tālib, the first Shīˤa Imām, hence the name al-Fātimiyyūn "Fatimid".

In the 'Serenghetti War’, the Fatimids are North African mercenaries fighting for the Allied (British-German) against the Associated (French-Spanish).
The mounted Fatimid unit (a company or half-squadron) is 152 strong and ride camels or horses (50% each). They are very undisciplined but also very fierce in close combat, using scimitar, spear, axe and knives. Some of them wear metal cuirasses and small shields, and their only firearms seem to be one pair of pistols.
The Armand's conversion include many different sets (he does not remember which!) and the camels come from Aifix (Hät release) bedouins. The turbans and plumes are made from plasticine.


The Fatimids mercenaries and the Cazadores of Balbastro compose the respective advance-guards of the Allied and Associated armies, so they will fight in the next Armand´s battle... next July!

5 comments:

  1. Very colourful unit!

    Hope you are feeling better soon.

    Matt

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  2. Hi Rafa,

    Get over that flu soon.

    I still follow your excellent blog and main site, so much useful info on both, and thank you for the suggestion about rules.

    Lee.

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  3. Ah the Fatimids! More Shia wiped out by their fellow (Sunni) Muslims because they were considered the worse type of heretic!

    Sorry to hear you are unwell mi amigo. Follow some good advice from the 'Doc'- relax, take it easy, paint a few figures when you feel strong enough to lift a brush and you'll soon be on the road to recovery! ;-)

    Cheers,
    Doc

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  4. Hi
    Thank you for your good wishes. I am now much better and thinking to play (at last!) a therapeutic wargame!
    Regards
    Rafa

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  5. I love the look of your figures - it reminds me so much of photos in one of my favorite books - "Color Treasury of Model Soldiers." A book I've had for decades, but still love looking through every now and then. Regards, Dean

    P.S. I sent you an email per Docsmith's suggestion to contact regarding information on Spanish Guerrilla clothing/costume. (hope you don't mind)

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