Dynastic Sumerian

(2750 BC to 2334BC & the Great Revolt of 2250 BC)



These armies represent any of the thirty or so city-state dynastic forces from the First Dynasty of Kish and the epic of Gilgamesh to the rise of Akkadian influence under Sargon the Great. In addition it is used to form independent forces of the Great Revolt of 2250 BC such as those of the city of Kish or a combined rebel alliance made up of many city-states similar to one led by Amar-Girid.

This was the era of the great Sumerian city-states such as Ur, Lagash, Uruk, Umma, Nippur, Eridu, Larsa, as well as many others. Our period of interest starts with the first recorded struggle by Enmebaragesi, who made war upon Elam. Following his reign, Agga of Kish fought Gilgamesh of Uruk. Then began a period of several dynastic rulers before the rise of Lagash under the great king Eannatum, who continued his father’s war against Umma. He engaged in multiple campaigns against Elam, the Persian Gulf and north toward Mari as well as subduing numerous open revolts in Sumer itself. His brother Eannatum I, and son Entemena, continued Eannatum’s wars with Umma and after Entemena’s death a series of weak and corrupt priests ruled until the last, Urakagina was over thrown by the coming of Umma’s revenge, Lugalzagesi.

In his subsequent campaigns, Lugalzagesi took Ur as his capital and subdued many other city states extending his influence from the Persian Gulf to the upper reaches of the Tigris and Euphrates all the way to the Mediterranean. Lugalzagesi lost his vast territories when he and a confederation of dynastic city-states were defeated in battle by the Akkadian, Sargon.

Troop Type	Number	Q	P	CV	Range	Pts
General (mounted)	1	-	*	5	n/a	50
Sub General (mounted)	0-2	-	*	5	n/a	50
Ally General (mounted)	0-1	-	*	5	n/a	25
Army Standard	0-3	-	*	-	n/a	20
Captain	1 per unit	R	*	5	n/a	20
- change to veteran/levy	any	V/L	*	5	n/a	25/15
Gish gigir 4-Ass Battle Carts	0-3	V	S	special	4	35
- exchange for 4-Ass Straddle Car / Platform Cart	0-1	V	U/P	special	4	20/25
Erin summa city militia Spearmen	2-5	L	P	3	n/a	5
- upgrade to Regulars	0-2	R	P	3	n/a	7
- upgrade to Shielded front rankers (regular/levy)	0-half	R	S	3	n/a	8/6
- exchange as Royal Guard Axemen	0-1	V	P	5	n/a	18
Nim Archers	0-1	L	U	n/a	4	2
- change all to Mari as Massed Archers	0-1	-	P	2	4/8	4
Mercenary Archers	0-1	R	U	n/a	4	4
Nim Slingers	0-2	L	U	n/a	4	2
Nim Skirmishers	1-3	L	U	n/a	4	2
- upgrade as Regulars	any	R	U	n/a	4	4
Martu (Amorite) Wild Tribesmen	0-1	R	P	special	2/4	6
- change to Skirmishers	any	-	U	n/a	4	4
Guti or Lullubi mercenaries Wild Tribesmen	0-1	R	U	special	2/4	6



 

Dynastic Sumerian Allies and Enemies

Dynastic Sumerian

Akkadian

Early Eblan

Old Elam

Zagros Mountain

Hattian Kingdoms

Neo -Sumerian

Amorite Nomads

Magan

Harrapan

2700 BC

2600 BC

2500 BC

2400 BC

2300 BC

2200 BC

2100 BC

2000 BC

 

Special Rules & Notes

• Sumerian City state armies may improve their chances of being led by a better rated general such as Agga of Kish,  Eannatum of Lagash or Lugalzagesi, the Priest King of Umma - if a player is the attacker and at a cost of 10 points, up to two times, he may add +1 to the general quality die roll. If both players take this option then the defender’s points are lost.
• Erin summa spearmen up to 2400 BC are all counted as Protected reflecting the use of armoured cloaks typified by the men of Ur or the heavy cross belt, sheepskin kilt and helmet accoutrements of other city-states. Men so equipped are all armed with Spear or Pike*. From 2500 BC, front ranker spearmen may be equipped with a large rectangular shield, supported by spear armed men behind. This tactical arrangement was used by many different city-states in one form or another until the end of the millennium.
• Martu, Guti and Lullubi mercenaries units may only be 6 bases strong. Martu (Amorite) Wild Tribesmen are equipped with shields.
• Mari Archers wear the over the shoulder tituttu and count this as protected when massed.

* Pike – use optional rules for Pike in Bloody Barons.

(Note - the question of Sumerian tactical arrangements, ‘armoured cloaks’ and the use of shield, spear and ‘pike’ is not a question easily resolved. The term 'pike' as used here implies a long thrusting spear held with two hands about 11' feet long..not a Macedonian sarrisa. The 2500-2400 BC guidelines above depicts troops in what we believe to be the general arrangements of arms, equipment and tactical usage for Sumerian infantry around this time. If desired the game system will allow a players to model the use of Sumerian infantry as they see fit. A player may equip all his bases with Pike or his front rank bases with shields  supported by spearmen bases behind....the choice is yours!).