Saracens: Difference between revisions
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{{Era|ACAC|AC|TSC}} | {{Era|ACAC|AC|TSC}} | ||
{{WP-REAL|Saracen}} | {{WP-REAL|Saracen}} | ||
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{{Faction infobox | {{Faction infobox | ||
|image = Saracencrest.svg | |image = Saracencrest.svg | ||
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|leader = | |leader = | ||
|headquarters = | |headquarters = | ||
|locations = [[Damascus]]<br>[[Jerusalem]] | |locations = [[Acre]]<ref name="ACAC">''[[Assassin's Creed: Altaïr's Chronicles]]''</ref><br>[[Alep]]<ref name="ACAC" /><br>[[Damascus]]<br>[[Jerusalem]] | ||
|related = | |related = | ||
|religion = | |religion = [[Islam]] | ||
|hideh = yes | |hideh = yes | ||
|formed = | |formed = | ||
|reorganised = | |reorganised = | ||
|collapsed = | |collapsed = | ||
|notable = [[ | |notable = [[Saladin]]<br>[[Majd Addin]]<br>[[Jubair al Hakim]]<br>[[Abu'l Nuqoud]]<br>[[Talal]]<br>[[Tamir]]|}} | ||
The '''Saracens''' was a term employed by [[Christianity|Christian]] [[Europe]]ans whose meaning evolved throughout the centuries of its usage but ultimately came to refer to the [[Islam|Muslim]] {{wiki|Arab people|Arabs}} during the Middle Ages. Most notably, it described the Islamic armies who fought against the [[Crusaders]] in the [[Crusades]]. During the [[Third Crusade]], they were led by the [[Ayyubid dynasty|Ayyubid]] Sultan of [[Egypt]] and [[Syria]], [[Saladin]], who defended the [[Kingdom|Holy Land]] from the Christian forces seeking to retake [[Jerusalem]]. | |||
==History== | |||
In 1176, in the midst of Saladin's conquests of the [[Levant]], the Saracens under his command launched a campaign into the [[An-Nusayriyah Mountains]] in the hopes of unseating the leader of the [[Assassins]], [[Al Mualim]], who had previously ordered two attempts on Saladin's life. The invasion proved to be a brief affair as the [[Siege of Masyaf|first attack]], conducted against [[Masyaf]], was withdrawn when the Assassin [[Umar Ibn-La'Ahad]] frightened Saladin into enacting a peace treaty by sneaking into his tent in the middle of the night and planting a warning message.<ref name="The Secret Crusade" /> | |||
In 1187, the Saracen forces of Saladin, Sultan of Egypt and Syria, delivered a critical blow against the [[Kingdom of Jerusalem]] and the [[Templars|Knights Templar]] at the [[Battle of Hattin]]. Building on this momentum, the Saracens swiftly wrestled almost the entirety of the Holy Land from the Christians, including the capital of Jerusalem itself, a holy city for both factions. By 1189, the only major city still in Christian possession was [[Tyre]], which successfully defended itself against a massive Saracen invasion. | |||
In | |||
Shortly afterwards, in 1189, the Christian Europeans launched the Third Crusade in the hopes of retaking Jerusalem. The Crusaders managed to seize the harbor city of [[Acre]] after a protracted siege that defined the majority of the war. However, the Saracens under Saladin were able to retain most of the Levant, with the cities of [[Damascus]] and [[Jerusalem]] acting as major strongholds. Though they would suffer a decisive defeat at the hands of [[Richard I of England|King Richard the Lionheart]] of [[England]] at the [[Battle of Arsuf]] and [[Battle of Jaffa]], the war would end with Jerusalem, the main target of the Crusaders, still resting in their hands. | |||
== | ==Military== | ||
True to the multi-ethnic demographics of the Ayyubid Sultanate, the soldiers of the Saracen armies were drawn from a diverse pool of peoples, including, but not limited to, Arabs, [[Turkey|Turks]], Egyptians, {{wiki|Armenians}}, and {{wiki|Nubians}} serving as either infantry or cavalry. The slave military caste known as the [[Mamluks]] fought among their ranks, generally as cavalry.<ref name="The Secret Crusade">''[[Assassin's Creed: The Secret Crusade]]''</ref> | |||
==< | The cavalry generally wielded [[swords|sabers]], maces, lances, and longswords, but prominent among them were also the {{wiki|Mounted archery|horse archers]], typical of Western and Central Asian militaries of the era. For field battles, the infantry were equipped with [[long weapons|spears]] and [[javelins]] alongside divisions of [[bow|archers]].<ref name="The Secret Crusade" /> Standard equipment of the infantry garrisoned as a city's [[guards|defense force]] chiefly consisted of swords instead, or for rooftop guards, bows.<ref name="AC1">''[[Assassin's Creed]]''</ref> | ||
Regardless, Saracens soldiers most commonly donned {{wiki|lamellar armour}}, in contrast to their Christian adversaries who favored {{wiki|mail (armour)|chain mail}}, {{wiki|plate armour}}, and {{wiki|great helm}}s.<ref name="AC1" /> Despite this, leather armour and chain mail were also used by some Saracens in large-scale warfare.<ref name="The Secret Crusade" /> | |||
The common Saracen soldier of the lowest rank were often not trained to perform grappling maneuvers or counter-attacks in swordsmanship. Due to their inexperience, they were often easily felled in a single counterattack by [[Assassins]] such as [[Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad]], and as such, they lacked the stouter morale of their superiors and were the most prone to fleeing from battle in fright.<ref name="AC1" /> | |||
High-ranking soldiers of the Saracen army were provided with greater armor and better equipment. In contrast to their lesser comrades, these soldiers generally harbored the skill to grapple, counter, and outmaneuver even Assassins. Their expertise allowed them even to stave off the swift counter-attacks of [[Master Assassin]]s such as Altaïr. Nevertheless, they were not adapted to combat against the iconic [[Hidden Blade]] of the Assassins, whose surprise employment could bypass all their defenses and kill them instantly.<ref name="AC1" /> | |||
==Uniform== | |||
During the Third Crusade, Saracens in the city of [[Damascus]] generally wore green tunics under their lamellar armour. However, [[guards]] who harassed [[civilians]] wore grey armour instead. In contrast, the uniform of the [[Jerusalem]] garrison were dark red.<ref name="AC1" /> | |||
==Trivia== | |||
*In ''[[Assassin's Creed]]'', 100 Saracen [[flags]] are spread across the city of Damascus as collectibles for the player, as Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad, to collect.<ref name="AC1" /> | |||
==Gallery== | ==Gallery== | ||
<gallery captionalign="center" position="center" spacing="small" widths="180"> | <gallery captionalign="center" position="center" spacing="small" widths="180"> | ||
Saracen soldiers.jpg| | Saracen soldiers.jpg|Different types of Saracen soldiers | ||
AC1 Saracen Soldier.png|A Saracen | AC1 Saracen Soldier.png|A common Saracen soldier | ||
AC1 Saracen Sergeant.png|A Saracen | AC1 Saracen Sergeant.png|A Saracen sergeant | ||
AC1 Saracen Captain.png|A Saracen | AC1 Saracen Captain.png|A Saracen commander | ||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
== | ==References== | ||
{{Reflist}} | |||
{{AC}} | {{AC}} | ||
[[Category:Saracens | [[Category:Saracens]] | ||
Revision as of 09:04, 28 March 2017
|
Ezio, my friend! How may I be of service? This article is in desperate need of a revamp. Please improve it in any way necessary in order for it to achieve a higher standard of quality in accordance with our Manual of Style. |
The Saracens was a term employed by Christian Europeans whose meaning evolved throughout the centuries of its usage but ultimately came to refer to the Muslim Arabs during the Middle Ages. Most notably, it described the Islamic armies who fought against the Crusaders in the Crusades. During the Third Crusade, they were led by the Ayyubid Sultan of Egypt and Syria, Saladin, who defended the Holy Land from the Christian forces seeking to retake Jerusalem.
History
In 1176, in the midst of Saladin's conquests of the Levant, the Saracens under his command launched a campaign into the An-Nusayriyah Mountains in the hopes of unseating the leader of the Assassins, Al Mualim, who had previously ordered two attempts on Saladin's life. The invasion proved to be a brief affair as the first attack, conducted against Masyaf, was withdrawn when the Assassin Umar Ibn-La'Ahad frightened Saladin into enacting a peace treaty by sneaking into his tent in the middle of the night and planting a warning message.[2]
In 1187, the Saracen forces of Saladin, Sultan of Egypt and Syria, delivered a critical blow against the Kingdom of Jerusalem and the Knights Templar at the Battle of Hattin. Building on this momentum, the Saracens swiftly wrestled almost the entirety of the Holy Land from the Christians, including the capital of Jerusalem itself, a holy city for both factions. By 1189, the only major city still in Christian possession was Tyre, which successfully defended itself against a massive Saracen invasion.
Shortly afterwards, in 1189, the Christian Europeans launched the Third Crusade in the hopes of retaking Jerusalem. The Crusaders managed to seize the harbor city of Acre after a protracted siege that defined the majority of the war. However, the Saracens under Saladin were able to retain most of the Levant, with the cities of Damascus and Jerusalem acting as major strongholds. Though they would suffer a decisive defeat at the hands of King Richard the Lionheart of England at the Battle of Arsuf and Battle of Jaffa, the war would end with Jerusalem, the main target of the Crusaders, still resting in their hands.
Military
True to the multi-ethnic demographics of the Ayyubid Sultanate, the soldiers of the Saracen armies were drawn from a diverse pool of peoples, including, but not limited to, Arabs, Turks, Egyptians, Armenians, and Nubians serving as either infantry or cavalry. The slave military caste known as the Mamluks fought among their ranks, generally as cavalry.[2]
The cavalry generally wielded sabers, maces, lances, and longswords, but prominent among them were also the {{wiki|Mounted archery|horse archers]], typical of Western and Central Asian militaries of the era. For field battles, the infantry were equipped with spears and javelins alongside divisions of archers.[2] Standard equipment of the infantry garrisoned as a city's defense force chiefly consisted of swords instead, or for rooftop guards, bows.[3]
Regardless, Saracens soldiers most commonly donned lamellar armour, in contrast to their Christian adversaries who favored chain mail, plate armour, and great helms.[3] Despite this, leather armour and chain mail were also used by some Saracens in large-scale warfare.[2]
The common Saracen soldier of the lowest rank were often not trained to perform grappling maneuvers or counter-attacks in swordsmanship. Due to their inexperience, they were often easily felled in a single counterattack by Assassins such as Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad, and as such, they lacked the stouter morale of their superiors and were the most prone to fleeing from battle in fright.[3]
High-ranking soldiers of the Saracen army were provided with greater armor and better equipment. In contrast to their lesser comrades, these soldiers generally harbored the skill to grapple, counter, and outmaneuver even Assassins. Their expertise allowed them even to stave off the swift counter-attacks of Master Assassins such as Altaïr. Nevertheless, they were not adapted to combat against the iconic Hidden Blade of the Assassins, whose surprise employment could bypass all their defenses and kill them instantly.[3]
Uniform
During the Third Crusade, Saracens in the city of Damascus generally wore green tunics under their lamellar armour. However, guards who harassed civilians wore grey armour instead. In contrast, the uniform of the Jerusalem garrison were dark red.[3]
Trivia
- In Assassin's Creed, 100 Saracen flags are spread across the city of Damascus as collectibles for the player, as Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad, to collect.[3]
Gallery
-
Different types of Saracen soldiers -
A common Saracen soldier -
A Saracen sergeant -
A Saracen commander
References
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