In the Early Dynastic and Old Kingdom period each Nome or tribe would raise its own troops, based on a short term of active service where young men would serve for a set period upon coming of age. They would then be subject to being mustered whenever trained men were needed. The army of the Pharaoh in this period would be made up almost completely of militia contingents from the Nomes who were loyal to the Pharaoh. The Pharaoh also had a small standing force or royal guard, which would serve as the core of the armies.
The Army during this period was formed totally of infantry made up of heavy and light infantry, and skirmishers. The army was commanded by the Pharaoh or the Vizier when it took to the field and marched to war.
Mercenaries were recruited from Nubia, and in the later period from Libya, when it was felt necessary. In the later Old Kingdom armies, mercenaries seem to have made up the majority of the troops in the Pharaoh's armies. This was probably because the Pharaoh doubted the loyalty of the troops supplied by the Nomes.
The Middle Kingdom established a standing army to avoid the problems of the Old Kingdom's reliance on part time troops that were often more loyal to their Nomes than to the Pharaoh. To encourage loyalty to the Pharaoh and create a feeling of esprit de corps, the Pharaoh would award gallantry and loyal service with rich gifts of gold, jewel encrusted weapons and gold collars and armbands.
The numbers of mercenaries recruited in the Middle Kingdom Armies were in much smaller numbers than in earlier armies. They were still mostly from Nubia and Libya, but they were kept to being only a minor part of the field armies and were instead used as garrisons and for police work. This both freed up Egyptian troops for the field army and also helped to keep the governors of the Nomes in-line.
The Armies of the Middle Kingdom remained an all-infantry force, as they would until the adoption of the chariot from the Hyksôs sometime between 1600BC and 1500BC.
THROW STICKS
Many warriors that fought in Sumerian armies were armed with a weapon known simply as a
‘throw-stick’. This was a device that threw an arrow like dart a considerable
distance and with some force. In game terms the weapon has the same effect as a javelin
and is treated in the same way.
The mininimum size for a Regiment is five infantry models or three chariot models.
There is no upper limit. One model in each unit may be upgraded to Leader (+5 points),
Standard Bearer (+5 points) and Musician (+5 points).
0-1 ARMY GENERAL........ 141 points
| M | WS | BS | S | T | W | I | A | Ld | |
| General | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 2 |
9 |
Equipment: Armed with hand weapon, short bow. May have thrusting spear at +2 points. May have light armour at +2 points.
Special Rules: Any unit within 12" of the General may use his Leadership when it takes a Leadership test.
0-1 ARMY STANDARD BEARER........ 75 points
| M | WS | BS | S | T | W | I | A | Ld | |
| Standard Bearer | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 8 |
Equipment: Hand weapon. May have light armour at +2 points.
Special Rules: Army Standard.
0-1 UNIT OF THE PHARAOH'S MEN ........... 10 points per model
These were the Pharaoh/Ruler's Guard, and would be up of men from his own lands and foreign troops.
| M | WS | BS | S | T | W | I | A | Ld | |
| Pharaoh's Men | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 7 |
Equipment: Hand axe and large shield. May have throwing sticks at +1 point.
Special Rules: Stubborn.
ARCHERS ........... 6 points per model
The archers would have been made up of citizens who had shown a proficiency with the bow. These were the backbone of the troops supplied by the Nomes.
| M | WS | BS | S | T | W | I | A | Ld | |
| Archer | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 7 |
Equipment: Hand-weapon & short bow.
Special Rules: Light Infantry.
SPEARMEN ........... 7 points per model
All male citizens were trained to fight in the army, and were expected to serve when called. They trained on a regular basis to fulfill this role.
| M | WS | BS | S | T | W | I | A | Ld | |
| Spearmen | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 7 |
Equipment: Hand weapon & thrusting spear. May have large shields (+2). May have throwing sticks at +1 point.
CONSCRIPT SPEARMEN ........... 4 points per model
These were poorer citizens that were called up to fight in the armies in times of need. They were supplied with a spear and little else.
| M | WS | BS | S | T | W | I | A | Ld | |
| Conscript Spearmen | 4 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
Equipment: Hand-weapon and thrusting spear.
Special Rules: Light Infantry.
JAVELINMEN AND QUIVER CARRIERS ........... 4 points per model
| M | WS | BS | S | T | W | I | A | Ld | |
| Javelinman | 4 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 5 |
Equipment: Hand-weapon and javelins.
Special Rules: Light Infantry.
BEDOUIN SLINGERS ........... 5 points per model
These were nomadic herders who fought with the sling in the armies of the Pharaohs.
| M | WS | BS | S | T | W | I | A | Ld | |
| Slinger | 4 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 5 |
Equipment: Hand-weapon & sling.
Special Rules: Skirmishers
AXEMEN ........... 8 points per model
These troops were used as shock troops and were armed with heavy axes with a long narrow axe head designed to pierce armour and cause deep wounds.
| M | WS | BS | S | T | W | I | A | Ld | |
| Axemen | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 7 |
Equipment: Two-handed axe. May have throwing sticks at +1 point.
CHARIOTS
(The following is contraversial for the Middle Kingdom, but as some people believe that they did have chariots at the very end of the period, I am including them.)
LIGHT CHARIOTS ............ 39 points per model
| M | WS | BS | S | T | W | I | A | Ld | |
| Light Chariot | 8 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 8 |
Equipment: Chariot warrior armed with hand-weapon, composite bow, javelins, light armour & shield, riding in light chariot with driver.
Note: At this time period the Egyptians would not be proficient enough with the chariots, as they had just adopted them from the Hyksôs, to have the special Egyption chariot rule in 'Armies of Antiquity'.
MEDJA-NUBIAN ARCHERS ........... 5 points per model
| M | WS | BS | S | T | W | I | A | Ld | |
| Archer | 4 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 6 |
Equipment: Hand-weapon & short bow.
Special Rules: Light Infantry.
LYBIAN JAVELINMEN ........... 5 points per model
| M | WS | BS | S | T | W | I | A | Ld | |
| Javelinman | 4 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 5 |
Equipment: Hand-weapon and javelins.
Special Rules: Light Infantry.
AHAW ARCHERS ........... 4 points per model
| M | WS | BS | S | T | W | I | A | Ld | |
| Archer | 4 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 5 |
Equipment: Hand-weapon & short bow.
Special Rules: Light Infantry.