Second Kingdom Bulgarian 1185-1395 AD

Under Discussion

Author: Nick Farrell

Cold. Aggression 2 (1)

Terrain WW, Rv, H(S), H(G), M, Wd, V, Rd, BUA, M, Rgo (2)

C-in-C, Irr Kn(F) @19AP 1

Sub-general as above 1-2

Boyars Irr Kn (F) @ 9AP 3-12

Bulgar or Vlach Horse Archers, Irr LH (S) @ 7AP 6 -12 (3)

Cuman Horse Archers Irr LH (F) @4AP 8 - 16 (4)

Bulgar or Vlach Bowmen Irreg Ps(o) 2AP or Irreg Bw (I) @3AP 0-24

Bulgar or Vlach Spearmen and militia - Irr Sp (I) @3AP 0-10

Replace Spearmen and Bowmen with Irr Hd (O) @ 1AP Any (5)

From 1188 to 1200 and from 1204 to 1270

Cuman Allies - List Cuman (Book 3)

Before 1196 (6)

Regrade Generals to Reg Kn(F) 31AP or Reg Cv (0) @ 28 AP All or None

If Generals are Regular, regrade Boyars to Byzantine-style Latinikon

and Kavallarioi - Up to 1/2 Reg Kn (O) 12AP, up to 1/2 Reg Kn(F), up to

1/2 Reg Cv (O) @8AP, remainder Reg Cv (I) @ 6AP Half or none (4)

Regrade Bowmen to Reg Ps(O) @2AP or Reg Bw (I) 4AP Any (4)

Regrade Bulgar Horse Archers to Byzantine trained Reg LH (S) Half or none (4)

Regrade Bulgar Spearmen to Kontaratoi Reg Sp (I) 4AP Any (4)

Serbian Allies - List Serbian Empire (Book 4)(6)

Only until 1206 (7)

Greek Cavalry - Reg Cv(I) @6AP 0-2

Greek town militia Reg Sp (I) 4AP 0-4

Greek Archers Reg Bw (I) 4AP 0-2

Only Boril from 1213 to 1218 (8)

Downgrade Bulgarian Generals to allies Any

Latin Allies – List Romanian Frank (Book 4)

Hungarian Allies - List Early Hungarian (Book 3)

Only Asen II from 1218 to 1236

Downgrade Bulgarian Generals to allies Any

Hungarian Allies – List Early Hungarian (Book 3)

Russian Nobles - Irreg Cav (0) @ 7AP 0-4

Only Asen II from 1236 to 1240 (9)

Latin Allies – List Romanian Frank (Book 4)

Nikian Byzantine Allies – List Nikian Byzantine (Book 4)

After 1240

Downgrade Bulgarian Subgenerals to Allies All

Russian Allies - List Early Russian (Book 3) 0-15

Latin Empire - Latin Allies – List Romanian Frank (Book 4)

Nikian Byzantine Allies – List Nikian Byzantine (Book 4)

Only Constantine from 1273 to 1277

Regrade C-in-C to be carried on litter as Wwg(I) 1 (10)

Civil War from 1278 to 84:

Only Ivajlo in the civil war in 1278

Bulgarian peasants - Irr Hd (O) 1AP 10-20

Only Ivajlo in the Civil War in 1279

Golden Horde Allies (Book 4)

Only John Asen and George Terter in the civil war of 1278-1284

Palaiologan Byzantine (Book 4)

From 1299 to 1300: Chaka Khan (11)

Regrade CinC to Reg Cav (S) @30AP All

Mongol Cavalry – up to half Reg Cv(0) @8pts the remander Reg LH (S) @7AP 6-12

After 1300

Armoured voynuks with pole arms - Irr Bd (O) 5AP 0-4 (12)

Mongol Allies – List Golden Horde (Book 4)

This list covers the the period from the most significant revolt against the Byzantines to the fall of the last 'Bulgarian' Despot of Dobrotica to the Turks.

Notes

(1) Although famous for their aggression, the Bulgars did not expand their Empire beyond its traditional boundaries. Most of their battles were fought within its borders, or at least its contested borders.

(2) Marshes and Woods were not always a feature of Bulgarian defensive warfare. Most of the battles fought were in the South of the Kingdom and so the extensive marshlands of the Danube were not a feature of most of the battles.

There are a lot of steep hills in Bulgaria and it is difficult to find a defensive battle where they were not important. Bulgaria invented the wine cellar and there were a large number of vineyards. It is still a strong wine growing area now.

(3) The Bulgars were by this time a highly ethnically diverse culture. It was impossible to identify Slav, Bulgar or Vlach. Vlach means shepherd and might simply refer to mountain people. Kalopeter and Asen were considered Vlachs (Turnivo was one of the hill kingdoms), however Asen was a Cuman name. Cumans were settled in Bulgaria throughout the Byzantine period, however larger ally forces were used as well. In fact it was the loss of these that caused the Bulgar second kingdom to suffer in 1201-1203 and after the Cuman nation fell.

Cumans, allies or otherwise, may not be used after 1273.

(4) The Second Kingdom started out as a Byzantine successor state. Boyars under the Byzantine system basically switched allegiances to the new kings and bought their troops with them. It is impossible to say how long this military tradition would survive the collapse of Byzantine control. I have suggested an arbitrary decade with the possibility of regular troops or regular generals, or a regular irregular mix. It is less likely that by the time Kalojan took the throne that there was much left of the Byzantine military system. Kalopeter and Asen were certainly Byzantine appointed nobles and generals. The infantry system, which was based on Pronoiai townships was more likely to have remained in place long after the cavalry had resorted to individual combat.

(5) I am not convinced that the infantry of this period was much use to god or man.

(6) The Bulgars were considered more lightly armoured than their Serbian or Latin neighbours. Many depictions of Bulgar troops show arms and armour similar to the Byzantines. However there have been amounts of heavy armour, chainmail mittens and closed helmets that have been found in Bulgaria. Some of this can be justified by the use of mercenaries, but it is also likely that some Bulgars could have followed western trends. There were also mercenary knights used in small numbers. However there is no evidence that they formed up separately so they must remain as part of the better equipped Kn(F).

(7) The Greeks were sometimes enthusiastic supporters of the Bulgars until 1206 when Kalojan started destroying Greek urban areas.

(8) Boril may not use Cuman Allies.

(9) Nikaian and Latin Allies may not be used together.

(10) Constantine fell off his horse fairly early on in his reign and was crippled. Despite this he fought in battle carried on a litter.

(11) Chaka Khan took the throne of Bulgaria in a brief unpopular rule and actually ruled from Turnivo. While the majority of the Khan's troops did not come with him, it would be inconceivable for him not to have a military force around him. However this was not large. In fact John Fine says that part of the Khan's problem was that most of his troops were scattered around Bulgaria enforcing his rule.

(12) Large numbers of military picks have been found particularly in the North of the country. It is likely that these troops were similar to those used by the Vlachs in Romania after the fall of Bulgaria and the birth of Moldavia and Wallachia.