West Sudanese (III/68)

1. Classification of barded cavalry

2. Scope of the list

1. Classification of barded cavalry

Author: Richard Young

Proposal

1. Restrict Yan lifida cavalry to Hausa, Kanem-Bornu and possibly Songhay and Bulala.

2. Change the current category of Yan lifida from Kn(F) to Kn(X).

Justification

From 19th century and earlier accounts, the Hausa and Kanem-Bornu cavalry were essentially of 3 types.

First there were the lightly attired men on small indigenous horses armed with a spear and sometimes a shield. Though not mentioned directly in early accounts, I think it acceptable to assume these had been around for some time from Mali to Abyssinia. They were used for scouting and presumably had a role as skirmishers in major battles. Second, were the noble cavalry on cross-bred horses armed with spear, javelins and could be in chainmail or other armour and shield. The horses would be mostly unarmoured and act as a mobile force on the field. Thirdly, there were some elite/noble cavalry with both horse and rider almost completely covered in thick colourful patterned quilt. From 19th century accounts, as can be read in Spring (1993), these had a long lance but no shield and were on larger breeds of horse. They were first mentioned in the Hausa Chronicle of Kano which records that quilted lifida and other armour were introduced by Sarkin Kanajeji (1390-1410) of Kano, so were around for some time. From the 18th century Sokoto caliphate at least, these were called Yan lifida, from lifida - a term for the quilted armour.

This armour was used to protect against poisoned arrows and perhaps turn thrown javelins also. From a 19th century account of a battle, quoted in Spring (1993), these quilted-cavalry were initially kept as a reserve. Later, they were then described as walking in an orderly formation directly towards the enemy position. As the enemy were largely behind barricades, the cavalry made no further progress IIRC. Although not exactly a lot to go on, the above descriptions suggest categorisation as Kn(X) as preferable to Kn(F), with armour as protection against missiles: for effect against their historical opponents, Kn(X) is much better than KN(F) because it gives them Superior status against the Bows that are very common in Sudanic warfare. In addition their implied use as a formed elite reserve, less mobile than the other cavalry, better suite the slower-moving (X). As to whether they should be Regular or Irregular, I'm not too sure.

It's possible that although first recorded in the Hausa States, this quilt-armoured cavalry may have come from Kanem-Bornu. Much of Hausa culture during medieval times were a result of filtering down from Kanem-Bornu to the east. There are records of Bornu princes given exile in Hausa to escape from conflicts in their own lands. Kanem-Bornu often made raids against the Hausa States and some were taken as vassals at times. Songhay also made a military excursion to the Hausa from the west in the 15th century. However, in contrary to Alan Todd's Slingshot article, Songhay's attacks on Hausa are seen as nothing more than major raids by many recent historians. It is possible that the western part of the Hausa may have been included in the Songhay Empire temporarily but I'm not convinced that Hausa troops should be included in the Songhay list, except perhaps as slave troops?

I don't recall reading anything that could give an indication of the numbers of these quilt-armoured cavalry. 0-2 elements seems about right, seeing as they seem to have been fewer in number than the other cavalry. Perhaps only 0-1 for the Songhay list, if at all.

2. Scope of the list

The Bulala (or Bilala) aren't mentioned in the West Sudanese List at all but should be when revised. The Bulala were to the east of Kanem-Bornu and were related historically to them. Their foot troops were similar and they may well have had quilt-armoured cavalry too but there is so little information about this kingdom, I simply don't know. In the early part of the 16th century, Leo Africanus mentioned that their cavalry was of better quality than that of Bornu. Bulala were known to trade with Egypt through established routes via the Sudan during these times so may well have obtained quality military material this way.

My current thought is that the list should be split into at least 4, an earlier list to c.1235 for Ghana, then one on Mali, Songhay and the Hausa, thirdly, one on the Kanem-Bornu and Bulala, finally one for the Mossi.

See:

- http://www.geocities.com/youngrla/ghana4.html (Richard's Ghana list for DBM, as published in Slingshot)

- http://www.geocities.com/youngrla/mossi3.html (Richard's Mossi list for DBM, as published in Slingshot)

- 19th-century (?) images of Mossi cavalry can be seen at http://www.uiowa.edu/~africart/GIFs%20for%20Burkina%20web/Mossi%20cavalry.GIF and http://www.uiowa.edu/~africart/GIFs%20for%20Burkina%20web/Moronaba.GIF