> You wrote:
> Thats me (or one of them is me, was me and will be me again by
Hrm. Had a stack o' questions and comments. First, what color are uniforms? I
mean, the ground forces will wear some sort of earth tones (actually I picked
dark grey) in combat, but for ceremonial purposes
and 'Class As'? Next--how frequently did Varangians take the field?
I've got 'em translated into a Power Armored Infantry division, which
would be most useful as an orbital insertion force--were they used to
'spearhead' amphibious operations on any occasions? I've also bought a
pack of axes to use--figure Varangians with axes count as causing
terror in Stargrunt. :) Also: Rank insignia. Was there such a
system? 'National flag' (insomuch as there was any such thing) was blue with
gold cross? What, if anything, did they name ships after?
A>Yikes! Methinks I'm gonna use Alderson drives in my 'deviant'
> universe. I've got spacegoing Greeks, so why not snag something
Thats me (or one of them is me, was me and will be me again by the sounds of
it). So what is the deal? BTW I still have all our past discussions on file if
you need a copy.
> John Atkinson wrote:
> Next--how frequently did Varangians take the field?
Fairly often. Always when the Emperor himself commanded the army IIRC, but
quite often on other occasions too (like the bungled attempt to conquer Sicily
in the middle of the 11th century, when Harald Hardrada commanded the
Varangians).
> I've got 'em translated into a Power Armored Infantry division, which
Varangian detachments were successfully used in siege operations and as marine
contingents aboard naval units. I guess spearheading assaults on city walls
and spearheading attacks on colonies can be thought of as
similar in concepts :-)
> 'National flag' (insomuch as there was any such thing) was
Did the Rhomaioi use this? It sounds like the Swedish national flag, but that
didn't come into use until several centuries later so I doubt if there's any
connection there.
> What, if anything, did they name ships after?
Rhomaioi or Varangians <g>? (Most Varangians never learned Greek, or at
most learned a few words of it - that's one of the reasons why they were
so hard to corrupt... :-) IIRC the Varangians didn't have ships of their
own; they were temporarily assigned as marine detachments.
Later,
> I wrote:
Obviously that was intended to be private e-mail, must commit suicide
in sorrow and shame.
*BANG*
> At 15:41 11/06/98 -0500, you wrote:
> (actually I picked dark grey) in combat, but for ceremonial purposes
> pack of axes to use--figure Varangians with axes count as causing
Colours- not a lot to go on here for the Byzatines out side of
the palace guard units of various sorts. Blues for the Hetaereia (Imperoal
staff IIRC)
white for the Basilokoi and scarlet and/or purple for the Varangian
guard. Themata are probably in whatever the home region produces cheaply and
for the Tagmata you might go back to the late Roman uniforms of white with
various trim (red or purple historicaly) to represent various specialisations
(infantry, armour, artillery). If you can get a look at any Austrian uniforms
for last century that might have some good ideas in it.
Varagians- take the field whenever the Emperor is about. Probably
assigned to which ever sector or campaign is regarded as particularly
critical. Only go out if the Emp is there or if it is REAL important target.
Don't no about amphib ops but they once cut their merry way into the heart of
Norman army whilst the rest of the Byzatines ran away. The all kept fighting
and died of course so the spearhead idea fits. Must be a high priority target
though.
Insignia- again no real system. Colour of helmet crest or of
surcoat worn over any armor might have been used. For SG I have no idea what
you do (although a PA coversion with a horsehair crest would look interesting.
Flag- I think I said before at some stage that their scared
standard was an image of the Virgin Mary. Christian mongram (XP) would also
have been used. If you don't like those steal the double headed Imperial eagle
but do it in gold rather than black.
Ship Names- anything you bloody like I think. More probably
Christian in nature. Use the Spanish ships of the Nepolionic period as ideas.