Nabateans

[King of Atlantis]

Does anybody here have some good info on the nabateans during rtw times. They seem very intresting. Like what units and what territory they had, etc..

~:cheers:

[pezhetairoi]

Try not to think in RTW terms of what 'units' they had... Territory wise they controlled much of what is now southern Jordan, but they were not actually a very large state (something on the scale of Palmyra would be about right). I am not sure about what sort of armies they might have had, but I am postulating that they would have been lightly-armed and mobile given the mountainous/hilly nature of their country, and the heat. The article in December of (1998/1999?) in National Geographic about Petra provides some insights into Nabataea, but it is important to keep in mind that Petra is not the capital or even AN important city in Nabataea proper.

[King of Atlantis]

I know that they had more horses then men, somehwere i read that they had 5,000 cavalry and 1,000 infantry. I said units cause this stuff "might", be used in a mod, but im still intrested all the same.

[lars573]

Well since they were an Arab tribe that moved from a tribal existence in southern Arabia to a settled life style in southern Jordan they probably used typical Arabic styles of warfare. So camel riders and light horse, like the Arab mercs in RTW. Infantry probably would have been archers, maybe a sword unit resembeling something like Arab infantry in MTW.

[caesar44]

A good site - http://www.iuo.it/BNS/BNS_04Links/BNS_Links.html

[Bartix]

http://www.nabataea.net/InnerK3.jpg
may be something:
http://www.ospreypublishing.com/title_detail.php/title=P1661~ser=MAA~per=40

From:http://www.nabataea.net/horse.html

The Nabataeans
During the reign of Aretas III, Damascus was captured, and the Nabataeans entered into Hellenization with real gusto. One of the results of this Hellenization was adoption of the horse as an honorable means of transport. Camels continued to be pack animals, but horses were desired by those wishing to ride in style. The famous Nabataean camel cavalry was soon replaced by horse riding Nabataeans.

The Nabataean cavalry was traditionally camel mounted; usually with two archers, one facing forward and one facing either front or back as illustrated left.

By 47 BC, Nabataean ruler Malichus I honored a request from Julius Caesar and provided him with 2000 horse cavalry during the Roman dictator's Alexandrian campaign.

According to Josephus, Malichus II sent Emperor Titus 1000 cavalry and 5000 infantry in 70 AD, which took part in the destruction of Jerusalem.

Following this, during the reign of Rabbel II, emphasis was placed on developing the agricultural resources of the Nabataean Empire. Horse breeding was stepped up, and soon stables and horse ranches dotted the Nabataean countryside. These Arabian bred horses were sold to wealthy individuals within the Roman empire, as well as to Roman circuses where they performed and raced to the delight of the Roman populace.

Archeological evidence has now surfaced in Safaitic texts that provide evidence of extensive horse-breeding through out the Nabataean empire, especially in the Hauran region. At present there is not a great deal of proof about what type of horses the Nabataeans bred, but by carefully analyzing the historical records we can learn some of the characteristics of these horses.

Nabataean horses were known to be swift, light, and very intelligent. The Romans preferred horses that could carry heavily armored and armed men into battle, and that were not terribly bright. This gave them the edge, as often their horses did not sense danger until it hit them. The Nabataeans on the other hand preferred fast horses that could, in the words of Diodorus "… flee into the desert, using this as a stronghold." These horses sound much like the famed Arabian breed of horses.

Compared to European horses, Arabian horses were small but were fast and had remarkable powers of endurance. They were also prized for their beauty, intelligence, and gentleness. Arabian horses usually have only 23 vertebrae while the European horses have 24. Their average height was about 15 hands (60 inches, or 152 cm), and their average weight ranged from 800 to 1,000 pounds (360 to 450 kg). They were also noted for having strong legs and fine hooves. Their coat, tail, and mane were of fine, silky hair. Although many colors are possible in the breed, gray prevails.

Roman historians tell us that after 106 AD, when the Romans annexed the Nabataean Empire, that Nabataean cavalry units proved to be undisciplined and a poor accompaniment for the well structured, disciplined Roman army. At this point, it seems that the Arabian horse disappears back into obscurity.

[King of Atlantis]

thaks guys