Scots Irish (55 BC - 846 AD)
(DBA 61)
The Scots Irish list covers the early Celtic tribes of Ireland, especially the Scotti tribe associated with the Dal Riata kingdom in Ireland who eventually saw its King migrate to Scotland, to rule over his subjects who had preceded him. This kingdom of the Scotti is often referred to as Dalraida. The list spans from 55 BC, when Julius Caesar made his first expedition to Britain until 843 AD, when Kenneth MacAlpin unified the throne of the Scots and Picts, the date usually taken as the beginning of Scotland. The period of heavy Irish (Scotti) raiding into Britain was not until around 400 AD.
Composition
The Scots Irish list is comprised of 3 Light Chariots, 5 Warband and 3 Psiloi with the option of adding an additional element of any of the three. Thus, this army has considerable mobility, a hard punch against opposing Blades or Spear, and the ability to contest difficult terrain with its Psiloi.
The use of Light Chariots in a Dark Ages army that stretches to 846 AD seems somewhat odd since the last recorded historical use was in the 400s. A transition to Cavalry and/or Light Horse as a smaller proportion of the army seems more historically appropriate. Here are some suggested variants for Dark Age armies:
Enemies
The Scots Irish list includes itself as an enemy, as well as the Early Imperial Romans (#64), Caledonian/Picts (#67), Middle Imperial Romans (#69), Late Roman (West) (#77a), Sub-Roman British (#82), Welsh (#92), and Viking (#106a).
Tactics
Forthcoming
Camps
Michael Hession: Only Kings seem to have had tents. Lesser mortals built rude huts, presumably wattles or interwoven brushwood, as with plashed woods. I found one reference to these being open, which I take to mean that the
downwind side might have been left unwalled, as I used to do when building
bivouacs in my scouting days. Other baggage elements could be herds/flocks
of cattle (at least one!), or sheep and pigs (with St. Patrick as swineherd!).
Later armies could also have a praying saint or two.
Painting Tips
Michael Hession (Dublin): According to my sources, upper class warriors generally wore clothing of the following hues: Crimson, Red, Purple, Blue, Green, Grey, Black, Dun, Tan and Yellow.
In addition,the upper classes' tunics could be bleached or undyed
linen. Apparently they were sometimes referred to as light-coloured.
Lower class warriors wore Yellow, White, Black, Red, Blue or Green.
They could also wear bleached or undyed linen or wool (NB: Irish sheep at
this time tended to have black or dark brown fleeces). Presumably, dyes
would be cheaper, and the colours a little more subdued, than those used by
their betters.
Patterns attested are plain, striped, bordered and checked. Shields were
leather, sometimes dyed a single colour overall, but never patterned.
Under later sumptuary laws, Kings were permitted to use up to 7 colours,
Poets/Druids 6, upper classes from 3 to 5 depending on rank and lower
classes 2. Slaves wore only 1 colour (presumably only possessing a tunic
anyway!). I would assume that several shades of a given primary colour would
only count as one choice. In any case, like most such laws these limits were
probably more honoured in the breach than in the observance.
Other Resources
Gamer Comments and Suggestions
Daniel Mersey: Regarding the Scots/Irish: Chariots really shouldn't be used after the Roman period, but I'm not sure that a sub-list is worth
creating. I would maybe use the Pictish one, or just replace the LCh with Bd - like other dismounted LCh's are. I have given the Scots/Irish a cavalry option in Glutter of Ravens, as I know that slightly later Irish armies used them, and I believe that the terrain of Ireland lends itself to horsemen. Figure wise, I have heard that Feudal Castings are good, but I have never had a reply when contacting them.
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Last Updated: March 28, 2000
Questions, comments, suggestions welcome. Send them to Chris Brantley, brant@erols.com.
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