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SICILIAN SARACENS, 12th-13th CENTURIES
An extract from Armies of Feudal Europe 1066-1300by Ian Heath
97, 98, 99, 100 & 101. SICILIAN SARACENS, 12th-13th CENTURIES
Saracens were employed in large numbers by the Norman, Hohenstaufen and Angevin rulers of Sicily throughout most of this period, Frederick II even colonising large numbers of them on the Italian mainland (see page 33). Contemporary sources indicate that they were armed principally with the bow, apparently composite and some at least wore light armour. Under Roger I and Roger II at least they appear to have been exclusively infantry (especially archers) but by the 13th century at the latest they could also serve as light cavalry. References to these being bow-armed probably indicate that they were mounted infantry, not horse-archers.
They are described on occasion as being 'splendidly uniformed', or as wearing 'resplendent garments of great price', so it seems likely that uniforms were worn; certainly the Sicilian Saracen archers accompanying Queen Adelasia to the Holy Land in 1113 all wore scarlet and gold. As can be seen, the costume and armour of the Sicilian Saracens was basically a mixture of Andalusian and Greek styles, though the former was nominally the predominant military influence. Though their favourite weapon was the bow some modern authorities curiously refer to 'companies of Saracen crossbowmen', presumably a misinterpretation of the fact that, along with a variety of other equipment and siege engines, the Saracen arsenals of 13th century Lucera manufactured crossbows.
Of the five figures depicted here, 97 is based on a 12th century ivory coffer (with the helmet added from a painting of c.1140 in the Capella Palatina); 98 is from an illustration in Pietro da Eboli's ms., of Dietrich von Schweinspoint fighting Sicilian skirmishers in 1194 during Emperor Henry VI's campaign against King Tancred; 99 is a composite from several 12th century ivory caskets; and 100 and 101 are from capitals in Monreale Cathedral, probably dating to c.1176-89, which depict a considerable number of what are clearly Saracen soldiers, armed with a variety of weapons including swords, knives, axes, lances, maces and bows. Note the Byzantine-style scale corselet of 100; identically-equipped Moslem figures are also to be found in the 13th century ms. of John Skylitzes.