Ilkhanate:

12561335/1353
While lasting only a century the Il-Khanate (the subservient Khanate) left a deep impression on
the Middle East and opened up massive new trade with central Asia and the orient, serving as
the end piece on a long corridor of ideas, arts, and sciences that profoundly impacted how the
modern world exists today.

Military:
The Ilkhanate truly only lasted for a century, and as such it does not have the same
level of long-term military development as other Medieval states had. As such, while
their army can be reconstructed there are not profound differences between early
high and late Ilkhanate armies since well, those periods are oftentimes divided by
a generation or less. Despite this, Ill do my best to give an accurate impression of
period armies and possibly how they might have changed if the Ilkhanate had not
collapsed when it did. Information below will be pertinent generally to the entirety
of Ilkhanate rule barring any major changes.
Organisation:
The organization of the true Mongol army of Chinggis Khan is as follows:
Tumen (Tumet): 10,000 men

Minqan (Minqat): 1,000 men

Jaghun (Jaghut): 100 men

Arban (Arbat): 10 men

In addition, the army was split in three parts: The baraghun ghar (Right Flank), the
jeun ghar (Left Flank), and qol (Pivot/Center). The army was headed by the Keshik,
the Khans bodyguard, with other specialist troops in tow.

In contrast to their ancestors, the Ilkhanate leaders adopted more traditional tactics
in order to better fight the Mamluks in regions such as Syria, areas unconducive to
large wide-roaming horse campaigns. Therefore, Ilkhanate leaders embraced
heavier cavalry, more foot-archers and a strong emphasis on melee combat, while
still retaining Mongolian organization and technological ingenuity. (Kortum 226).
This process continued through the Ilkhanate in addition to the heavy use of nonMongol forces with Mongolian commanders. An early Ilkhanate army would be
indistinguishable from a Mongol army, while a late one would be in appearance
indistinguishable from a standard Near Eastern stately army of Persian affiliation,
albeit with some differences in weaponry and equipment.

Terminology:
Tammas: Units of Mongolian levies sent to secure newly conquered territory through
occupation and settlement.
Bao jun (possibly rendered as ) : Catapult corps
Nu jun (): Crossbow corps
Baghatut/Baatut: Arabic term for the Mongol Keshik guard, lit. heroes
Iqta: land grants awarded to loyal and successful soldiers
Qaraghul: Mongolian border patrol
Chirik/Chirikian: A generic term for a Mongol or group of Mongolian soldiers
Tazik: A non-Mongolian soldier in service of the Ilkanates
Shahzadagan: A Persian term for a Khan of the Ilkhanate
Ahdath: A irregular levy
Ajam Persian/non-Arab
Dalay: Subjects under the direct control of the Khan
Hashar: Military corvee
Tabghur: frontier service levy
Talaya: A military guard
Midfa: A Arab term for a gunpowder weapon/device. Lit. tube
Huo Qiang (): Fire lance
Chuangzi Nu: A big-ass ballista on a cart

Tiers:
(1200s) Early:
Visually and organizationally the same as the original Mongol hordes that ravaged
central Asia under Ogedei Khan.

Roster:
General:
-

Keshig Guard
Generals Bodyguard

Melee Infantry:
-

Armenian Footmen
Georgian Auxiliaries
Tazik Levy
Persian Foot Soldiers

Ranged Infantry:
-

Persian Foot Archers

Huo Qiang Jun [fire lance infantry]
Turkic Archers

Melee Cavalry:
-

Qaraghul
Mongol Lancers

Ranged Cavalry:
-

Light Horse Archers

Heavy Horse Archers
Turkish Horsemen

Artillery:
-

Trebuchet
Chuangzi Ballista
Nafta Throwers
Fire Arrows

(1300s) High:
Heavier cavalry, heavier infantry. The army is more Islamized, and infused with
Persian and Turkic soldiery, while still retaining a skirmisher core of horse archers.

Roster:
General:

Generals Talaya
Shahzagadan Guard

Melee Infantry:
-

Armenian Footmen
Georgian Auxiliaries
Tazik Levy
Persian Foot Soldiers

Ranged Infantry:
-

Persian Foot Archers

Armenian Archers
Handgunners

Melee Cavalry:
-

Heavy Lancers
Iqta Knights
Tabhgur

Ranged Cavalry:
-

Steppe Horse Archers

Turkic Mercenaries

Artillery:
-

Counterweight Trebuchet
Cannons
Nafta Throwers
Fire Arrows

(1400s) Late:
[speculative] Fully ingratiated with Near Eastern military culture. A landed
aristocracy of heavy cavalry with large numbers of foot archers, heavy infantry and
foreign levies. They still have not adopted the Mamluk usage of battle slaves and
rely on semi-feudal dynasties of aristocratic knights.

Roster:
General:
-

Baghatut Guard

Melee Infantry:
-

Persian Infantry
Armenian Footmen

Georgian Infantry

Ranged Infantry:
-

Persian Foot Archers

Persian Heavy Archers

Melee Cavalry:
-

Iqta Cavalry
Heavy Lancers
Persian Cavalry

Ranged Cavalry:
-

Turkic Mercenaries
Heavy Horse Archers

Artillery:
-

Counterweight Trebuchet
Cannons
Nafta Throwers
Fire Arrows