Originally Posted by
qnzkid711
I was wondering. Are there any plans of making Albanian mercenaries or regional recruits of any sort? They are useful for the western Balkans, Dyrrachium era. They acted in the revolt of Maniakes against the Byzantine state and also took a significant role in Guiscards campaign:
According to Anna Komnene :
as Robert was being worried on all sides by the so-called Albanians and by the natives of Dalmatia sent by Bodinus.
and earlier
And the Emperor rode along the windings of the surrounding mountains and the almost impassable tracks, and after two days and nights made his way out of them and reached Achrida. On this journey be crossed the river Charzanes and rested a little in the secluded valley called Babagora, and his spirit was not broken by his defeat nor by the other accidents of the battle nor would he give way to the pain of the wound in his forehead ; and though inwardly he was consumed with sorrow for those who had fallen in the battle, especially for the, heroes who had fought so bravely, yet, above all, his mind was wholly occupied with the thought of Dyrrachium. For he reflected with pain that this town was left without a governor, as Palaeologus had been unable to re-enter it after the battle was lost. So he secured the safety of the inhabitants as far as possible by entrusting the custody of the Acropolis to the chiefs of the Venetian colonists there, and the care of the rest of the city to Comiscortes of Albanian origin to whom he transmitted orders by letter.
On the Maniakes revolt:
Unfortunately, the people who had once been our allies and who possessed the same rights as citizens and the same religion, i.e. the Albanians and the Latins, who live in the Italian regions of our Empire beyond Western Rome, quite suddenly became enemies when Michael Dokenianos insanely directed his command against their leaders...
The aforementioned George with the surname Maniakes, thirsting for blood, began an uprising in the Italian part of the Empire with Byzantine and Albanian soldiers there, being offended because the emperor had shown him a lack of respect and fearing the emperor in view of previous hostilities. He caused great turmoil in the rest of the army opposing him and took it over. After having set up his camp at a two days' march from Thessalonika, he made his attack on the imperial camp in the evening...
The troops are described by other Byzantine sources as being lightly armed, very mountain oriented, and generally good as speermen and/or archers. Their nature is more along the line of rebels and mercenaries/regional recruits in the Dyrrachium area, along the south-middle Adriatic near Ragusa and Epirus. But they are units that were used along the Adriatic and southern Italy, so their abundance is not negligible.
By the 12th and 13th ce there is also the use of Albanian light cavalrymen. They would likely carry thin armor, at most padded, with a shield and spear.
All this IF you are not yet all done with troops...
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