So far I've used Siffin as my source for banners etc.
I'm now doing a few bits for Arab armies further afield and a touch later. I'm currently doing some Black Guard for the above and I'm in need of a flag.
All I know is the the Umayyads in Spain used a green standard and a plain green flag will be my fallback option.
Before I do this does anyone have any further information or inspirational pictures.
Thanks.
THis may wel be too late for you, but if you are going as late as the 12th-13th centuries, there's the Navas de Tolosa banner (though I'm sure I read a theory that it was a wall hanging for a tent rather than a banner).
The Conquest of Mallorca frescos have some https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/the-conquest-of-mallorca-detail-of-a-fresco-painted-by-an-news-photo/152204090 though these may be from Spanish imagination. At least one is very similar to the Navas de T. banner which could be a common usage or could be the artist using the previously captured one for inspiration. The zig-zag style also appears in the Cantigas de Santa Maria - common actual source?
This has a couple of other bits and pieces for the African dynasties who were involved in Spain https://en.yabiladi.com/articles/details/84867/white-other-stars-different-flags.html The chequerboard pattern is very fetching.
I wish I had seen the bit about different coloured flags before doing my Almoravids.
The attached is a good pic of the Navas de Tolosa banner that Peter mentioned.
There is an article here (https://dialnet.unirioja.es/descarga/articulo/2385029.pdf) on flags taken at Salado in the 14th century.
What about this?
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjSg2ChdJ53fTuwU4FAuJfgyEPmK4m1QGF-ikbTTclwG-qa7QrbFHU-ZKz1NQrLpHXb6-NtEhYySqLKyR3ZN0PlT02mPJT9mYE8Wfi7WS8Ed0Xk2aDLNDcstcofMoewnkEGegsUT8XKaqROYecor2sxVDYSgAxp2UvS1O22x7-5uUcpRJoG489Jd2njt3Be)
At least one of my units carries this banner but not sure if I flagged the Black Guard with it.
Another version of the banner Duncan mentions.
(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiunUVDlTU5hL8y8mr7LsyAn2JeDo444aamTdcV3B8KfHaevvQ-gr82pGymxRL7-QNL7BrVUo4e5ngD21pRQZQDMN43CC-KK_s1Ot-MN1bmWlzLjRjBe6CEraMG4d8UV_iJvTF1AQXSpoxZ0LGTzv-oKILNdp_xvZBFnUVlYXwzen5zcjG0oehN2MNCaVoR)
Well, desperate times call for desperate measures...
I wondered if they were sponsoring your army in return for publicity!
Sponsorship? The army could use a cash infusion.
This page (http://warfare.gq/6C-11C/Moors_The_Islamic_West.htm) might be useful, too: note the flag in the second McBride painting.
Thanks everyone. 👏
Quote from: Duncan Head on July 15, 2023, 06:12:54 PMThis page (http://warfare.gq/6C-11C/Moors_The_Islamic_West.htm) might be useful, too: note the flag in the second McBride painting.
Great multifunction as in the evening they can even play chess on it. ;)
There are of course a number of flags/ coats of arms that use chequerboards - effective if done well. This sits well with the architecture behind that looks rather Alhambran - the palace sports many highly geometric patterns with highly contrasting colours.
What I have so far is:
20230716 - Cordoba cavalry std.png
20230716 - Morocan flag - square.png
I will work on better colours etc. The tails on the yellow version are too fiddly for 15 mm. Final version to appear on my blog.
I think the Moroccan is too late for what I'm after.
Infantry versions:
20230716 - Cordoba infantry std.png
20230716 - Cordoba infantry std#2.png
Cavalry with matching colour:
20230716 - Cordoba cavalry std#2.png
And a Moroccan version:
20230716 - Moroccan flag - 64.png
For games table I think plain green with perhaps Islamic saying for Umyyad dynasty in Spain, with perhaps red or black banners for 'Morrocan' dynastic rivals ... if all else fails then likes of the Sudanese banners from 19th century, from likes of warflag site eg
https://www.warflag.com/flags/colonial/colarab.shtml or
https://www.warflag.com/flags/colonial/dervish.shtml
CarlL
PS I liked all those links provided by contributors, well done all.
CarlL
One or two fictional flags might appeal (standing back having lite blue touchpaper on this cracker)... like
https://www.google.com/search?q=emirate+of+granada+flag&tbm=isch&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwif78_o1ZiAAxWRnCcCHYmYBxcQrNwCKAB6BAgBEH0
CarlL retreating quickly
On a potentially more historical theme, a search in Spanish (well Castillian if we are historically focused!) produces some interesting results, including some historical images (and some conjectural) see for example:
https://creandopueblo.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/labanderaenalandalus.pdf (lots of fun here)
and
https://www.alandalusylahistoria.com/?p=452
CarlL
Very interesting, Carl, especially the first one.
Thanks Carl. Here's the Satrany:
20230718 - Andalusian Satrany std.png
The plain white & red flags are easy enough. My understanding is that the Umayyads in al-Andalus used plain white flags.
I think a plain white flag will look striking with the "Black Guard". Then again so will the chequered flag but this seems to belong to a higher level then an tactical unit.
Very good documents.
Going by the text and especially the quotes from Ibn Al Jatib and Ibn Abi Zar (c.1310), the plain white and red flags should have inscriptions of various verses such as "There is no victor but Allah; Muhammad is the Prophet of Allah;
there is no victor but Allah".
Quote from: Swampster on July 18, 2023, 09:19:04 PMGoing by the text and especially the quotes from Ibn Al Jatib and Ibn Abi Zar (c.1310), the plain white and red flags should have inscriptions of various verses such as "There is no victor but Allah; Muhammad is the Prophet of Allah; There is no victor but Allah".
Like these?
20230719 - Andalusian Plain slogan.png
20230719 - Andalusian Plain slogan red.png
Quote from: Swampster on July 18, 2023, 09:19:04 PMGoing by the text and especially the quotes from Ibn Al Jatib and Ibn Abi Zar (c.1310), the plain white and red flags should have inscriptions of various verses such as "There is no victor but Allah; Muhammad is the Prophet of Allah;
There is no victor but Allah".
Would this apply to earlier flags; around 800-900 rather than 1310?
If anyone would like a pdf of the flags featured here please PM me. They are 14 mm in the hoist.
Colour laser printed samples. Edges painted and before final coat of varnish:
S8002303.png
Nice!
Lovely flags Martin.
CarlL
Blog post with my final selection (spoiler - used plain white). Includes a summary of my flag research.
https://blog.vexillia.me.uk/2023/07/15-mm-arab-black-guard-essex.html
Martin,
Useful & interesting summary.
I do like the reference to "With the glitter of their shields" for the early period.....
Your search for banner information helped generate lots of useful information.
CarlL