Uriah and the Canaanites

I will 'fess up immediately.  I collected the Canaanites intending them to be an allied force for the Pharaoh's army.  It wasn't until I started painting them that I realised how great the figures are.  The possibilities of this army also began to dawn on me.  

Canaan was very much a border area between three, or arguably four, large power blocks.  To the south the Egyptians, who with the military resurgence of the New Kingdom saw the entire area as a border zone, one in which successive Pharaoh's could prove their military prowess.  To the north the Hittites, who used the area as a buffer zone against the aggression of Egypt, but who also quietly took over in the areas they controlled.  Indeed when the Hittite empire in Anatolia fell their cities in Syria continued to claim to be Hittite.  To the east were a succession of chariot empires, the Hurrians, the Mitanni, and later the Assyrians.

To the west, lurking only a short distance away across the Mediterranean lurked a fourth power, the Sea People's.  Interestingly Sherdanu mercenaries served in the armies of the Canaanite kingdoms, as well as raiding up and down the coast.
Raiders were not just Sea pirates however, the deserts of the south and east held Shassu and Sutu Bedouin, and Canaan itself was home to tribal Habiru mercenaries and bandits. (The word originally meant "bandit" and was only later applied to the tribal coalition that would become the Hebrews). Unlike the city states, gathered in their walled cities, and fortified villages, the tribal peoples occupied smaller settlements, mainly in the higher areas.

To simplify the situation, the Maryannu chariots of the City State Princes kept the hill tribes out of the fertile lowlands, whilst the area itself was subject to raids and campaigns by the competing powers.  Warfare was endemic, with the Petty kings serving different masters even whilst they struggled against each other.

This army was the last force I raised for my Bronze age project.   I think it shows, since I realise now that it's incomplete.   I brought it over to Cyprus for the winter to give me a chance to practice on it before tackling the Egyptians.  Mistake...  these guys wear multi coloured coats, literally, and are a pain in the backside.  I have had to up the wattage for my desk lamp bulb just to cope with them.

Three Maryannu chariots are the key element.  These are specialists, trained professionals, who seek to dominate a battle by fire and manoeuvre. In a battle against my Egyptians I can double this number adding my Sea People's chariots, who also have Maryannnu crews waiting in the wings to replace their Anatolian style crews.

The second element the Canaanites field is a Royal Guard.  Different city states would vary the nature of these Guards, some would field elite swordsmen, some bowmen (I think the only close order bowmen to be found outside the armies of the New Kingdom in this period were these elite guard units) and some, such as the Phoenician coastal cities, marines.  The Royal Guard represent the strike element of the army.  My own collection has insufficient bowmen, a lack I will need to resolve before long. 

The third element of this army is the humble Hupshu Spearman.  A "wodge" of these guys will stand and cheer on my chariots, but woe betide the Maryannu who crashes into this lot thinking he is a knight.

Lastly their are the mercenary options.  There are several great

Close-up photos... not flattering to my painting!  Needs a dip!

possibilities.  A warband of Sherden Swordsmen, a group of Hittite Chariots, a band of mercenary H'apiru javelin-men, a group of Bedouin raiders, or how about an Egyptian Prince and his retinue.  It presents a really interesting area to set a campaign in.

Uriah's Canaanites
A Lord and two Captains.
Three Maryannu chariots.
Six chariot runners, 3 with javelin, 3 with bow.
6 Royal Guard Swordsmen
12 Hupshu Spearmen.
6 skirmishing javelin-men.

Mercenary Contingents (unpainted)
Two units of 12 Sherdanu Swordsmen
3 Egyptian chariots and 6 chariot runners
16 Shassu Bedouin javelin men.
Various Peleset mercenaries from Cyprus.

My current thinking is that to make this force effective against the Egyptians I need to add three more chariots, 12 more Hupshu, and 12 archers.  That represents some seven packs of figures, so is probably due later in te year, since the current backlog will take me all summer to paint.
That huge Egyptian army is still waiting, unpainted, back in Durham for me of course... and the 28mm Napoleonics will be demanding more time and probably reinforcements over the summer.
Keeps me busy...