The Middle Byzantine Military (610-1204)

 

I don't deny persecution of the christians existance, what I wanted to say that it (as a systematic long term and heavy handed policy) came quite late in the period only after newly zealos Islamized Turks and Kurds came to rule the areas where there were lots of Christians. Before that during the reign of the Rashidun, who conquered those lands, and Ummayyads, who came immediately after them, the intolerance was minimal, keeping the fact that we are talking about the 7th century not the 21st one. Christians were forbidden from some of their rights out of fear because they were still the majority and their sympathies lied due north, but many of these were scrapped and or ignored especially during the stages when the state was powerful and Byzantine threat was minimal.

 

Al-Jassas 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They are essentially the "Emperor's men" consisting of elite soldiers drawn from native or mercenary forces such as the Hetaereia (companions). Turkic warriors were fairly prominent in the 9th century so they would most likely have dominated the regiment.

 

As you can see, a number of Central Asian influences are fairly dominant  but still essentially "Roman".

 

I know head is small, will adjust later :)