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The Sarranid Sultanate is a new faction introduced in Mount&Blade: Warband, located in the southern deserts of Calradia. It is led by Sultan Hakim, while the claimant to the throne is Arwa the Pearled One. Sarranid lords are called emirs, an Arab title for a ruler.

Their national animal appears to be the desert eagle, as it is depicted on their emblem. However, Hakim's banner is one of the two monarch banners that does not match up with the emblem, and the only one that does does not contain a heraldic eagle. Interestingly, Arwa has an eagle's head on her banner (and so does one of the most powerful lords of the Sultanate, Emir Uqais, initial lord of Durquba, for that matter), which could be related to her claim hinging on Sultan Ayzar's, while Hakim's hinges on Baybak's.

History

The Sarranids were ruled by Sultan Ayzar prior to the events of Warband. Ayzar purchased a slave, Arwa the Pearled One, who would later endear herself to him so much that he eventually let her manage his kingdom and practically adopted her as his daughter. After Ayzar's death, Arwa was allowed to rule on the condition that she marry the realm's general, Emir Baybak, and they ruled together for ten more years. However, after Baybak was killed in a skirmish with the Khergit Khanate (likely under the rule of Janakir Khan at that point). His nephew, Hakim, staged a coup against Arwa, ousting her from power on grounds of her bewitching both the previous Sultan and his uncle.

The Sarranids are possibly descendants of the Aserai. They occupy a similar portion of the maps (they likely occupied Charas/Shariz from the Vlandians/Swadians), they have very similar troop trees and the Sarranids share a name with the Banu Sarran, one of the Aserai clans. If this is true, Sultan Ayzar would have descended from Adram or Addas (Nimir had no heirs) and Arwa the Pearled One would share her name with another member of the Banu Sarran, Arwa.

Rulers

Sultan Hakim

Hakim

Initial ruler

Arwa the Pearled One

Arwa

Claimant

Vassals

Emir Amdar
Amdar
Emir Atis
Atis
Emir Ayyam
Ayyam
Emir Azadun
Azadun
Emir Biliya
Biliya
Emir Dhashwal
Dhashwal
Emir Dhiyul
Dhiyul
Emir Ghanawa
Ghanawa
Emir Ghulassen
Ghulassen
Emir Hamezan
Hamezan
Emir Hiwan
Hiwan
Emir Lakhem
Lakhem
Emir Muhnir
Muhnir
Emir Mundhalir
Mundhalir
Emir Nuam
Nuam
Emir Nuwas
Nuwas
Emir Quryas
Quryas
Emir Raddoun
Raddoun
Emir Tilimsan
Tilimsan
Emir Uqais
Uqais

Tactics

Also see Sarranid Sultanate Tactics.

Strengths

  • Good skirmishing ability with overall versatility, thrown weapons and polearms, and high Athletics skill.
  • Powerful heavy cavalry, rivalling the knights of Swadia.

Weaknesses

  • Infantry is easily outmatched in direct engagements.
  • Archers are outclassed at long range by those of other factions.

Summary

Starting in the Sarranid Sultanate is difficult, as many bandits roam the deserts outside of villages and towns. When you can, leave the area and come back with a large force if you want to attempt to drive out the bandits. Most of their units are relatively weak, excluding some of the higher tier archers and cavalry.

The Sarranids use units and tactics that seem to be a blend between those of the Swadians and Vaegirs, giving them more versatility. The top-tier Sarranid cavalry unit, the Sarranid Mamluke, is on a par with the Swadian Knight as the toughest horsemen in the game while Sarranid infantry and archers are tactically closer to Vaegir military units, although they are generally more heavily armored and bear heavier shields than Vaegir troops. Their weakness lies in a lack of specialization arising from this blending. While their archers are relatively tough in melee, they are not as devastating in their main role as archers. Similarly, their infantry have throwing weapons, but lack staying power in melee combat, and their horsemen are slightly less well-armored than their Swadian counterparts (but still quite powerful) and carry more blunt weapons to capture prisoners.

Used well, the Sarranids are a formidable force, but it is hard to squeeze a significant amount of damage out of the archers during a siege because they quickly exhaust their ammunition. Sarranid Master Archers are a hedged bet. They are better in melee combat, and thus a good backup when things go awry, but less effective compared to other ranged troops when things go according to plan. Ultimately, Master Archers may not be capable of clinching victory against powerful enemy forces. Mamlukes rule the open desert and their blunt weapons will help them pay their recruitment costs and salaries by capturing prisoners, but their expensive horses are of no use when besieging a town or castle. Sarranid infantry might score a few kills with throwing weapons, but when you need them to hold the line they simply may not be capable of holding their own against other factions' infantry in a direct clash.

The Sarranid territory is mostly open desert, making battles very favorable for cavalry and archers. Unlike the Khergits, their cavalry are melee only and have no bows, making them less versatile. However, their mounted knights (Mamlukes) are some of the strongest in the game, rivaling Swadian Knights.

Their infantry are considered the weakest in the game when compared to the other factions, and they are not as heavily armed as similar units in other kingdoms. However, they are reliable in large numbers and can be very useful if supported.

Sarranid archers use bows and jarids rather than crossbows, and while they can out-shoot Nord Veteran Archers, they are outclassed by Vaegir Marksmen. They have a very fast rate of fire, which allows a small number of troops to lay down an impressive volley in a short amount of time. But, Sarranid archers are not always reliable because of their low damage and poor accuracy, made worse when they spawn with jarids instead of bows.

Troop Tree

Sarranid Sultanate Troop Tree
Sarranid Troop Tree
Tier 1 Sarranid Recruit
SarFoot0
Tier 2 Sarranid Footman
SarFoot1
Tier 3 Sarranid Skirmisher
SarBow1
Sarranid Veteran Footman
SarFoot2
Tier 4 Sarranid Archer
SarBow2
Sarranid Infantry
SarFoot3
Sarranid Horseman
SarHorse1
Tier 5 Sarranid Master Archer
SarBow3
Sarranid Guard
SarFoot4
Sarranid Mamluke
SarHorse2

Land

The territory of the Sarranid Sultanate contains the following towns, castles, and villages:

Territory of the Sarranid Sultanate
Towns
AhmerradBariyyeDurqubaShariz
Castles
Bardaq CastleCaraf CastleDurrin CastleJameyyed CastleSamarra CastleSharwa Castle
Teramma CastleWeyyah Castle
Villages
AabAyn AssuadiDhibbainFisharaHabbaHawahaIqbaylMawitiMazigh
MijayetMit NunQalyutRushdighSekhtemShibal ZumrTamnuhTazjunatTilimsal
UnriyaUzgha

Note that, over the course of the game, other kingdoms may besiege and take over these lands and the Sultanate may gain more or less land. However, these places are the only places from which you can recruit Sarranid troops.

The Sarranid Sultanate is the only faction in which no castle shares its name with that castle's village.

You can buy Date Fruit cheaply which, when sold to the neighboring Khergit Khanate, can fetch a price of up to 100 denars.

Trivia

  • The Sarranid ruler and vassals, unlike those of the other factions, wear their combat attire all the time, including in the castle halls where the other lords usually wear civilian clothing. Internally, this is because the Sarranids were not given an alternate set of clothes in their inventory and so have nothing else to wear.
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