Macedonian phalanx
TheMacedonian phalanx(Greek:Μακεδονική φάλαγξ) was aninfantryformationdeveloped byPhilip IIfrom the classical Greekphalanx,of which the main innovation was the use of thesarissa,a 6-metre pike. It was famously commanded by Philip's sonAlexander the Greatduring his conquest of theAchaemenid Empirebetween 334 and 323 BC. The Macedonian phalanx model then spread throughout theHellenistic world,where it became the standard battle formation for pitched battles. During theMacedonian Warsagainst theRoman Republic(214–148 BC), the phalanx appeared obsolete against the more manoeuvrableRoman legions.
Development
[edit]In 359 BC, following the Macedonian defeat by theIllyrians,which killed the majority ofMacedonia'sarmyand KingPerdiccas III of Macedon,Perdiccas' brotherPhilip IItook the throne.[1]Philip II was a hostage inThebesfor much of his youth (367–360), where he witnessed the combat tactics of the generalEpaminondas,which then influenced his restructuring of the infantry.[2]Philip's military reforms were a new approach to the currenthoplitewarfare which focused on their shield, theaspis;his focus was on a new weapon, thesarissa.[1]The first phalanx was a 10-by-10 square with very few experienced troops.[1]The phalanx was later changed to a 16-by-16 formation, and while the date for this change is still unknown, it occurred before 331 under Philip's rule.[2]Philip called the soldiers in the phalanxpezhetairoi,meaning 'foot-companions', bolstering the importance of the phalanx to the King.[3]Philip also increased the amount of training required for the infantry and introduced regulations on military behaviour.[3]During Alexander's campaign, the phalanx remained more or less the same, with the notable difference being more non-Macedonian soldiers among the ranks.[2]
Equipment
[edit]Each phalangite carried as his primary weapon asarissa,a double-pointedpikeover 6 m (18 ft) in length, weighing about 6.6 kg (14.5 pounds). Thesarissaewere carried in two pieces before a battle and then slid together when they were being used.[4]At close range such large weapons were of little use, but an intact phalanx could easily keep its enemies at a distance. The weapons of the first five rows of men all projected beyond the front of the formation, so that there were more spear points than available targets at any given time.[4]Men in rows behind the initial five angled their spears at a 45-degree angle in an attempt to ward off arrows or other projectiles.[5]The secondary weapon was a shortsword called axiphos.[1]The phalangites also had a smaller and flatter shield than that of the Greekaspis,measuring about 24 inches and weighing about 12 pounds.[4]The shield, called a "telamon",was made of bronze plated wood and was worn hung around the neck so as to free up both hands to wield thesarissa.[4]All of the armor and weaponry a phalangite would carry totaled about 40 pounds, which was close to 10 pounds less than the weight of Greek hoplites' equipment.[1]
Formation
[edit]The phalanx consisted of a line-up of severalbattalionblocks calledsyntagmata,each of its 16 files (lochoi) numbering 16 men, for a total of 256 in each unit.[2]Eachsyntagmawas commanded by asyntagmatarch,who—together with his subordinate officers—would form the first row of each block.[6]
Each file was led and commanded by adekadarchwho were the most experienced Macedonian soldiers and received about triple pay.[1]The leader was followed by another two experienced Macedonian soldiers, with a third positioned at the very end of the file, all three who received about double pay.[2]The rest of the file was filled up by more inexperienced soldiers, often Persians during Alexander's campaign.[2]The phalanx was divided intotaxisbased on geographical recruitment differences.[2]
The phalanx used the "oblique line with reduced left" arrangement, designed to force enemies to engage with soldiers on the furthest right end, increasing the risk of opening a gap in their lines for the cavalry to break through.[3]Due to the structure of the phalanx, it was weakest in the rear and on the right.
Neither Philip nor Alexander actually used the phalanx as their arm of choice, but instead used it to hold the enemy in place while theirheavy cavalrybroke through their ranks. The Macedonian cavalry fought inwedge formation[2]and was almost always stationed on the far right. Thehypaspists,elite infantrymen who served as the king's bodyguard,[7]were stationed on the immediate right of the phalanx wielding hoplite sized spears and shields.[4]The left flank was generally covered by allied cavalry supplied by theThessalians,which fought inrhomboidformation and served mainly in a defensive role.[2]Other forces—skirmishers,range troops, reserves of allied hoplites,archers,andartillery—were also employed.
Key battles
[edit]- Battle of Crocus Field(353/352 BC)
- Battle of Chaeronea(338 BC)
- Battle of the Granicus(334 BC)
- Battle of Issus(333 BC)
- Battle of Gaugamela(331 BC)
- Battle of the Hydaspes(326 BC)
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^abcdefGabriel, Richard A.(2010).Philip II of Macedonia: Greater Than Alexander.Washington, D.C.: Potomac Books. pp. 62–72.ISBN978-1-59797-568-1.
- ^abcdefghiConnolly, Peter(1998) [1981].Greece and Rome at War(Revised ed.). London: Greenhill Books.ISBN1-85367-303-X.[pages needed]
- ^abcBrice, Lee L., ed. (2012).Greek Warfare from the Battle of Marathon to the Conquests of Alexander the Great.Santa Barbara, California: ABC-CLIO. pp. 145–150.ISBN978-1-61069-070-6.
- ^abcdeMarkle, Minor M. III(Summer 1977). "The Macedonian Sarissa, Spear, and Related Armor".American Journal of Archaeology.81(3): 323–339.doi:10.2307/503007.JSTOR503007.S2CID192966553.
- ^Polybius.The Histories.Chapters 28–32.Retrieved14 September2014.
- ^Connolly, Peter (1979) [1977]."The Macedonian Phalanx".The Greek Armies.Morristown, New Jersey: Silver Burdett Co. pp. 58–59.ISBN0-382-06308-2.
- ^Arrian(2015).The Campaigns of Alexander.Brookfield, Wisconsin: First Rate Publishers.ISBN978-1-5077-6741-2.OCLC1004422169.[page needed]