THE MACEDONIAN ARMY

Macedonian Army Battle TacticsCAVALRY CAVALRY

GREEK INFANTRY IN NORMAL FORMATION

Thessalian cavalry to stop enemy

outflanking

Macedonian Phalanx used as a holding force

Hypaspists used to keep contact

between Phalanx and Companion

cavalry

Companion cavalry used to deliver the

main blow

Light troops and cavalry to stop enemy outflanking

Light Troops

The PhalanxUsed as a brute-force breakthrough formation. Philip made the Phalanx a versatile weapon, with the ability to advance, hold and retreat in good order.It was primarily used as a holding force while the Companion cavalry delivered the main blow against the enemy.

• Each man held a 6.5 metre-long pike or sarissa with both hands, wore a Cuirass or breastplate, and wore a shield around his neck.

• The men in the front five ranks would hold their sarissas out in front. The ranks behind would hold their sarissas in the air to break the flight of arrows and other missiles.

• If the phalanx broke formation the battle was effectively lost, so discipline was essential.

• In open order, each man occupied an area of 1.8m². As the phalanx advanced the men would close ranks until each occupied around 1m². If a defensive formation was required the men would lock shields and move closer until the men occupied 50cm².

• The Macedonian phalanx was made up of 64 battalions of 256 men. (16,384 men)

• The phalanx could maneouvre into many different formations, but the most common were:

Straight Oblique

Open half square

Crescent

Open wedge

The Hypaspists

•

(Shield-Bearers)

• Equipment– Thrusting Spear (Doru)– Large Round Shield (Hoplon)– Sword (Xiphos or Kopis)

• Divided into batallions of 1,000 men.– Alexander had 3 of these at Granicus.

• The Hypaspists were an elite infantry unit, distinct from the phalanx.

• They were more versatile and more highly trained than the phalanx.

• They were usually deployed between the phalanx and the Companion cavalry in order to hold the Macedonian line together.

The Companion Cavalry

• The Companion cavalry were the elite troops of the Macedonian army.

• Highly trained, they were able to change to attack in any formation, though the most common was the wedge.

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A = Unit Commander

B = Wing Commander

C = Rearguard Commander

• Consisting of 8 squadrons, almost exclusively made up of Macedonian nobles, they charged at the enemy lines in order to drive home a concentrated punch designed to break a hole in the enemy formation.

• The commander of the Companions, usually Alexander, who led his Royal Squadron, led from the front of the wedge.

• These men carried a 12 foot sarissa, and were heavily armoured, each wearing a metal helmet, a bronze Corselet (body armour) and bronze Greaves (shin armour).

• 2,600 Companion Cavalry at Granicus

Thessalian Caavalry

• 1,800 – 2,000 men and horses.• Xyston -  3.5–4.25 meters 

– Held with both hands.– Spearpoints at both ends.

• Rhomboid formation– Advantages?

• Parmenion’s Troops• Guarded the Left Flank

Greek Allied Cavalry

• 600 men and horses.• Equipped similarly• 16 x 8 formation

Thracian Cavalry

• 500 men and horses.• Javelins and Swords• Wedge formation

Paeonian Cavalry• 300 men and horses.• Javelins and Swords• Light Cavalry used for Scouting

Agrianians (Peltasts)• 10,000 Men• Elite Light Infantry• Honored on the Right of Companion Cavalry.• A number of Javelins, Sword, No Armor

Archers• 10,000 Men• Mostly from Crete• Powerful Bows

Thracian Peltast

These men used bow and arrow, slings, and light javelin. They were lightly

armed and able to evade the charge of the

heavy cavalry.

Scythian Archer

The Persian Forces

• 5,000 Greek Hoplites– Commanded By Memnon from a Cavalry Unit– Placed at the rear (Untrustworthy)

• 9,500 Peltasts• 10,000 Cavalry

– Mostly light Cavalry– Armed with Javelins and Bows

Persian Leaders Killed• Spithridates - satrap of Ionia and Lydia• Mithrobuzanes - satrap of Cappadocia• Mithridates - son-in-law of King Darius• Arbupales - grandson of King Artaxerxes II• Phranaces - brother-in-law of King Darius• Rhoesaces - brother of Spithridates• Omares - commander of the Greek mercenaries• Niphates - a cavalry commander• Petines - perhaps a cavalry commander• Arsites - satrap of Hellespontine Phrygia -

NO MERCY

• The Greek Mercenaries are quickly Surrounded and butchered.

• 2,000 are enslaved as a message.• 300 Persian Suits of Armor are sent back

to Parthenon in Athens– For everyone “except Sparta”

But…

Honors

• All dead are buried with military honors.– Persians did not bury dead.

• Surviving relatives granted tax exempt status and are exempt from military service.

• Alexander Commissions 25 Bronze Statues for the fallen Companion Cavalrymen.– Lysippus – Great Sculptor of the Time

• Speaks with dying men and allows them to tell stories of bravery.