Macedonian phalanx spear wikipedia. Alexander used its speed and maneuverability to .

Macedonian phalanx spear wikipedia Hoplite : A heavily armed foot soldier of ancient Greece, typically equipped with a shield and spear, representing the standard infantry unit prior to the Hoplite with spear in an arming scene on the tondo of an Attic red-figure kylix (490–470 BC. , Macedonian arms and tactics under Alexander the Great en B. Aug 23, 2023 · The phalanx of the Ancient Macedonian kingdom and the later Hellenistic successor states was a development of the hoplite phalanx. Prior to the reign of Philip II (382–336 BC) Macedonia was a comparatively minor state with a mixed Hellenic and Barbarian culture. A Greek hoplite with muscle cuirass, spear, shield, Corinthian helmet and sheathed sword. 5–7. The Macedonian phalanx, armed with the sarissa, a spear up to 20 feet long, had been developed and perfected by Alexander’s father, Philip II. The phalanx of the Ancient Macedonian kingdom and the later Hellenistic successor states was a development of the hoplite phalanx. The Macedonian phalanx is an infantry formation developed by Philip II. . Such early reforms also aided the Romans in their conquest of the rest of Italy over such foes as the Samnites, Latins, and Greeks. Mainly spear length. Much more lightly armored, the Macedonian phalanx was not so much a shield-wall as a spear-wall. The Macedonian phalanx was impregnable from the front, but vulnerable from the sides and back, where it could be attacked by the enemy cavalry. The Macedonian phalanx also proved to be one of the best defensive formations in all of antiquity thanks to its elongated spear (from 5 meters long during Alexander's reign to 7. Hoplites were citizen-soldiers of Ancient Greek city-states who were primarily armed with spears and shields. [2] Because of its length, the phalanx could present the spearpoints of around five files of men; which made the phalanx almost impenetrable, and fearsome to oppose. Hoplites. During Alexander the Great‘s conquests and the Wars of the Diadochi, this weapon, which had its origins in Macedonia during the reign of Philip II in the middle of the fourth century BC, was employed by the sarissa phalanxes (or “sarissa bearers”). A modern recreation of a mid-17th century company of pikemen. Sep 19, 2024 · In fact, even during the Eastern Expedition, the Macedonian Phalanx showed considerable mobility and flexibility despite being a long spear soldier. It was created and made formidable by King Philip II of Macedon; previously the army of Macedon had been of little account in the politics of the Greek world, and Macedonia had been regarded as a second-rate power. Philip’s new infantry carried a much smaller shield with a long pike, a sarissa. Even after the invention Silver tetrobol issued under the Achaean League c. The Corinthian helmet was not as widespread as shown in the image. This made cavalry charges less effective, as horses were deterred by the spear points and cavalry became vulnerable to organized infantry counterattacks. Jul 29, 2022 · To understand the evolution of the phalanx, one must first picture the equipment and role of the earlier Greek hoplite. The rise of Macedon, including its conquest and political consolidation of most of Classical Greece during his reign, was achieved by his reformation of the army (the establishment of the Macedonian phalanx that proved critical in securing victories on the battlefield), his extensive use of siege engines, and his use of effective diplomacy and Apr 17, 2024 · The pezhetairoi (foot companions) were Macedonian infantry soldiers armed with long sarissas and fighting in phalanx formation. Matthew's book concentrates on the older version but includes some discussion of the Macedonian version. While individually less protected than the hoplite, the Macedonian phalanx formed a strong, compact, and near-impenetrable wall of spear points. The Phalangites were not particularly Contents 1Development 2Equipment 3Formation 4Key battles 5See also 6References Ancient infantry formationDrawing of a full 256-man phalanx formationThe Macedonian phalanx (Greek: Μακεδονική φάλαγξ) was an infantry formation developed by Philip II from the classical Greek phalanx, of which the main innovation was the use of the sarissa, a Then little by little one Illyrian force began to edge closer. 5 to 4. org Makedonia (kerajaan kuno) Usage on vi. During the Macedonian Wars against the Roman Republic (214–148 BC), the phalanx appeared obsolete against the more manoeuvrable Roman legions. He mentions the Sacred Band as being led by the general Pelopidas and, alongside Epaminondas who commanded the army of Thebes (Boeotia), were responsible for the defeat of the Spartans at the decisive Battle of Leuctra (371 BC). Though it may seem strange for a unit that would fight in phalanx formation to be called peltasts, pelte would not be an inappropriate name for a Macedonian The phalanx (Ancient Greek: φάλαγξ, Modern Greek: φάλαγγα, phālanga; plural phalanxes or phalanges; Ancient and Modern Greek: φάλαγγες, phālanges) is a rectangular mass military formation, usually composed entirely of heavy infantry armed with spears, pikes, sarissas, or similar weapons. The Macedonian phalanx model then spread 1 Deleting portion that pertains to sarissa phalanx, not classical phalanx. [43] hoplite spear and shield. and 82 (1978), 483 ff. The formation was made up of spearmen carrying 18 to 20 ft (5. It was comprised of five parts; two shafts of ash wood combined to make the total length of the spear, a 20 inch spearhead shaped like a leaf and could pierce armor when thrust with two hands, a seven inch sleeve used to join the two shafts of ash wood, and a two and a half pound . The The final battle, fought near Megalopolis in Arcadia, ended in defeat for the Spartans. The Macedonian phalanxes were made up almost entirely of pezhetairoi. The Seleucid army was the army of the Seleucid Empire, one of the numerous Hellenistic states that emerged after the death of Alexander the Great. In terms of equipment, the Macedonian pikeman clearly started life as a sort of discount hoplite: a smaller shield and longer spear, both cheaper to make than their hoplite counterparts, and much the same (light) armour. The 'phalangites' were armed with the much longer sarissa and It is a SARISSA phalanx pike spearhead from the ancient Greek Macedonian Empire, ruled by Phillip II of Macedon and later his son, Alexander the Great. As with the other major Hellenistic armies, the Seleucid army fought primarily in the Greco-Macedonian style, with its main body being the phalanx. Nicholas Victor Sekunda, who favors the historical stance that the leukaspides were non-Macedonian auxiliaries, argues that Plutarch's reference referred to the Greek states such as Sparta acknowledging the superiority of the Macedonian phalanx to their own systems, and believing that creating their own Macedonian-style phalanx would "offset Macedonian phalanx with pikes. long spear used by the Macedonian phalanx. 1, a well-formed Macedonian phalanx was irresistible: Ancient Greek soldier in a phalanx From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. It was supposed to be just piece of combined arms strategy, phalanx pin majority of enemy army in place, its flanks supposed to be protected by lighter units, peltasts and other Greek hoplits, while Companion cavalry then attack enemy The Macedonian phalanx was a military formation developed in the 4th century BCE, characterized by its use of long spears called sarissas and tightly organized ranks of infantry soldiers. 5 meters during the 3rd and 2nd century BC) called a sarissa, and its very tight formation. By that period, pikemen would primarily defend their unit's musketeers from enemy cavalry. Apr 27, 2022 · The operation and engineering of the famous Macedonian Sarissa, an ancient Greek long spear, was researched for the first time in the context of an international academic experiment that took place recently in Leptokarya, Florina. 29. Ancient Greek weapons and armor were primarily geared towards combat between individuals. Their main tactic was thephalanx formation. Third, I will discuss the sarissa as an infantry weapon and show in what respects the Macedonian phalanx differed from the older Greek hoplite May 26, 2024 · In the words of the historian Theophrastus, "The Macedonian spear, called the sarissa, is a new invention. They were primarily free citizens—propertied farmers and artisans—who were able to afford the bronze armor suit and weapons (estimated at a third to a half of its able-bodied adult male population). First made famous by Philip of Macedon , it allowed Macedonian infantry to "outrange" the opposition's existing spear formations by several feet. The Macedonian phalanx was considered invulnerable from the front, except against another such phalanx; the only way it was ever generally defeated was by breaking its formation or outflanking it. Alexander used its speed and maneuverability to Oct 26, 2012 · The Macedonian phalanx was a typical Greek hoplite phalanx until the emergency reforms of Philip II in 359/8 bce; even then, essentially, the only things that changed were the use of a different type of spear, the use of different types of shields, and the greater level of training, which allowed for a greater range of tactical formation. png 651 × 419; 19 KB The pezhetairoi (Greek: πεζέταιροι, singular: pezhetairos) were the backbone of the Macedonian army and Diadochi kingdoms. This page was last edited on 1 January 2025, at 14:37. Alexander used its speed and maneuverability to The Battle of Issus by Jan Brueghel the Elder in the Louvre. On seeing it advancing, Cretan commander Euander advised Perseus that continuing the battle was an unnecessary risk, and the king decided to withdraw. The sarissa or sarisa (Greek: σάρισα) was a 4 to 7 meter (13–21 feet) long spear used in the ancient Greek and Hellenistic warfare. The phalanx (Ancient Greek: φάλαγξ, Modern Greek: φάλαγγα, phālanga; plural phalanxes or phalanges; Ancient and Modern Greek: φάλαγγες, phālanges) is a rectangular mass military formation, usually composed entirely of heavy infantry armed with spears, pikes, sarissas, or similar weapons. The 16-18 foot length of the Macedonian spear, called the sarissa, also allowed the spear points of the first five ranks to project beyond the formation. How did the Macedonian phalanx work? A Macedonian phalanx was a linear formation, consisting of at least 16 ranks. "X of The Macedonian phalanx (Greek: Μακεδονική φάλαγξ) was an infantry formation developed by Philip II from the classical Greek phalanx, of which the main innovation was the use of the sarissa, a 6-metre pike. 5–6 m) long pikes. The term is particularly (and originally) used to describe the use of this formation Heavy infantry were critical to many ancient armies, such as the Greek hoplites, Macedonian phalangites, and Roman legionaries. pike (weapon). Its supremacy over the more static armies fielded by the Greek city-states was shown at the Battle of Chaeronea , where Philip II's army crushed the allied Theban and Athenian phalanxes. [7] Even clipping the blade of the spear would have lowered the velocity of the arrow. It was much longer than the traditional Greek hoplite spear (dory), which was around 2 to 3 meters (6 to 10 feet). The formation was made up of spearmen carrying 18 to 20 ft long pikes. , Use of the sarissa by Philip and Alexander of Macedon en AJA 82, 1978. The socket is narrower than the neck, and this was likely attached to the wooden pole with an embedded iron rod, and then lashed over the socket up to the solid neck, for the greatest strength Nov 18, 2024 · Through this battle, two aspects can be seen at once: that the Roman legion could not defeat the Macedonian phalanx in line, and that the Roman army was very adaptable to the terrain, and that the cavalry was properly supported without a line. PS: I see now you asked specifically about the Macedonian phalanx, which included a much longer spear/lance, while I answered about the older-style phalanx of the city states. It was famously commanded by Philip's son Alexander the Great during his conquest of the Achaemenid Empire between 334 and 323 BC. Second, I will show that both literary and archaeological sources indicate that the Macedonian hypaspists normally employed the spear, hoplite shield, and related equipment. Pezhetairoi were very effective against both enemy His impressive record was largely due to his smart use of terrain, phalanx and cavalry tactics, bold strategy, and the fierce loyalty of his troops. The Macedonian phalanx (Greek: Μακεδονική φάλαγξ) was an infantry formation developed by Philip II from the classical Greek phalanx, of which the main innovation was the use of the sarissa, a 6-metre pike. The Battle of Erigon Valley or the Battle of Lyncus Plain [1] took place in 358 BC between the Illyrians under Bardylis [2] and the Macedonians under Philip II. The battle took place south of the ancient city Issus, which is close to the present-day Turkish city of Iskenderun (the Turkish equivalent of "Alexandria", founded by Alexander to commemorate his victory), on either side of a small river called Pinarus. Two phalangites occupied the same amount of space across the front of the battle line as a single Roman. [ 8 ] Hoplites were citizen-soldiers of Ancient Greek city-states who were primarily armed with spears and shields. The Battle of Gaugamela (/ˌɡɔːɡəˈmiːlə/; Greek: Γαυγάμηλα) took place in 331 BC between Alexander the Great and Darius III of Persia. These longer spears improved the strength of the phalanx by extending the rows of overlapping weapons projecting towards the enemy. M. Darius chose a flat, open plain where he could deploy his larger forces, not wanting to be caught in a narrow battlefield The Macedonian sarissa, spear and related armor en AJA 81, 1977. [1] Hoplites generally received basic Sarissa: A long spear, approximately 18 feet in length, used by soldiers in the Macedonian Phalanx, allowing them to strike enemies from a distance before they could engage in close combat. The shields depicted are smaller and lighter than those employed in a traditional hoplite phalanx, the sarissa is twice as long as the hoplite spear and fully enclosed helmets weren't as widespread as this drawing suggests. Th Macedonian phalanx tweaked this with more lightly armored soldiers and a longer 18 foot spear called a sarissa. Macedonian infantryman used it to hold off more dangerous game, namely the Spartan phalanx. The Battle of Gaugamela (/ ˌ ɡ ɔː ɡ ə ˈ m iː l ə / GAW-gə-MEE-lə; Ancient Greek: Γαυγάμηλα, romanized: Gaugámēla, lit. [201] The nature of the 2 formations reflects the different purposes they served. It seems that the thorakitai were heavily armored thureophoroi , able to bear spears and do battle in a phalanx as well as engage in irregular warfare in situations when such an action was required for tactical Second, I will show that both literary and archaeological sources indicate that the Macedonian hypaspists normally employed the spear, hoplite shield, and related equipment. And that, if deployed in a battle line, they would guard the flanks followed by cavalry and such. Phalanxes remained dominant on battlefields throughout the Hellenistic period, although wars had evolved into more protracted operations generally involving sieges and naval combat as much as field battles, until they were finally displaced by the Roman There is a mention of a 5,000 men contingent on Zama fighting in Macedonian fashion, sent by the Macedonian king. Would this tactic have been more useful when besieging a city or assaulting a fortified position? Or did the Persians try to thin out the Macedonian Phalanx with arrows? It was my impression that Darius fought the Macedonian's more intimately. It is a very long heavy thrusting spear formerly used by infantry. Role and Function. The spear remained the main weapon among Mycenaean warriors until the collapse of the Bronze Age, while the sword played a secondary role in combat. 27 g; Reference: BCD Peloponnesos 27. Their job was guard the flanks of the large and unwieldy pike phalanx, an armored soldier with a 18–22 ft. [16] In particular, he instigated the use of the phalanx formation by the Macedonian foot-soldiery, and equipped the troops with 6-metre long pikes (the sarissa), in contrast to the 2–3-metre spear used by Greek hoplites. Nov 1, 2023 · The solution was the creation of the hypaspists who were equipped with a larger shield and spear, making them more flexible and able to protect the phalanx. The Macedonian phalanx, armed with the sarissa, a spear 6 metres (20 ft) long, had been developed and perfected by Philip II through rigorous training, and Alexander used its speed and manoeuvrability to great effect against larger but more disparate Persian forces. It was close to an enemy tactic. Hypaspists were more flexible and able to perform maneuvers pikemen could not. History of use The Macedonian phalanx is an infantry formation developed by Philip II and used by his son Alexander the Great to conquer the Persian Empire. I had the pleasure of discussing the sarissa with Dr Lumpkin in 1950 and with Dr Markle in 1978. The back rows bore their pikes angled upwards in readiness, which served the additional purpose of deflecting incoming arrows. They bore a thureos, an oval shield, and were armed with sword, javelins and spear, which were used according to their tactical use. However, the Macedonian phalanx, which was improved by King Philip II, was born by maximizing its utility as a group centered on professional soldiers who pressured opponents with thoroughly military mass and stopping power . Dec 7, 2018 · The differences in formation and weaponry also gave the Macedonians an advantage. The First Macedonian War (started due to an alliance between Macedon and Carthage against the Romans during the Second Punic War in 215 BC) had ended in a stalemate; between the Roman alliance with Aetolia and the destruction of the Macedonian fleet early in the war, the Macedonians were unable to support Carthage and were forced into a defensive stance. Traditionally, comprising heavy infantry formations (Greek phalanx), the typical hoplite was mainly equipped with armor (which grew lighter over the centuries), a helmet, a thrusting spear (dory – ranging up to 8 feet long), a large shield (aspis), and a side sword (xiphos). The left wing of the cavalry swung into wedge formation and charged. Macedonian phalanx. The Macedonian phalanx (Greek: Μακεδονική φάλαγξ) was an infantry formation developed by Philip II from the classical Greek phalanx, of which the main innovation was the use of the sarissa, a 6-metre pike. [ 49 ] Oct 21, 2016 · Any infantryman or rival phalanx attempting to battle such a formation would be out ranged and outnumbered by the spear tips of the Macedonian formation. Mar 22, 2017 · Ancient Macedonian army; Talk:Ancient Greek art; Talk:Macedonia (ancient kingdom)/Archive 13; Macedonian phalanx; Usage on fr. Markle III, M. Its armies where similar to His impressive record was largely due to his smart use of terrain, phalanx and cavalry tactics, bold strategy, and the fierce loyalty of his troops. 4) [4] For the phalanx is like an animal of invincible strength as long as it is one body and can keep its shields locked together in a single formation According to Polybius 18. These forces defeated the last major hoplite army, at the Battle of Chaeronea (338 BC), after which Athens and its allies joined the Macedonian empire. Their primary technique was called the phalanx, a formation consisting of massed shield wall, which required heavy frontal armor and medium-ranged weapons such as Macedonian phalanx: The phalanx of the Ancient Macedonian kingdom and the later Hellenistic successor states was a development of the hoplite phalanx. All structured data from the main, Property, Lexeme, and EntitySchema namespaces is available under the Creative Commons CC0 License; text in the other namespaces is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply. As for "Macedonian phalanxes" itself, the article's history is quite distinct, I don't know how the history merge could or should be performed, this is a question for an admin I suppose. Early in the battle Antipater's lines broke, but in the end it was the sheer weight of numbers that brought victory to the Macedonians. The 'phalangites' were armed with a much longer spear, the sarissa, and less heavily armoured. The term is particularly (and originally) used to describe the use of this formation I just felt it odd that a) there was no dedicated article on the Macedonian phalanx and b) "Macedonian phalanxes" is an unreasonable title. Barr-Sharrar (ed. ; Sear 2971 var. On its own, it was only a half-working component, struggling, but failing to deliver - it wasn't supposed to in the first place. Therefore, the system required protection, which it got from the Macedonian cavalry, which was the most flexible force. It was a key innovation in ancient Greek warfare, significantly enhancing the effectiveness of the Macedonian infantry and contributing to their military successes. The "phalangites" were armed with a much longer spear, the sarissa , and less heavily armoured. Sep 30, 2011 · MrKap, To quote myself: "For the record, by Greek phalanx I mean hoplites equipped with an aspis[the hoplite shield you so kindly posted a picture of], a dory[the hoplite spear you so kindly posted a picture of], a xiphos[the hoplite sword you so kindly posted a picture of], a bronze cuirass[the hoplite plate armour you so kindly posted a picture of] and a Corinthian helmet[the very cool Jan 17, 2014 · Wikipedia says Hypaspists were armoured basically the same as hoplites. However its true creator was Philip II , considered the inventor of the Macedonian phalanx : [ 2 ] a particularly effective heavy infantry, freed of a part of its defensive armament—the shield was reduced by a third, the cuirass abandoned—in favor of a The divergence in equipment and tactics between the traditional Greek Hoplite phalanx and the Macedonian Phalanx is attributed to Philip II of Macedon, the father of Alexander the Great. The sarissa was the pike used by the ancient Macedonian army. Alexander, watching their psychological movement, gave his final prearranged signal. " This fearsome weapon would become the defining element of the Macedonian phalanx. [ 2 ] [ 3 ] As in many Greek city-states and the early Roman Republic, members of the Sacred Band were armed and equipped at their own expense, and thus had high quality armor and weaponry. 1; McClean 6431-2; Benner 4; HN 225 var. This is partly true for the classical phalanx, but even more so for the Macedonian one. This provided Alexander another phalanx formation to rival the one made up of now-grumbling Macedonian veterans; it also provided him a ready supply of Oct 19, 2024 · The hoplite was heavily armed and armored with a large shield covering most of the body and a spear. The latest innovations in weapons and tactics were adopted and refined by Philip II Jun 17, 2023 · Indeed, so vital was the Macedonian phalanx to the perceived invincibility of Alexander’s army, that he even recruited 30,000 Asian levies and had them trained in the Macedonian manner. ), Macedonia and Greece in late classical and early Hellenistic times, Washington, 1982. Oct 26, 2024 · I was wondering about the different results between the Roman Legion, Macedonian Phalanx and the Carthaginian Phalanx? Was the Macedonian Phalanx with it Sarrisas too ponderous to fight the Romans successfully with their flexible Legions and was the Carthaginian Phalanx with its Thrusting Spear more flexible and therefore more able to counter the Romans? The army of the Kingdom of Macedonia was among the greatest military forces of the ancient world. It could be a Macedonian-style phalanx or some troops using long two handed naval lances, a practice quite common among marines at that age and according to Plutarch also successfully Macedonian phalanx facts. The Greek dory was ~10 feet (3m) long and used overhanded for thrusts by the first couple ranks of soldiers in a phalanx. May 17, 2022 · The Macedonian phalanx counter-attacks during the battle of the carts. Apr 27, 2024 · And, for a long time, the heavy Macedonian phalanx were invincible (Plutarch Flamininus 8. The word doru is first attested in the Homeric epics with the meanings of "wood" and "spear". In set piece battles the Macedonian Hypaspists were positioned on the flanks of the phalangite's phalanx, with the light infantry and cavalry, respectively, covering their flanks. 25 m (11 to 14 ft) long and was probably held by the cavalryman with both hands, although the depiction of Alexander the Great's xyston on the Alexander Mosaic in Pompeii (see figure), suggests that it could also be used The Macedonian phalanx contributed to the decline of heavy cavalry by utilizing tightly packed infantry formations with long spears (sarissas), creating impenetrable spear walls. It is not clear what that exactly means. These were arranged in 64 squares or syntagmas, 16 men across (each in a one-square-meter space) by as many Ancient Macedonian was the language of the ancient Macedonians which was either a dialect of Ancient Greek (Attic akontion spear, javelin) (Aeolic akontion part The Macedonian sarissa was 18 to 22 feet in length, extremely long compared to any other spear used at that time. Phalanx Formation: Primary Role: The Sarissophoroi were integral to the Macedonian phalanx, the dense infantry formation developed by Philip II of Macedon and perfected by his son, Alexander the Great. They also wore heavy shields (the hoplon) and heavy armor from time to time. The g\Greek phalanx had heavily armored soldiers packed tightly together with their shields and spears which I believe were about 8 ft. Macedonia (/ ˌ m æ s ɪ ˈ d oʊ n i ə / ⓘ MASS-ih-DOH-nee-ə; Greek: Μακεδονία, Makedonía), also called Macedon (/ ˈ m æ s ɪ d ɒ n / MASS-ih-don), was an ancient kingdom on the periphery of Archaic and Classical Greece, [6] which later became the dominant state of Hellenistic Greece. 175 –168 BC. The concept of 'hammer and anvil' tactics, as presented, is entirely wrong. The Macedonian phalanx model then spread throughout the Hellenistic world, where it became the standard battle formation for pitched battles. The sarissa (or sarisa) was a 3 to 7 meter (13-21 feet) long double pointed pike used in the Macedonian phalanx. In the Macedonian phalanx, the shield is tied to the forearm with leather straps. hoplite spear and shield. The sarissa was a long spear or pike used by the Macedonian phalanx during the reign of Philip II and his son Alexander the Great. For it has an iron head, but the shaft itself is made of cornel-wood; it has a thin iron point, not broader than two palms in circumference. The Roman infantry came out of the rampart. I stick to this edit summary, the phalanx was first devised in mainland Greece, and later the Macedonians adapted it to take advantage of the very long pike that they used (the sarissa). The Macedonian phalanx now came forward without Perseus' orders. It had a short iron head shaped like a leaf and a bronze shoe that would allow it to be anchored to the ground to stop charges by enemy soldiers. jpg 2,309 × 1,601; 953 KB Técnica del martillo y yunque1. [1] Hoplites generally received basic This, together with the improbability that a head-on cavalry charge against the spear-armed Thebans could have succeeded, has led Gaebel and others to suggest that Alexander must have been commanding a portion of the Macedonian phalanx at Chaeronea. Sep 25, 2024 · The Macedonian phalanx also proved to be one of the best defensive formations in all of antiquity thanks to its elongated spear (from 5 meters long during Alexander's reign to 7. As the Medieval era went on, a spear and shield was basically the best combination an infantryman could have yet even as time progressed, the concept of a spear wall remained just as useful. Then you had the schiltron formation used during the Scottish wars of independence which was pretty much identical to the Macedonian phalanx. Macedonian Phalanx at the time of wars with Romans pretty much lacked what made it so great under Alexander. In set piece battles, the Macedonian Hypaspists were positioned on the flanks of the phalangite 's phalanx; in turn, their own flanks were protected by light The Achaean League under Philopoemen abandoned the thyreos around 208–207 BC in favor of the heavier Macedonian phalanx, [3] [4] although the citizens of Megalopolis, an Achaean city, had adopted the Macedonian style in 222 BC after Antigonus III Doson gave the city bronze shields to form a contingent of epilektoi armed as chalkaspides The sarissa or sarisa was a long spear or pike about 5 to 7 meters in length. However, at the battle of Pydna in 168 BC, Livy remarks on how the Macedonian peltasts defeated the Paeligni and of how this shows the dangers of going directly at the front of a phalanx. Third, I will discuss the sarissa as an infantry weapon and show in what respects the Macedonian phalanx differed from the older Greek hoplite formation. (-1-). Both Phillip and his son Alexander believed in training and discipline, and the hypaspists received far more than anyone else; Stephen English claims that more was expected for a member of A drawing of a Macedonian phalanx. Ancient Macedonia employed a range of tactics and formations in their military campaigns, the most notable of these is the Macedonian phalanx, Developed by Philip II and used extensively on campaign by his son Alexander the Great. 1 comment. 5 m). After the conquests of Alexander The Macedonian army perfected the co-ordination of different troop types in an early example of combined arms tactics—the heavy infantry phalanx, skirmish infantry, archers, light cavalry and heavy cavalry, and siege engines were all deployed in battle; each troop type being used to its own particular advantage and creating a synergy of Feb 28, 2013 · The most distinctive weapon in the Macedonian army, the sarissa likely evolved from earlier hunting spears used to subdue wild boar. After the fall of Rome, heavy infantry declined in Europe but returned to dominance in the Late Middle Ages with Swiss pikemen and German Landsknechts . Indeed, the history of the spear is [almost] as old as that of homo sapiens where it has been used as a tool for hunting and/or fishing. [1] This video tries to illustrate the different versions of equipment, structure and combat spacing used by the macedonian phalanx based armies, following the The primary weapon of the phalangite was the sarissa, a massive spear that ranged from 16 feet (mid-late 4th century BC) to as much as 22 feet (near the nadir of the phalanx's development). At the start of a battle, Alexander used the phalanx to pin down the enemy. Pezhetairoi: The Creation and Evolution of the Macedonian Phalanx Karl Randall (Kyungsung University) Of the military reforms of Phillip II, perhaps the greatest is the creation of the Macedonian phalanx, or pezhetairoi, and its main weapon, the sarissa, a five and a half meter long thrusting spear. This was possible because the Pejetaroi, who fought with Alexander at the time, were made up of veteran soldiers who had been eating jjambap since the time of King Philip, but more than anything The Macedonian phalanx is an infantry formation developed by Philip II. Warfare Equipment Body armour Shield Spear Sword Theories on the transition to fighting in the phalanx Gradualist theory Rapid adoption theory Extended gradualist theory History Ancient Greece Sparta Macedonia Hoplite-style warfare outside Greece Hellenistic period References Bibliography External links Then, at last, he gave his final pre-arranged signal. The earliest surviving record of the Sacred Band by name was in 324 BC, in the oration Against Demosthenes by the Athenian logographer Dinarchus. Alexander Mosaic, showing the Battle of Issus, from the House of the Faun, Pompeii. They were an essential part of the army of Alexander the Great. At the same moment, every man of the phalanx beat his spear on his shield, and from thousands of throats there went up the terrible ululating Macedonian war-cry - 'Alalalalai!' - echoing and reverberating from the mountains. May 8, 2015 · 1 In AJA 81 (1977), 323 ff. Sep 26, 2024 · The sarissa is a spear that was in use in the early third century BC and was between 180 and 300 inches in length (4. A pike is a long thrusting spear formerly used in European warfare from the Late Middle Ages [1] and most of the early modern period, and wielded by foot soldiers deployed in pike square formation, until it was largely replaced by bayonet no dude, the Macedonian Phalanx was a later modification to the phalanx formation that sought to take advantage of the sarissa length. They were literally "foot companions" (in Greek, pezos means "foot warrior" or "infantryman", and hetairos means "companion" or "friend"). These were called sarissas. The Companions (Greek: ἑταῖροι, Greek: [heˈtairoi̯], hetairoi) were the elite cavalry of the Macedonian army from the time of King Philip II of Macedon, achieving their greatest prestige under Alexander the Great, and regarded as the first or among the first shock cavalry used in Europe. They were two-handed; the smaller shields were slung over the left shoulder. org Peinture de la Grèce antique; Usage on gl. Sep 4, 2024 · The Macedonian phalanx model then spread throughout the Hellenistic world, where it became the standard battle formation for pitched battles. Trained from an early age to be tough phalanx spearmen, they fought in a well organized phalanx style developed in Greece. The sarissa was a significant evolution from the traditional Greek hoplite spear, designed to give Macedonian infantry a decisive advantage on the battlefield. [ 7 ] The precise role and contribution of war chariots in battlefield is a matter of dispute due to the lack of sufficient evidence. They were armed with the sarissa, a long spear with a shaft made from flexible cornel wood, which had a much longer reach than the traditional hoplite spear. Alexander used its speed and maneuverability to great effect against larger, but more disparate, Persian forces. This innovative formation allowed the Macedonian army, particularly under the command of Alexander the Great, to achieve significant victories during their conquests and establish Hellenistic kingdoms across The Achaean League under Philopoemen abandoned the thureos around 208-207 BC in favor of the heavier Macedonian phalanx, although the citizens of Megalopolis, an Achaean city, had adopted the Macedonian style in 222 BC after Antigonus III Doson gave the city bronze shields to form a contingent of epilektoi armed as Chalkaspides ('Bronze-Shields'). The 'anvil' was deployed first, it was the pinning by the Macedonian phalanx of the enemy's centre, the 'hammer' was the decisive breakthrough of the Companion cavalry, which was made when any disruption to the enemy front was evident. By lengthening the spear and refining its construction, Philip created a weapon that would allow his phalanx to outreach and overwhelm enemy formations. 2 The (spear) Add languages. Only the veterans of the triarii retained the long spear – vestige of the former phalanx. org Vương quốc Macedonia Spartan is a two-player tactical board wargame in which one player controls Greek, Macedonian or Spartan forces, and the other player controls historic enemies during the period 500–1000 BC, [1] including Persians, and Carthaginians. Jan 2, 2023 · Simply put, the phalanx was a formidable component of a greater war machine, which when it worked as supposed to, was unstoppable. It was used by his son Alexander the Great to conquer the Persian Empire. The left wing of the cavalry swung into wedge formation, and charged. Also called the Battle of Arbela, it was a decisive victory for the Macedonians and led to the fall of the Persian Empire. After forty years on continuous Illyrian dominance and expansion under Bardylis, Philip II after marrying Audata, an Illyrian princess, marched into Illyria and confronted the Illyrian tribesmen. The disadvantage was the formation less versatile, and less mobile than those of other armies. Third, I will discuss the sarissa as an infantry weapon and show in what respects the Macedonian phalanx differed from the older Greek hoplite The Macedonian phalanx now was used to pin the centre of the enemy line, while cavalry and more mobile infantry struck at the foe's flanks. The dory or doru (/ ˈ d ɒ r uː /; Greek: δόρυ) was the chief spear of hoplites (heavy infantry) in Ancient Greece. wikipedia. Their main tactic was the phalanx formation. A pike is not intended to be thrown. The Macedonian phalanx was a supreme defensive formation, but was not intended to be decisive offensively; instead, it was used to pin down the enemy infantry, whilst more mobile forces (such as cavalry) outflanked them. In this regard, Coenus's distinction as commander of the "best" infantry of the phalanx indicates he was tactically reliable, probably extremely intelligent in warfare, and brave in battle; he was probably the epitome of the highly respected "lead-by-example" Macedonian general. The xyston (Ancient Greek: ξυστόν "spear, javelin; pointed or spiked stick, goad), was a type of a long thrusting spear in ancient Greece. png 567 × 412; 16 KB Técnica del martillo y yunque2. It measured about 3. At the same moment every man of the phalanx beat his spear on his shield yelling out the Macedonia war-cry. Obverse: Laureate head of Zeus right; Reverse: AX monogram, lyre above, ΔΩ – PO in left and right fields; Size: 15mm, 2. Although clearly a development of the hoplite, the Macedonian phalanx was tactically more versatile, especially used in the combined arms tactics favoured by the Macedonians. Along with the club, knife, and axe, it is one of the earliest and most widespread tools ever developed by early humans. Oct 26, 2012 · The Macedonian phalanx was a typical Greek hoplite phalanx until the emergency reforms of Philip II in 359/8 bce; even then, essentially, the only things that changed were the use of a different type of spear, the use of different types of shields, and the greater level of training, which allowed for a greater range of tactical formation. Page contents not supported in other languages Dec 11, 2024 · The spear’s endearing simplicity has seen it adopted by virtually all cultures and societies across the globe. e. It also shows the problem of the Macedonian Phalanx that if you can't do it, it will end at once. It was introduced by Philip II of Macedon and was used in his Macedonian phalanxes as a replacement for the earlier dory, which was considerably shorter. When we talk about a phalanx in a military context, we automatically think of Alexander the Great’s Macedonian army, with its compact formation of armored infantrymen armed with long sarissas. It was introduced by Philip II of Macedon and was used in the traditional phalanxes of Philip II of Macedon as a replacement for the earlier dory, which was considerably shorter. The Achaean League under Philopoemen abandoned the thyreos around 208-207 BC in favor of the heavier Macedonian phalanx, although the citizens of Megalopolis, an Achaean city, had adopted the Macedonian style in 222 BC after Antigonus III Doson gave the city bronze shields to form a contingent of epilektoi armed as Chalkaspides ('Bronze-Shields'). Weak oppose move, keep Macedonian army as a disambiguation page, per guideline at WP:NCMAC#Other page titles: "If a sub-article of the type "X of the Republic of Macedonia" conflicts with an existing article "X of Greek/ancient Macedonia", a regular disambiguation page pattern according to WP:DAB with no "primary topic" will be used (i. The heavy phalanx spear was replaced by the pila, suitable for throwing. It was very heavy for a spear, weighing over 5 kg (12 pounds). org Pintura da Antiga Grecia; Usage on id. The former equipped himself as an infantryman with a mediaeval pike and trained himself in its use, and the latter arranged for a friend to wield a sarissa on horseback. 'the Camel's House'), also called the Battle of Arbela (Ἄρβηλα, Árbēla), took place in 331 BC between the forces of the Army of Macedon under Alexander the Great and the Persian Army under King Darius III. pcjkrb auxu xbotwlm tjxfwksl okmzwt ehqbxlai iucpt lhd zxnvjg ylk