PERSIAN MILITARY HISTORY Persian Revolt 552 BCE 550
PERSIAN MILITARY HISTORY
Persian Revolt (552 BCE - 550 BCE) • Formed from Ancient Persis • Previously subjugated by the Assyrians and Medes • declared its independence and commenced its revolution • This spread to other provinces • The Medes had early success but were conquered by Cyrus the Great by 549 BC.
Persians • Cyrus did not possess a professional army • A standing army was formed from Persians, Medes, and closely related peoples • An imperial army formed of all subject nations. • Closer nations paid less tribute but contributed more soldiers.
Units • This consisted of • infantry • cavalry • charioteers (only the noblest warriors used then obsolete but symbolic chariot) • the Persians incorporated subject or mercenary Greeks in their army
Persian Infantry, Early 5 th Century
Cavalry, Early 5 th Century
Organization • based on a decimal system • Ten men composed a company • ten companies made up a battalion • ten battalions formed a division • ten divisions comprised a corps • The whole army was led by a supreme commander • commanders participated in fighting and died (five of the eleven sons of Darius the Great fell on the front
Training • The training of the Persian nobility was arduous. • (As youth Persians were trained in) • running, swimming, horse grooming, tilling the land, tending the cattle, making various handicrafts, and getting accustomed to standing at watch; he would be trained in the arts of the chase (both afoot and on horseback), archery, throwing the spear and javelin, and of sustaining forced marches in unfriendly climate • At twenty he started his military profession which lasted till the age of fifty as a foot soldier or a rider. • The elites were trained for both tasks.
Equipment • The foot soldier carried • a short sword • a spear • a quiver full of arrows • a bow • wicker shield (small and crescent-shaped or large and rectangular that could be planted in the ground allowing the archer shoot from behind it) • Battle-axe were also used, especially by North Iranians • Some wore metal helmets, Egyptians and the Mesopotamian contingents wore armor
Equipment • The Calvary • equipped like the foot soldier; • but he carried two javelins, • one for throwing and one for hand to hand • Some wore metal helmets and metal scale armor • One document puts requirements of a horseman as follows: • a horse and girdle and bridle • a helmet • cuirass of iron • a bronze shield • 120 arrows • a mace of iron • two iron spears “The armored Persian horsemen and their death dealing chariots were invincible. No man dared face them”
Apple-bearers • One division comprised “one thousand spearmen, the noblest and bravest of the Persians” • Formed a special royal guard; their spears had golden apples as butts • All members of this guard fell at Plataea defending their position
“Immortal Guard” • Ten thousand elite Iranian foot soldiers, • whose “number was at no time either greater or less than 10, 000”
Additional Troops • Additional troops recruited when needed • It sometimes took years, to muster a grand army. • Garrisons were important but these could not be depleted because the danger of revolt • Fortified gates for custom checks and stopping enemies
Deployment • Before the battle, a council of war was held and plans of action discussed. • Usually drawn up as follows: • the foot archers were stationed in the front • flanked by cavalry and supported by light-armed and heavier- armed infantry. • The commander occupied the center • Started with ranged troops releasing volleys, effective range of about 120 yards • heavier infantry then moved in, supported by cavalry attacking the flanks.
Weaknesses • These tactics failed against heavy-armed Greek infantry (hoplites) and Macedonian phalanxes • Projectiles simply stopped by Greek armor and shields • Persians lacked armor and had inferior offensive weapons • “for in boldness and warlike spirit the Persians were not a whit inferior to the Greeks; but they were without shields, untrained, and far below the enemy in respect of skill in arms. ” • With an able general, Persians were brave but the fled as soon as the commander was killed
MAJOR BATTLES AND CONQUESTS
Conquests • Conquest of Lydia 547 BC • Conquest of Babylon 539 BC • Conquest of Egypt 525 BC • Conquest of Indus Valley
PERSIAN REVOLT
Battle of Hyrba • Took place after the Persian Revolt • Cyrus was a captive of Median King but was allowed to return home • The King regretted this and sent troops to capture him • He used trickery to evade them and joined with him fathers force and destroyed them • Resulted in Median King invading Persia with a large host
Battle of the Persian Border (551 BCE) • Second battle of the Persian revolt • Median General defected to Cyrus’s cause • Heavy casualties inflicted on Medians and Cyrus escapes intact • Cyrus’s father dies
Lydian Conquest • Croesus asked the Oracle of Delphi for advice. The Oracle suggested vaguely that, "if King Croesus crosses the Halys River, a great empire will be destroyed. " • Turns out it was his
Battle of Thymbra (547 BCE) • Cyrus's wanted to catch the Lydian king unprepared • Croesus had more than twice as many men as Cyrus. • 200, 000 vs. 420, 000
Battle • Cyrus deployed his troops with flanks withdrawn in a square formation. • The flanks were chariots, cavalry, and his best infantry and a newly organized camel corps. • the wings of the Lydian army wheeled inward to envelop this novel formation • gaps appeared effective overhead fire of the Persian archers and mobile towers caused disorder • Cyrus then gave the order to attack. • Lydians are destroyed and some retreat to the capital • a decisive victory for the Persians.
NEO-BABYLONIAN
Battle of Opis (593 BCE) • Very little is known about the events of the battle • Outcome of the battle was clearly a Babylonian defeat • Massacre and plunder is thought to have followed
Battle of Pelusium (525 BC) • Egyptians best advisor joined Persia • Tried to get Greeks to join but they joined Persia • It was a rout with 50, 000 Egyptians died and 7, 000 Persians died • Egypt became part of the Persian Empire
Indus Valley conquered • Conquered around 516 BCE • Considered eastern boundary but very prosperous • Little is known about the invasion
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