Sparabara ("Spara bearers")
spearmen
The Sparabara, together with their archer counterparts the Thanvabara. Form the bulk of the Persian satrapal garrisons. They are conscripted from all Persians, but are a far cry from being simple peasants.
Every Persian is trained since youth for garrison duty in large groups, the Sparabara are well drilled, not unarmored and compared to their non Persian counterparts always eager to die for Persia!
after their service in the garrison many become "Hatru" men, men given land by the state and afterwars liable to be called up for war again. They are
well armed, carrying a large square "Spara" shield, a short spear and often a linen cuirass of Egyptian of Greek origin. They carry no helmets but instead use the Persian "tiara"
Thanvabara (Archers)
The Thanvabara, together with their spear armed counterparts, the Sparabara, form the bulk of the Persian satrapal garrisons. They are conscripted from all Persians, but are a far cry from being simple peasants.
Every Persian is trained since youth for garrison duty in large groups, the Sparabara are well drilled, not unarmored and compared to their non Persian counterparts always eager to die for Persia!
Archery his highly respected in Persia, and so the archers form a large part of their armies. These men carry fine bows of Scythian origin, Akinaka swords and Sagaris axes as sidearms and many also carry linen cuirasses.
In battle they work together with their Sparabara counterparts, following an ancient west Asian batte tactic where the archers are protected by the Sparabara shield wall. This strategy works well againt other west Asian
armies who are lightly armored but the Greeks more often than not render the tactic obsolete with their heavy gear.
Takabara ("Taka bearers")
axemen
Normally the Persian subject peoples aren't deployed in the garrisons, but the Takabara are an exception. They are formed by Iranian people near Persia liek the Sagartians, who in exchange for smaller
taxes do military service in the garrisons with their Iranian brothers, the Persians. These ferocious warriors are used to a rough live in the Zagros mountains and are ligthly armed. They carry
Saka axes, their namesake shield, the crescent "taka" aswell as some armor.
Anusiya (immortals)
spearmen
The Persian garrison is mostly formed by the "Pasti", well drilled Persians conscripted for garrison duty. However, the satraps have another permanent force at their disposal, the immortals.
Even though the satraps force of Immortals are only a small part of the 10 000 they are still one of their most capable forces. In battle they resemble the Pasti, the Spearmen form a shield wall that protects the archers.
However their equipment is better: They carry the same bows, spears, and Shields as their counterparts but have also Iron cuirasses, Akinaka Swords, Sagaris axes and some even have metal helmets.
Arstibara (chosen companions)
spearmen
The Arstibara are a chosen force of Persians numbering 1000. These are the best Persians avaible but also the least numerous unit.
In battle they are similar to the others, carrying spears, Dipylon shields and both scale and Linen cuirasses. The are not an official unit but instead formed by the satrap himself,
with the kings 2000 strong "Amrataka" guard as basis. They might be composed of minor nobility and picked soldiers.
Asabari (conscript horsemen)
cavalry
The Asabari are part of the conscripted "Pasti". They are great horsemen but ligthly armed with Javelins as their main arm. Except that they have swords and axes and, uncommonly amongst Persians, metal helmets.
In battle they use their swiftness to lure out their oponents into an open area where they can be picked apart by javelins before a devastating charge follows. The lightly armed Asabari have proven rather ineffective against the Greeks however, both becuase of the heavy greek equipment and becuase of the mountanious landscape of Hellas.
Arstibara Asabari (generals guard)
cavalry
The wealthier Persians can afford both horses, helmets and either linothoraxes or scale cuirasses. These heavy horsemen might be quite few in number but they often form the bodyguard of the satraps,
the arguably most well equiped force the satrap has at his disposal. They are heavier then the Asabari and can hold their own longer against the Greek hoplites,
their charge from behind can also be devastating.
Scythed Chariots
The Persians use of chariots after Cyrus was quite limited but still existant. At the battle of Cunaxa both sides brought Scythed chariots, likely inspired by those found in Vedic India. Some Persian generals also
used them as mobile command platforms, stationed in the centre of the army.
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