A short history of ancient warfare – the infantry

[youdig66]

As you already may have noticed, this is a topic about the ancient warfare, to start with the infantry. Perhaps, if this proves to be a success, I will try to extend this topic to cavalry as well. Since I want to give you information about the subject, I shall not use any emoticons here. I hope you understand and respect my choice.

I have seen a lot of AAR’s and tactical guides (which have been proven to help me out of difficult situations sometimes so deep respect to the developers of those [small] projects) but not quite something like a history of the ancient warfare. Since a thread was recently opened about how to defeat the Greek/Macedonian phalanx formation, I thought it were the right time to start working on this subject. Of course, an AAR or the tactical guide for the Roman army may help, but a thoroughly understanding of the history and the development of the armies will probably solve the case too and provides directly a better understanding of your own army but even more important, the army of the enemy! Let’s get started.

Two types of infantry

First, I start with a short introduction about the difference between light and heavy infantry and why a correct understanding of both types of arms is important to make it the enemy general immediately as hard as possible (even without the use of cavalry).

The heavy, or shock, infantry should be used to break through a weak spot in the enemy line or be used against the heavy infantry of the enemy. They are best used in a square formation rather that a ‘lint’ formation (i.e. stretched all over the battlefield) so their power will be used most wisely (as it is most concentrated) and they will break through the weak spots in the enemy line with utmost ease. To give a example of a strategy here, suggest you are facing a larger army with shock and light infantry, immediately reform your formation and put about 20% to 30% of your heavy troops right in front of the place where the enemy line changes from heavy to light infantry (light infantry [in this case] means spearmen, peasants and all sort of light equipped soldiers). Meanwhile, your own light infantry (skirmishers) should be placed at the relatively unprotected side of your army so they can rain spears down onto the charging heavy infantry, who will take many casualties before even getting to ‘weakness’ in your own line.

The light infantry has usually a missile-supported act in the battle. They are mostly used against other skirmisher (i.e. light infantry) troops so that the ‘skirmishing battle’ is done before the real battle begins. I think this is a wrong move. Your skirmishers should be used against the enemy heavy infantry. They provide a much easier-to-hit target for they are marching in a very tight formation. When your skirmishers are out of spears or stones, they could stay in the frontline (in ‘open’ formation of course) and ‘catch’ the rain of enemy spears on them. First, they have done as much as they could to make the job easier for your own heavy infantry, and second, because you do not really need them anymore in that battle (possible third, they are relatively cheap and easy to retrain since most of the cities actually can retrain them).

They also can be used as scouts on the battlefield (especially when you are fighting in the woods) while they are supported by cavalry. These one or two units of cavalry are needed to protect the skirmishers from enemy cavalry while you are marching in an open field. In the woods, your cavalry can return to the place where the battle is for they will be killed easily in the woods by enemy infantry (especially when you are fighting Gauls, Germans, Iberians, Scythians and Dacians). Let’s get back to the light infantry again. They are best used while they are in ‘open’ formation (hotkey C in battle). This way, they are least vulnerable to enemy shock (infantry), cavalry and enemy skirmishers. A final note on the skirmishers, or light infantry, who should exist of peltasts and slingers. Archers should NOT be used as frontline skirmishers but rather be positioned behind your line.

So, at the conclusion of this first chapter, it should be said that, when you are in battle, you always should have both types of infantry with you. This ‘mixed army’ provides the most possibilities to success and even better, you present the enemy general with a dilemma: if the enemy wants to break through your heavily reinforced defensive line, he produces a very easy target for the skirmishers. However, does he choose to march in ‘open’ formation, his line becomes really vulnerable to shock. Give it a try!

[youdig66]

I know that this is not really what I promised to make in my introduction, but do not worry. This is just the start! More will come if the reactions are positive.