Hello all. I thought maybe a thread of warfare-related quotations from ancient authors would be of interest to all RTW lovers. The tactics ancient commanders used in reality worked differently from how they do in RTW, but I wonder if some of them can be used with success in the game.
I'll start with some tidbits from Xenophon's Anabasis, which tells the tale of how 10000 Greek soldiers stranded in the middle of the Persian empire heroically managed to battle their way home after taking part in an unsuccessful attempt at overthrowing Artaxerxes II . Xenophon, an Athenian warrior, writer and disciple of Socrates, took part in that adventure.
-Xenophon said: "I am not for advancing in line, but advise to form companies by columns. To begin with, the line," he urged, "would be scattered and thrown into disorder at once; for we shall find the mountain full of inequalities, it will be pathless here and easy to traverse there. The mere fact of first having formed in line, and then seeing the line thrown into disorder, must exercise a disheartening effect. Again, if we advance several deep, the enemy will none the less overlap us, and turn their superfluous numbers to account as best they like; while, if we march in shallow order, we may fully expect our line to be cut through and through by the thick rain of missiles and rush of men, and if this happen anywhere along the line, the whole line will equally suffer. No; my notion is to form columns by companies, covering ground sufficient with spaces between the companies to allow the last companies of each flank to be outside the enemy's flanks. Thus we shall with our extreme companies be outside the enemy's line, and the best men at the head of their columns will lead the attack, and every company will pick its way where the ground is easy; also it will be difficult for the enemy to force his way into the intervening spaces, when there are companies on both sides; nor will it be easy for him to cut in twain any individual company marching in column. If, too, any particular company should be pressed, the neighbouring company will come to the rescue, or if at any point any single company succeed in reaching the height, from that moment not one man of the enemy will stand his ground."
-Next day the Hellenes were bent on getting back with the provisions; but as they dreaded the descent to Trapezus, which was precipitous and narrow, they laid a false ambuscade, and a Mysian, called after the name of his nation (Mysus), took ten of the Cretans and halted in some thick brushy ground, where he made a feint of endeavouring to escape the notice of the enemy. The glint of their light shields, which were of brass, now and again gleamed through the brushwood. The enemy, seeing it all through the thicket, were confirmed in their fears of an ambuscade. But the army meanwhile was quietly making its descent; and when it appeared that they had crept down far enough, the signal was given to the Mysian to flee as fast as he could, and he, springing up, fled with his men.
And here are some from Vegetius' treaty on the military institutions of the romans:
-NOT TO CUT, BUT TO THRUST WITH THE SWORD
They[roman army recruits] were likewise taught not to cut but to thrust with their swords. For the
Romans not only made a jest of those who fought with the edge of that
weapon, but always found them an easy conquest. A stroke with the edges,
though made with ever so much force, seldom kills, as the vital parts of the
body are defended both by the bones and armor. On the contrary, a stab,
though it penetrates but two inches, is generally fatal. Besides in the
attitude of striking, it is impossible to avoid exposing the right arm and
side; but on the other hand, the body is covered while a thrust is given, and
the adversary receives the point before he sees the sword. This was the
method of fighting principally used by the Romans, and their reason for
exercising recruits with arms of such a weight at first was, that when they
came to carry the common ones so much lighter, the greater difference
might enable them to act with greater security and alacrity in time of action.
-THE SLING
Recruits are to be taught the art of throwing stones both with the hand and
sling. The inhabitants of the Balearic Islands are said to have been the
inventors of slings, and to have managed them with surprising dexterity,
owing to the manner of bringing up their children. The children were not
allowed to have their food by their mothers till they had first struck it with
their sling. Soldiers, notwithstanding their defensive armor, are often more
annoyed by the round stones from the sling than by all the arrows of the
enemy. Stones kill without mangling the body, and the contusion is mortal
without loss of blood. It is universally known the ancients employed
slingers in all their engagements. There is the greater reason for instructing
all troops, without exception, in this exercise, as the sling cannot be
reckoned any incumbrance, and often is of the greatest service, especially
when they are obliged to engage in stony places, to defend a mountain or an
eminence, or to repulse an enemy at the attack of a castle or city.
-The triarii, according to their method of discipline, rested in time of action
on one knee, under cover of their shields, so that in this position they might
be less exposed to the darts of the enemy than if they stood upright; and
also, when there was a necessity for bringing them up, that they might be
fresh, in full vigor and charge with the greater impetuosity. There have
been many instances of their gaining a complete victory after the entire
defeat of both the principes and hastati.
-Your first care is to secure your left wing from being surrounded by the
enemy's numbers or attacked in flank or rear by flying platoons, a
misfortune that often happens. Nor is your right to be neglected, though
less frequently in danger. There is only one remedy for this: to wheel back
your wing and throw it into a circular position. By this evolution your
soldiers meet the enemy on the quarter attacked and defend the rear of
their comrades. But your best men should be posted on the angles of the
flanks, since it is against them the enemy make their principal efforts.
-Elephants by their vast size, horrible noise and the novelty of their form are
at first very terrible both to men and horses. Pyrrhus first used them
against the Romans in Lucania. And afterwards Hannibal brought them into
the field in Africa. Antiochus in the east and Jugurtha in Numidia had great
numbers. Many expedients have been used against them. In Lucania a
centurion cut off the trunk of one with his sword. Two soldiers armed from
head to foot in a chariot drawn by two horses, also covered with armor,
attacked these beasts with lances of great length. They were secured by
their armor from the archers on the elephants and avoided the fury of the
animals by the swiftness of their horses. Foot soldiers completely armored,
with the addition of long iron spikes fixed on their arms, shoulders and
helmets, to prevent the elephant from seizing them with his trunk, were
also employed against them.
But among the ancients, the velites usually engaged them. They were young
soldiers, lightly armed, active and very expert in throwing their missile
weapons on horseback. These troops kept hovering round the elephants
continually and killed them with large lances and javelins. Afterwards, the
soldiers, as their apprehensions decreased, attacked them in a body and,
throwing their javelins together, destroyed them by the multitude of
wounds. Slingers with round stones from the fustibalus and sling killed
both the men who guided the elephants and the soldiers who fought in the
towers on their backs. This was found by experience to be the best and
safest expedient. At other times on the approach of these beasts, the
soldiers opened their ranks and let them pass through. When they got into
the midst of the troops, who surrounded them on all sides, they were
captured with their guards unhurt.
Last edited by Hobbes1; October 20, 2010 at 02:02 AM.
Here it is, the complete Epitoma rei militaris by Vegetius, no copyright infringement at all
An excerpt:
VARIOUS FORMATIONS FOR BATTLE
An army may be drawn up for a general engagement in seven different
formations. The first formation is an oblong square of a large front, of
common use both in ancient and modern times, although not thought the
best by various judges of the service, because an even and level plain of an
extent sufficient to contain its front cannot always be found, and if there
should be any irregularity or hollow in the line, it is often pierced in that
part. Besides, an enemy superior in number may surround either your right
or left wing, the consequence of which will be dangerous, unless you have a
reserve ready to advance and sustain his attack. A general should make use
of this disposition only when his forces are better and more numerous than
the enemy's, it being thereby in his power to attack both the flanks and
surround them on every side.
The second and best disposition is the oblique. For although your army
consists of few troops, yet good and advantageously posted, it will greatly
contribute to your obtaining the victory, notwithstanding the numbers and
bravery of the enemy. It is as follows: as the armies are marching up to the
attack, your left wing must be kept back at such a distance from the enemy's
right as to be out of reach of their darts and arrows. Your right wing must
advance obliquely upon the enemy's left, and begin the engagement. And
you must endeavor with your best cavalry and infantry to surround the
wing with which you are engaged, make it give way and fall upon the enemy
in the rear. If they once give ground and the attack is properly seconded,
you will undoubtedly gain the victory, while your left wing, which continued
at a distance, will remain untouched. An army drawn up in this manner
bears some resemblance to the letter A or a mason's level. If the enemy
should be beforehand with you in this evolution, recourse must be had to
the supernumerary horse and foot posted as a reserve in the rear, as I
mentioned before. They must be ordered to support your left wing. This
will enable you to make a vigorous resistance against the artifice of the
enemy.
The third formation is like the second, but not so good, as it obliges you to
begin the attack with your left wing on the enemy's right. The efforts of
soldiers on the left are weak and imperfect from their exposed and
defective situation in the line. I will explain this formation more clearly.
Although your left wing should be much better than your right, yet it must
be reinforced with some of the best horse and foot and ordered to
commence the acnon with the enemy's right in order to disorder and
surround it as expeditiously as possible. And the other part of your army,
composed of the worst troops, should remain at such a distance from the
enemy's left as not to be annoyed by their darts or in danger of being
attacked sword in hand. In this oblique formation care must be taken to
prevent the line being penetrated by the wedges of the enemy, and it is to be
employed only when the enemy's right wing is weak and your greatest
strength is on your left.
The fourth formation is this: as your army is marching to the attack in order
of battle and you come within four or five hundred paces of the enemy, both
your wings must be ordered unexpectedly to quicken their pace and
advance with celerity upon them. When they find themselves attacked on
both wings at the same time, the sudden surprise may so disconcert them as
to give you an easy victory. But although this method, if your troops are
very resolute and expert, may ruin the enemy at once, yet it is hazardous.
The general who attempts it is obliged to abandon and expose his center
and to divide his army into three parts. If the enemy are not routed at the
first charge, they have a fair opportunity of attacking the wings which are
separated from each other and the center which is destitute of assistance.
The fifth formation resembles the fourth but with this addition: the light
infantry and the archers are formed before the center to cover it from the
attempts of the enemy. With this precaution the general may safely follow
the above mentioned method and attack the enemy's left wing with his
right, and their right with his left. If he puts them to flight, he gains an
immediate victory, and if he fails of success his center is in no danger, being
protected by the light infantry and archers.
The sixth formation is very good and almost like the second. It is used when
the general cannot depend either on the number or courage of his troops. If
made with judgment, notwithstanding his inferiority, he has often a good
chance for victory. As your line approaches the enemy, advance your right
wing against their left and begin the attack with your best cavalry and
infantry. At the same time keep the rest of the army at a great distance from
the enemy's right, extended in a direct line like a javelin. Thus if you can
surround their left and attack it in flank and rear, you must inevitably defeat
them. It is impossible for the enemy to draw off reinforcements from their
right or from their center to sustain their left in this emergency, since the
remaining part of your army is extended and at a great distance from them
in the form of the letter L. It is a formation often used in an action on a
march.
The seventh formation owes its advantages to the nature of the ground and
will enable you to oppose an enemy with an army inferior both in numbers
and goodness, provided one of your flanks can be covered either with an
eminence, the sea, a river, a lake, a city, a morass or broken ground
inaccessible to the enemy. The rest of the army must be formed, as usual, in
a straight line and the unsecured flank must be protected by your light
troops and all your cavalry. Sufficiently defended on one side by the nature
of the ground and on the other by a double support of cavalry, you may then
safely venture on action.
One excellent and general rule must be observed. If you intend to engage
with your right wing only, it must be composed of your best troops. And the
same method must be taken with respect to the left. Or if you intend to
penetrate the enemy's line, the wedges which you form for that purpose
before your center, must consist of the best disciplined soldiers. Victory in
general is gained by a small number of men. Therefore the wisdom of a
general appears in nothing more than in such choice of disposition of his
men as is most consonant with reason and service.
Last edited by Hobbes1; October 20, 2010 at 02:04 AM.
Classical warfare according to the classics
Reply With Quote
