Invaders and raiders from the islands of the Mediterranean and southern Europe attacked the civilisations of Egypt, Syria and Cyprus during the 13th century BC. Eventually, the attacks diminished, one group finally settling in Palestine as the Philistines.

This is not a very powerful army, hence the difficulties in understanding how they toppled the powerful Hittites! There are a handful of chariots, plenty of loose order javelinmen, some archers, and a number of allied Libyans. Morale is mostly average, armour is virtually non-existent and there are no cavalry. So how did they become so militarily successful? The only explanation is good generalship and success born of desperation.

Tactically, you must use the large numbers of foot to confound an enemy with sheer numbers. Remember, all of those javelinmen can shoot! Chariots should be massed on one flank, screened by skirmisher archers. Use them to force the flank and use the foot to steadily pressure the enemy centre and other flank. This is not an army for beginners.

Enemies: Hittites, New Kingdom Egyptian, Early Hebrew, Philistine and Later Canaanite.

More Chariot Armies For Ancient Warfare

Early Hebrew 1250-960 BC
Sea Peoples 1230-1165 BC
Philistine and Later Canaanite 1200-975 BC
Midianite Arabs and Nomadic Camel 1500-650 BC
Aramaean, Phoenician or Cypriot 1200-700 BC
Early Chinese: Shang, Chou, Chin 1700-200 BC
Post Mycenaean Greek 1150-700 BC
Later Babylonian 1500-750 BC
First Temple Hebrews: 960-581 BC
Libyan Egyptian 950-700 BC
Indian 900 BC-450 AD