Lydian 750-540 BC

A wealthy Anatolian state, Lydia fought against its neighbours with numbers of unusually powerful cavalry. Alliances and wars with Thracians, Medes, Assyrians and others honed the war-skills of the Lydian generals including the famous Gyges.

This is a good army, with excellent cavalry, heavy infantry hoplites who can be double-armed, wedging skirmisher cavalry, Thracian loose-order foot and more! I like this army so much, I'll be building one of my own. Tactics are open to exploitation, but use the heavy foot in the centre and the cavalry on the flanks, with Thracians to push into and hold delaying terrain. This is a good army for any level of player.

Enemies: Early Hu, Scythian, Early Hoplite Greek, Early Achaemenid Persian.

Early Roman or Latium 750-530 BC

A far cry from their progeny, the early Romans fought for survival against the Samnites, Illyrians, Etruscans, Lucanians and Campanians. We all know who eventually won. This is a very Greek-like army, with cavalry, close order heavy infantry spearmen, and skirmisher foot. Use the heavy infantry as your attack force, supported by cavalry on the flanks and skirmishers for delaying terrain. This is not an army for beginners.

Enemies: Etruscan, Samnite and Lucanian/Campanian.

Etruscan 750-300 BC

Enemies of the early Romans, the Etruscans put much store in the power of their priests to lead them to victory. The Romans who beat them with frightful regularity did not respect their fighting power.

You definitely need the sacred emblem to have a chance. The heavy infantry are of poor quality morale (that's what happens when you hardly ever win) so need the boost they get from the emblem, and should be definitely upgraded to warriors. Use the light chariots to push a flank with the heavy cavalry. Hold with the heavy infantry on the other flank and in the centre. You will spend a lot of time reacting to the enemy moves with this army. It is not for the beginner or average player.

Enemies: Early Roman, Samnite, Camillan Romans and Celtic Gaul.

Early Hoplite Greek 700-450 BC

This list represents the city-states of classical Greece and the citizen soldiers who served in them. The core of the army is the hoplite, a heavily armoured soldier, with a large shield (hoplon/aspis) and long thrusting spear. Greek warfare was quick and very violent with battles lasting a short period of time. As landowners, the hoplites did not want to be long from their families and farms. This army reflects that perception; a large body of fighting men supported on the flanks by skirmishers.

There is no finesse with this army. Set up the heavy infantry in the centre and use the lighter troops to screen the flanks. Give the order to advance and push your units into the enemy line trusting in the fighting capabilities of the hoplites. If you are able to push the enemy back in the first round then the Greeks have the advantage and after several rounds break their opponents. This is a good army for a beginner who only has to make certain that you protect the hoplites' flanks. Rough terrain held by peltasts should do the trick. Slingers could be sent forward to soften up the enemy before committing the hoplites thus ensuring morale tests on the enemy. This is a good, basic army for any level of player.

Enemies: Post Mycenaean Greek, Lydian, Early Hoplite Greek, Thessalian, Peloponnesian War Athenian or Spartan, Later Illyrian, Early Achaemenid Persian.

Thessalian 700-320 B.C.

Early allies of the Macedonians, Thessaly essentially remained in their neighbour's shadow until becoming a part of the Macedonian Empire in 321 BC. The Thessalian generals relied upon their excellent, wedging heavy cavalry to break enemy formations.

The hoplites and peltasts provided the much-needed hard push of a steady infantry force that could present an imposing challenge to their traditional enemies, the Thracians. This is an interesting army, especially with Macedonian allies, and is all right for any gamer.

Enemies: Early Hoplite Greek, Thessalian, Peloponnesian War Athenian and Spartan, Theban/Biotian, Later Illyrian, Thracian, Early Achaemenid.

Samnite 700-270 BC

This is another enemy of early Rome, though a greater threat to the growing Romans than the Etruscans, who ended up being totally beaten. The Samnites managed to last for another 30 years. The use of the Italo-Greek allies is necessary for success. These are the best troops. Use the cavalry, upgraded to heavy cavalry, to force a flank, or maybe both. Support the cavalry with skirmisher infantry and perhaps some heavy infantry as well. Use the rest of the heavy infantry in the centre. This is a fair beginner's army.

Enemies: Early Roman, Camillan Roman, Etruscan, Samnite, Lucanian, Celtic Gaul.

Early Illyrian 700 BC-400 BC

The Early Illyrian tribes lived in the area of present-day Albania and Yugoslavia. They were a rough terrain army, favouring the wooded hills over the open plain for battle. Obviously, the warbands and their large numbers of slaves fighting alongside them provide a real problem for the Illyrian CinC. There are no armoured troops. The warbands all count as fanatics until their first combat, meaning that they are virtually impossible to control. The only cavalry are skirmishers. Okay, what do you do with this army? Upgrade the warbands to veterans (this gives you command control) and upgrade the slaves. Arm the warbands with long spear to keep the enemy cavalry at bay. Then attack! This is not a beginner's army.

Enemies: Early Roman, Etruscan, Samnite, Thessalian, Thracian and Later Hoplite Greek.

Lucanian or Campanian 700-200 BC

Another enemy (victim?) of the Romans, these inhabitants of Italy provided Greek hybrid armies in tests of arms against their growing neighbor. This is a very basic army, with cavalry, close-order foot, loose order foot and skirmishers. Nothing fancy and nothing strange. Usual hoplite tactics will work best. Use the cavalry on the flanks and in support of the close order foot. Screen the cavalry with skirmishers and try out your favorite plan. This is a solid army for any level of player.

Enemies: Early Roman, Etruscan, Samnite and Camillan Roman.

Saitic Egyptian 670-335 BC

The Saite Dynasty was established by Ahsurbanipal of Assyria to control Egypt following several revolts by Kushite Egyptian forces prior to 660 BC. Initially, the Saitic rulers supported the Assyrian governor of Egypt until 651 BC when the Saitic forces rebelled and drove out the remnant of the Assyrian garrison. Later, Egypt supported the last Assyrian ruler against the expanding Neo-Babylonian empire in 609 BC. This led to a major defeat of the Egyptian forces and efforts by the Neo-Babylonians to conquer Egypt. The country remained independent until conquered by the Persians in 525 BC, although several revolts occurred, the last one in 335 BC.

The Saite pharaohs made Greek mercenaries, mainly from Ionia and Caria, an important part of the army. Favouritism of these foreigners led to an army revolt and the overthrow of the legitimate pharaoh in 570 BC. Mercenaries continued to be used by later armies, despite cultural animosities towards the Greeks. Greek influence resulted in the development of phalanx style tactics and adoption of some Greek equipment. Chariots were probably not used by the army after the Persian conquest.

According to Herodotus, the army consisted of two military castes: the Calasiries and the Hermotybies. These castes were hereditary with each member supported by a land grant. Soldiers spent one year in the Royal Guard, but did not repeat probably for political reasons. Most of the professional soldiers lived in the northern part of Egypt in or near the Nile Delta. Major garrisons were maintained to guard the three main borders with Libya, Nubia and the Sinai.

Enemies: Kushite Egyptian, Assyrian, Neo-Babylonian, First Temple Hebrew, Later Aramaean, Libyan, Saitic Egyptian and Early Achaemenid Persian.

Peloponnesian War Athenian 480-340 BC

This list differs from the Hoplite Greek with larger numbers of skirmishers and the downgrading of the hoplites from heavy to lightly armoured troops. The core of this army is the trained hoplites and peltasts with their ability to manoeuvre and turn while still maintaining cohesion.

Skirmishers both horse and foot give this army the ability to inflict hits upon an approaching enemy before engaging them. The peltasts are extremely useful being doubled armed; they can use javelins as missile weapons and then the long spear to fight their opponents. Peltasts are my favourite troops in all the Hellenistic armies.

This army will open up alternate tactics to be employed against an opponent. The wealth of skirmishers allows you to protect you troops from missile fire while inflicting the same upon your opponent. A good intermediate army to hone your skills on. Enemies: Thessalian, Peloponnesian War Spartan, Theban/Bioitian, Thracian.

Peloponnesian War Spartan 479-371 BC

The foundation of the Spartan state was the well trained hoplite who protected it from its enemies. Believing that their soldiers were the only protection that Sparta needed, these soldiers were well trained and highly motivated. Armed in a similar fashion as their Athenian counterparts the Spartan advantage lies with their higher morale.

Coupled with their trained status the Spartan hoplite is a forcible foe. The cavalry is lacking and of a poorer quality, therefore, the outcome of the battle rests with the hoplite. They can hold their own against any contemporary. Like the Hoplite Greek army line up your troops in the centre and start marching across the field using your lighter armed troops to hold the flanks. Not much different than the Early Hoplite list.

Enemies: Thessalian, Peloponnesian War Athenian, Theban/Bioitian, Thracian.

Theban or Bioitian 459-279 BC

This army reveals the beginning of good cavalry plus the steadfastness of the hoplite. This is a transitional army as cavalry begins to make its presence known on the battlefield. Plenty of skirmishers both horse and foot, make this a good army prior to the rise of the Macedonians.

The heavy infantry is slow both deadly, once they make contact the defender will be hard pressed to withstand their advance. Use them like any other Greek army but now you have good cavalry to threaten the flanks and attempt an envelopment of slower moving infantry. This is a fun army that should do well against just about anyone in this period.

Enemies: Early Hoplite Greek, Thessalian, Peloponnesian War and Thracian.

More Ancient Warfare Armies

Ancient Warfare Armies: The Greek Wars Part 1 Saga 84
Ancient Warfare Armies: The Greek Wars Part 2 Saga 85
Ancient Warfare Armies: The Greek Wars Part 3 Saga 86