Ancient Warfare Armies: The Greek Wars Part 1

Later Illyrian 400 BC-10 AD

As they grew in power, the Illyrians became more aggressive toward their neighbours, allying with Dionysius I of Syracuse at one point, and employing mercenaries as the need arose. This is a vast improvement over the early armies.

Cavalry are still lacking, so this remains a rather slow army. The Syracusans supply veteran hoplites, Gallic fanatics, and Spanish pilum-armed foot. Upgrade as in the early list, but anchor your centre with heavy infantry and storm the flanks with warbands and fanatics. You may not win, but it will be an exciting game. This is not an army for beginners.

Enemies: Camillan Romans, Celtic Gauls, Macedonian Early Successor, Lysimachid, Pyrrhic, Later Macedonian and Marian/Caesarian Roman.

Thracian 700 BC-46 AD

Unlike the previous Greek armies, the Thracians were a wild and uncivilised people and their army reflects this fact. The troops are untrained and will not have the ability to manoeuvre. Their strength lies in their ability to go fanatic on the first round of combat and maximise the number of causalities they can inflict in the first round. This is not an army to stand in the open with their lack of armour and looser formations put them at a disadvantage when fighting closer formation, better armoured troops. Thrace’s terrain of steep, wooded hills is the best environment for this army. Roll for delaying terrain to restrict enemy movement and play upon the strength of your army. Remember ambushes are effective when properly timed and planned.

This is not an army for a novice player. Do not allow yourself to be lured from your positions. Greek allies can be helpful to hold gaps between terrain features. Your skirmishers can be used to soften up the enemy as he comes near you but be careful of enemy cavalry as they can ride down your lightly armed troops and cause your peltasts to take morale tests.

Enemies: Early Hoplite Greek, Thessalian, Peloponnesian War Athenian and Spartan, Later Illyrian, Thracian, Early Achaemenid Persian, Republican Roman, Marian Roman and Early Imperial Roman.

Scythian 700-50 BC

This is the Western version of the Early Hu armies. The Scythians burst out of Asia and into Europe becoming both feared enemies as well as providing mercenaries to dozens of other captain-generals. A true 'horse-archer' army, the Scythians lasted for almost 700 years against the best armies in pre-Christian Europe.

Opt for as little terrain as possible (the Scythians always preferred to fight their battles in the open), allowing your skirmisher cavalry to shoot the enemy troops into disorder at will. Attack both enemy flanks. Use the skirmisher infantry to harass the enemy center. Your lightly armoured cavalry are best saved for the final wedged attack. A tough army for beginners to try and handle, but brutal in the hands of an experienced player.

Enemies: Indian, Lydian, New Assyrian Empire, Scythian, Early Illyrian, Early Achaemenid Persian, Later Achaemenid Persian, Alexandrian Imperial, Bactrian Greek, Graeco-Indian, Kushan, Sarmatian and Parthian.

Early Achaemenid Persian 550-450 BC

The Persians believed in bows and when reading the list you will see that practically everyone is armed with one including the Immortal heavy infantry. It is an army consisting of subject peoples each armed with their own particular weaponry. Tactics would involve subjecting an opposing army to missile fire and then close for close action once they had been softened up. These tactics are successful against unarmored troops but did not work well against heavy infantry. When facing the Greeks the Persians were rudely surprised, as their foot was unable to stand up to the hoplites and suffered greatly. Marathon and Thermopylae are classic examples.

When using this army your best tactic is to shower the enemy with missile fire and attempt to disorder them and then attempt to get your foot to go fanatical to maximise fighting ability. Only experienced gamers should attempt this army. The real strength lies with the cavalry with its mixture of skirmish and heavy units. Use them to overwhelm a flank and attempt to envelop it.

Enemies: Later Babylonian, Indian, Lydian, Early Hu, Early Hoplite Greek, Theban/Biotian, Thracian and Scythian.

Later Hoplite Greek 480-275 BC

This is an amalgamation of all the earlier Greek armies with a balance between close order, open order and skirmisher units. This is a well-balanced army that can hold its own. Upgrading your hoplites will make them a tough opponent to break. Use the skirmishers to soft up the enemy line before they close. Thracians and peltasts can hold or size hills or delaying terrain.

A good well balanced army with a lot of potential for any gamer.

Enemies: Later Illyrian, Thracian, Later Hoplite Greek, Later Achaemenid Greek, Alexandrian Macedonian, Macedonian Early Successor.

Later Achaemenid Persian 420-330 BC

The Greek influence in this army is apparent by the large number of mercenaries employed by the Persians (Darius). The number of subject troops has been greatly reduced along with bows. Persian cavalry is still a potent force with its ability to skirmish and fight. A good tactic would be to send in scythed chariots to disorder enemy troops before closing with your mercenaries. Scythians can be effective in screening or softening up a flank. More effective than the Early Persians with its ability to stand up to armoured close order infantry and it's best employed in delaying terrain.

Recommended for experienced gamers who know how to use a mixture of troop types in conjunction with each other. The majority of trained troops make this a very manoeuvrable army.

Enemies: Saitic Egyptian, Scythian, Later Hoplite Greek, Later Achaemenid Persian, and Alexandrian Macedonian.

Camillan Roman 400-275 BC

This is the army that evolved from the reforms of Marcus Furius Camillus during the wars against the Italians and the Celtic Gauls. Its campaigns of conquest in Italy culminated in the war with Pyrrhus of Epirus in 275 BC. The army is a favourite of mine, and epitomises the best that the early republic had to offer in response to its many enemies. The army was usually commanded by one of the two consuls and was organised into Roman and allied legions. By the end of this period, the composition was normally two Roman and two allied legions. The allies supplied most of the cavalry.

Fielding a balanced army is essential to success. I heartily recommend checking out the basic army suggestions and building upon that. Use the skirmish cavalry on the extreme flanks, with heavy cavalry and lightly armoured cavalry in support. The heavy infantry are your shock troops. Use the triari in support of the hastati/principes. The allied foot is used to hold and take delaying terrain. Keep a consistent, supported front and head for the enemy base line. This is a good army for any level.

Enemies: Etruscan, Samnite, Lucanian, Later Illyrian, Celtic Gaul and Pyrrhic,

Alexandrian Macedonian 355-330 BC

Hellenistic warfare was changed with the introduction of this army trained and developed by Philip of Macedonian and inherited by his famous son Alexander. The classical hoplite (now called Pezetarioi) is now armed with a pike while maintaining the phalanx formation making it an irresistible force upon the battlefield. Advancing across the battlefield these formations overwhelmed their opponents. Loose order cavalry were also armed with a long lance (sarissa) and rode down the defenders with their ability to wedge and thus maximise their striking power. The hypaspists served as a link between the heavy cavalry and the pike formations. This is a powerful army with the capability of rolling over the enemy if the attacks are properly timed. This is a favourite army for ancient wargamers with any level of experience.

Enemies: Later Illyrian, Thracian, Later Hoplite Greek, Later Achaemenid Persian.

Celtic Gaul 400-50 BC

Left to themselves, the Gauls warred incessantly. When threatened, they fought even harder. Primarily an enemy of Rome (who wasn't?), the Gauls held their own in more than a few wars with a variety of enemies.

Initially, Gallic nobles fought mainly from chariots and then gradually switched to horses. Some warriors fought as fanatics, either as soldurii (particularly in the south) or gaesati, who fought for loot and pay. The Gallic armies tended to have only a small percentage of skirmishers. While considered barbarians by Greeks, Romans and Italians, the Gauls were renowned for their mail armor and metal work. Caesar and other Roman generals eagerly recruited Gallic warriors into the Roman army because of the willingness to fight. The anachronistic chariots gave the Gauls a weapon which most of their contemporaries had to learn to deal with. Use them on the flanks, supported by noble cavalry. The foot warriors should be upgraded to fanatics and veteran heavy infantry. It is up to the general whether to utilise them as Helvetti (close order) or other tribes (loose order). Screen the light chariots and cavalry with skirmish infantry. Use the fanatics to swarm over a flank or even straight up the centre. Ambushes are encouraged! This is a tough army for beginners, but fun anyway.

Enemies: Early Roman/Latium, Etruscan, Samnite, Later Illyrian, Camillan Roman, Celtic Gaul, Early Carthaginian, Punic Wars Carthaginian, Spanish, Germans, Punic Wars Republican Roman, and Marian/Caesarian Roman.

Syracusan 400-200 BC

Located in Sicily, Syracuse was a Greek colony that prospered in trade being located in the centre of the Mediterranean Sea. As such they were rich enough to hire mercenaries to do their fighting. The mercenaries represent a multitude of nationalities and fighting abilities. Greeks, Italians, Spaniards and Gauls all can be found. Hoplite troops dominate along with an assortment of loose order troops, who are very useful in delaying terrain. This is an interesting and colourful army, with historical characters such as Agathocles and Hiero to command the forces.

Enemies: Lucanian, Carthaginians, Pyrrhic and Camillan/Republican Romans.

Alexandrian Imperial 330-323 BC

Following the subjection of the Greek city-states Alexander assembled an army to begin the conquest of the Persian Empire. Incorporated were Greek hoplites, peltasts and an increased number of skirmishers, both foot and horse. The wedging cavalry coupled with the phalangites makes this a powerful army. The addition of subject troops increases its capabilities to face any opponent. Use the skirmishers to pin down one wing while putting the cavalry and phalangites against the other. Subtle tactics but with effective results. This is a good all around army.

Enemies: Indian, Early Hu, Later Hoplite Greek, Scythian and Later Achaemenid Persian.

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