Parthian: 250 BC-229 AD

The Parthians or Parni were a part of the Dahai confederacy of the Saka, who lived in the north-eastern part of the Achaemenid Persian Empire. From the Persian province of Parthyaea, they took advantage of the internal conflicts of the Seleucid Kingdom to expand their territory to cover much of modern Iraq and Iran. This brought them into conflict with the Romans with whom they fought for centuries to control Armenia, and the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. The Parthians eventually fell to the Sassanian Persians, though the amazing 500-year existence speaks volumes about the quality of the army commanders.

The Parthian army consisted mainly of armoured nobles and unarmoured horse archers supplemented by the Hellenised populations of the cities and warriors of various subject tribes. In 129 BC, the Parthians incorporated the defeated soldiers of the Seleucid army of Antiochus VII for use in a campaign against the Saka, but the Seleucid troops deserted to the Saka contributing to the defeat of the Parthians. Despite their exposure to Hellenistic warfare, the Parthians did poorly during siege operations. Generally, they were not effective against the Romans, although they did score major victories against them in 53 BC at Carrhae and in 36 BC against Mark Antony.

Tactical Hints: The foot is virtually useless, so leave them in a supporting role to the cavalry. The skirmish cavalry can cover the battlefield, with the armoured horsemen being the shock troops of this army. Pick your targets and time your attacks. Exploit breakthroughs and avoid elephants! This is a fair army for any level of player.

Enemies: Skythian, Armenian, Seleucid, Parthian, Sarmatian, Marian/Caesarian, Early Imperial and Middle Imperial Roman, Kushan Indian, Sassanian Persian

Sarmatian: 310 BC-375 AD

This is yet another Asian confederation that dominated the steppes of Central Asia before settling in Eastern Europe.

The list covers the early Rhoxolani, Siracae, Iazyges and later Rhoxolani armies. The Sarmatians depended upon intense missile fire from virtually all the troops in the army to disrupt their enemies. The armoured cavalry are both bow and lance-armed. The main tactic was a wild charge relying on the lance to inflict casualties.

The Sarmatians replaced the Skythians as the dominant Asian nomadic confederation in Eastern Europe. The Rhoxolani migrated westward to dwell in an area on the western side of Dacia along the Danube River. Here they were a constant thorn in the side of the Roman Empire and often allied with Germanic tribes to raid or invade the Roman provinces.

Tactical Hints: As long as there are no elephants around, the Sarmatians can use Parthian tactics. If using Alan allies, the foot is simply used to handle delaying terrain. They are useless for fighting and get in the way of the armoured cavalry, whom can fire on their own. This is a fairly good army, but not for beginners.

Enemies: Hellenistic Greek, Skythian, Parthian, Mithridatic, Early, Middle and Late Imperial Roman, Dacian, Ostrogoth and Huns.

Spanish: 240-20 BC

This is the army from the expansion of Carthage into Spain until the final conquest of Spain by Rome. Hasdrubal and Hannibal made use of Spanish troops, as did Rome. Though often thought of as mercenaries, the Spanish maintained their own identities as their armies fought among themselves. The Romans found the Spanish to be one of the most difficult peoples to conquer. The conquest took over two centuries and resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Roman and Spanish soldiers.

The significant groups were Lusitanians (who fought mainly as caetrati), Celtiberians (who were similar to Celtic Gauls) and Iberians. Generally, troops were classed as either scutarii or caetrati. The former carried a long shield, and if on foot, fought with pilum or similar weapons. The later carried a small round shield and javelins.

Tactical Hints: This is a good, balanced army. There are veteran heavy cavalry, numbers of skirmish cavalry, plenty of Spanish foot with pilum, upgraded to veterans with skirmish infantry to screen. The foot can pick their attack points and, supported by heavy cavalry, push. The skirmish cavalry can screen both flanks. Use the fanatic heavy cavalry to force a flank.

This is a good, solid army for any level of player.

Enemies: Spanish, Celtic Gaul, Punic War Carthaginian, Punic War Republican, Marian and Early Imperial Roman.

Notes:

• Spanish units must be classified as Lusitanian, Celtiberian or Scutarii. A combination of any two or more represents an allied army. Such units must be commanded by their own general to represent the separate allied tribes.
• Devotio represent those troops, who would fight to the death, especially if their general was killed, wounded or captured.

Maccabean Jewish: 168-67 BC

The Jewish people experienced a succession of conquests following the fall of the last independent kingdom to the Babylonians of Nebuchadnezzar. Most conquerors were tolerant of the monotheism practised by the Jews until the arrival of the Seleucids in the 2nd Century BC. A revolt against the Seleucids brought the Jewish tribes into conflict with their overlords, who tried to install the pantheon of Hellenic gods. The warriors were eager to fight and this is reflected in their fanatic foot.

The rebellion was begun by Matityahu or Mattathias, scion of the priestly Hasmonean family. Matityahu slew a Seleucid soldier, who attempted to sacrifice swine on the altar in his village. He destroyed the altar set up by the Seleucid soldiers and escaped to the mountains, accompanied by his five sons: Yohanan, Shimon, Judah, Jonathan and Elazar.

Many Jews, mainly farmers, gathered around Matityahu and his sons in order to combat the Seleucids. Led by Judah Maccabee (the Hammer), the rebels conducted a guerrilla campaign against the Seleucids. The slogan of the Jewish fighters was: “Who is like you among the gods, 0 Lord” (mi kamocha ba'elim hashem), a Hebrew acrostic for the word Maccabee.

It was a popular, partisan war, in which many Jews fell, including Judah and Elazar. Following the death of Judah in battle, his brothers Jonathan and Shimon continued the struggle for independence. They were successful and established a kingdom, which survived until after the arrival of Pompey the Great and the Roman army. At its zenith, the kingdom stretched from modern Lebanon into the Sinai, and from the Mediterranean into Jordan.

The poorly armed and armoured Jews made good use of the equipment recovered from their defeated opponents and evolved into a powerful regional army. In addition to its religious zeal, the army made good use of the many Jewish mercenaries, who had been employed in various Hellenic states in the Middle East. These formed a cadre of professionals around which the national army was built.

According to the “Rule of War” (found amongst the Dead Sea Scrolls), the army was divided into several components. The cavalry was of two types, armoured cavalry comprised of veteran soldiers and skirmishers drawn from the younger soldiers. The regular infantry was predominantly Hellenistic style peltasts supported by light troops drawn from levies for campaigns. Some may have been trained as phalangites.

Tactical Hints: A “sword and sandal” army, the Jews are a tough opponent. There are armoured cavalry, skirmish cavalry, plenty of unarmoured, Loose Order foot, fanatics and skirmishers, a religious relic (for morale) and even long spear and javelin-armed trained foot. Force a flank with the armoured cavalry and smash the enemy centre with fanatics and trained foot. How can you lose? This is a good, fun army for anyone.

Enemies: Seleucid, Maccabean Jewish and Midianite Arab.

Armies for Ancient Warfare Part 2 [Saga 91]