1. Argyraspids (Silver Shields)

This was the premier infantry formation and numbered about 10,000 (a possible carry over from the 10,000 Immortals of the Persian army as the number is not a common one in the Macedonian army). It was also called the Agema (same as the Ptolemaic foot guard), peltasts and epilektoi or picked men (Polybius). The formation was connected to the original Macedonian infantry guard, Hypaspists, which changed to Argyraspides during Alexander’s eastern campaigns after Gaugemela/Arbela. The original members fought against Antiochus Monothalmus and were banished by him, once they decided to back him, to the eastern extremes of the Macedonian territories. Seleucus I resurrected the formation and it is last mentioned after the Daphnae parade of 165 BC. It formed the core of the infantry and was permanently garrisoned near Antioch. It was recruited from the sons of the Greco-Macedonian population, which would suggest that this was a highly disciplined formation modelled on the Macedonian phalanx.

A part of the Greco-Macedonian phalanx mentioned only at the Daphnae parade of 165 BC by Polybius and at the Battle of Beth-Zacharia in 1 Maccabeus. This may be a literal description of a part of the phalanx equipped with golden shields. Other Macedonian armies (Antigonid and Ptolemaic) do not have such troops mentioned. Prior to Daphnae, the phalanx is not identified by formation or unit names. The original Macedonian phalanx is identified by the names of its senior officers by many historians, while those of the Successors do have some names attributed. It is primarily the Antigonid phalanx that has specific names to identify its major components. Regardless of how it was called, the Seleucid phalanx numbered between 16,000 and 20,000 in most accounts.

Another part of the phalanx mentioned by Polybius at the Daphnae parade. The name had been used to identify part of the Antigonid phalanx (the other part being the Leucaspides or White Shields) until 168 BC when the army was defeated at Pydna by the Romans. It may have been adopted after this date by the Seleucids to demonstrate their ties with Macedonia and as a successor to the empire of Alexander. It may also be another descriptive name employed by Polybius to identify part of the Seleucid phalanx, which carried bronze shields. It is curious that Leucaspides was not used by the Seleucids as a name for a phalanx formation, which would have also suggested the attempt to claim the succession to the army and territories of Alexander as the titles mentioned above.

This formation has been considered a component of the Argyraspides, which was retrained and re-equipped to fight like Romans. The fact that the guards were regular troops would make them the likeliest candidates for such a program. The total size of this formation is quoted as 5000, which is half of the guard and roughly approximates the size of a contemporary Roman legion. It is mentioned at Daphnae and again at the Battle of Beth-Zacharia in 162 BC in 1 Maccabeus. Bar-Kochva has only one formation in the Seleucid army as part of the Argyraspides, which may suggest that the Romans were a separate formation. This new body of troops was likely a creation of King Antiochus IV who had lived in Rome and seen Roman troops for many years. He may have been inspired to replace the old phalanx with a new Roman style infantry force. If this were the case, then the Argyraspides may have resisted change and the king had to use other troops for his experiment. The Macedonian veterans had a history of resisting change and may have continued to exercise a strong influence within the Seleucid kingdom as they had under Phillip and Alexander. Another possibility is that the soldiers were armoured like Romans and fought like thureophoroi. This troop type was another common troop type and may have provided the soldiers for Antiochus’ new formation.

This national or tribal group was mentioned at Magnesia in 190 BC, where some are considered thureophoroi and others archers. At Daphnae, 5000 Mysians are reported. This contingent may have been a mercenary force or employed as part of a treaty with Pergamum (for those not familiar with the army, after Magnesia, the Seleucids were not allowed to recruit from western Asia Minor as part of the peace treaty with Rome). Mysians were also used to quell the Jewish rebellion and are mentioned participating on campaign in 165 BC.

There is a contingent of 3000 mentioned at Daphnae and they were probably light infantry equipped with javelins and shields. This would suggest either psiloi or unarmoured thureophoroi. Since Cilicia (part of the Turkish Mediterranean coastline now) was a rugged mountainous region, it is most likely that troops were recruited for their ability to fight in open or loose order.

A contingent of 3000 Thracians is mentioned at Daphnae. They may have been members of a colony settled in Persia, which was established after Alexander’s conquests, or mercenaries hired from Thrace or Bythinia, or possibly both. They may have been armed in the traditional manner with romphaia, javelins and shields, or equipped as thureophoroi. They were most likely raised to provide a peltast or thureophoroi type contingent. Thracians also provided a cavalry force as one of 400 is mentioned in original sources.

8. Galatians

There is a contingent of 5000 mentioned at Daphnae. This was probably recruited from tribes living in Galatia (central Asia Minor). Galatians were recorded in Seleucid armies from 246 BC after they had settled in Asia Minor. They participated in an invasion of Babylonia in 229/8 BC and fought for the rebellious governor, Molon, against Antiochus III in 220 BC. Galatians were both admired and feared by the Hellenistic states and were often recruited because of their warlike nature (which is why they were allowed to settle in Asia Minor). They probably retained their traditional weapons and fighting style, and initially were quite ferocious. Their martial prowess likely declined but they were still a strong influence in Asia Minor even after the Roman conquest.

The name refers to another national or tribal group, which became synonymous with a troop type. In Alexander’s army, the Agrianians were highly rated javelineers or psiloi (light infantry) or akontistai (in Seleucid armies the irregular light javelineers). Light troops or skirmishers were often used to screen the main battle line and thus would begin the fighting then fall back to allow the heavy troops to decide the outcome. Sometimes they were deployed on the wings to hold high ground or rough terrain (woods, or any ground unsuitable to close order formations). They were also used to support cavalry on the wings (as allowed by WRG DBM rules). In other situations, psiloi were used as scouts, flank protection, ambushes, in mountainous terrain and other roles, which required troops use to operating independently. The Seleucid troops referred to by this name were either colonists (settlers) or trained as light javelinmen, probably regulars similar to the Cilicians mentioned above.

This was probably another contingent denoting professional troops often combined with other light troops. The Persians were noted as archers and were often included in Successor (Diadochi) armies as light troops. These were likely supplemented by Persian slingers or troops of other contingents armed with slings. The Seleucids employed archers and slingers in relatively large numbers to screen their armies in battle and also to complement the javelin-armed light troops to secure rough terrain. Like the Cretans, the Persians may have been a specific type of light infantry from the eastern satrapies (the Cretans being from the west or Greek regions).

These were similar to the Persians in being light infantry archers from the eastern satrapies (Elam). They are identified at Raphia and Magnesia as a separate troop type. Their dress was slightly different to that of the Persians but otherwise they seem to have been the same. Like the Persians, they were often combined with slingers, in this case Cyrtians or Kyrtii and deployed in front of the heavy infantry and cavalry.

While often identified as mercenaries, the Cretans were a very common troop type in Seleucid armies. Normally brigaded with the Neo-Cretans, they were probably a contingent of the regular army. The Neo-Cretans were either young Cretans (neoi or members of youth groups) or possibly settlers. This troop type may have been distinguished from the Persians in that they were Greek and also armed with shields in addition to their bows suggesting that they could also engage in melee like javelin-armed light troops. This would make them similar to Roman velites or Carthaginian light troops. Other light troops probably fought at a distance and avoided hand-to-hand fighting.

Cappadocia was an independent state under a Persian dynasty but often supplied troops to the Seleucids as allies. The infantry probably were similar to other regional troops (peltast or thureophoroi) until the arrival of the Galatians after which they fought like Galatians. As a separate state, Cappadocia probably sent a mixed contingent comprising of cavalry, light infantry and close order (or loose order) infantry.

The Arabs were used as mercenaries and allies by the Seleucids; these were roles to which they became accustomed until the rise of the Islamic Arab state in the 7th Century AD. At Raphia, a large contingent was present which may suggest that a local ruler or rulers contributed a mixed force like other allied states. Otherwise, the sources suggest that Arabs were mainly light troops armed with bow or javelin. Their presence in the main battle line at Raphia seems to argue for being close order although their armament is not identified; however, their poor performance would indicate lack of enthusiasm or improper employment. They were likely employed as garrison and frontier troops by the Seleucids, which may explain their absence from other battles.

15. National Groups

This includes all the various contingents, which are sometimes mentioned as either subjects or allies and not listed above. This includes a variety of troop types but most would either be light infantry or peltasts. The main weapons were likely javelin, bow and sling with or without shield, helmet and body armour. They include Caramanians, Pisidian, Pamphylians, Carians, Cadusians, Cyrtians (Kyrtii), Lykians, Trallians and Jews. Other nationalities are not identified which supports the contention that the Seleucids did not raise troops from regions in the centre of the empire, which were not committed to the government. This would include Babylonians and may explain why these areas did not resist the rise of rebels like Molon and the invasions of the Parthians. The absence of Jewish troops from battle accounts is likely because they formed garrisons, which were not required to supply contingents for field armies. It is odd that a warlike group such as the Jews (based on their performance against the Seleucids) was not used in battle, although included in garrisons.

Argyraspides, Chalkaspides and Other Seleucids

Introduction and Capabilities
Composition and Organization
Seleucid Military Units
Cavalry
Numbers and Conclusion