Classical Indian (II/3)
1. Classifying camel- and bullock-carts
2. Divine image as a "sacred standard"
3. Javelinmen as Ax(I) or Sp(I)
See also Ancient Indian archers.
Proposal 1: Classifying camel- and bullock-carts
Author: Duncan Head/Paul Raper
Synopsis: Replacements are proposed for the existing WWg (O) camel- or bullock-carts.
Proposal:
Replace the existing line allowing WWg (O) to replace elephants and chariots by the following new lines:
Replace non-general chariots with bullock-drawn chariots, Irr Kn (I) *4-6
Replace non-general elephants with mixed camel- and mule-riders and carts, all counting as Irr Cm (I) improvised camelry (under DBM) or as Irr Cm (X) (under DBMM) #4-6
The * and # minima apply only if any elements of that type are used. Since the Cm (I) do not represent elements entirely of camels, they do not count as "camels of any troop type except baggage" for movement purposes.
Justification:
The current allowance for War-wagons (O) is based on Book X of the Arthasastra, which recommends:
The king who has a small number of horses may combine bulls with horses; likewise when he is deficient in elephants, he may fill up the centre of his army with mules, camels and carts.
Classing these "carts" as WWg (O) seemed reasonable at first, if a bit hypothetical, but in practice it does seem to overrate such improvised substitutes, and they seem to make a far greater impression on the table (particularly as flank-defences for archer- blocks) than seems justified.
The suggested alternatives allow for the fact that Arthasastra recommends different substitutes for elephants and for horses - presumably chariot-horses.
Chariots drawn by bullocks, or by a mixture of bullocks and horses, would be slow and unmanoeuvrable. Hence they must be irregular even when the chariots they replace might be regular; and the Kn (I) classification makes them slower than Cv chariots, and capable of no tactics more complex than a direct charge. Cv (I) has been suggested as an alternative but seems too fast and too manoeuvrable, as well as being the same as the horsed cavalry. Some have argued that Kn (I) is a better classification for the 4-horse 6-man chariots than the published lists' Kn (S), in which case this substitute would represent no decline in performance; but given the definitions and comparison with other lists, I cannot accept that the big Indian chariots should be any worse than Kn (O).
As for the elephant-substitutes, a mixture of Cm (I) for the camels and mounted infantry for the mules and carts did suggest itself, but there is no indication that the various substitutes would deploy separately from each other, while mounted infantry would (like WWg (O) ) add a greater flexibility to the army than seems justified. Classing the mix as Cm (X) instead of (I) is tempting; it would be effective against enemy elephants, which is certainly one thing that a king short of elephants would want from his elephant-substitutes, while the inability to contact troops other than elephants could be justified if it is assumed that the carts were used as static defences. However, it seems to me that something used as a substitute for elephants should have some offensive capability, even if limited.
Asterisked minima apply only if any elements of that type are used. Since these substitutes were only used in cases of serious shortage, it seems reasonable to suppose that there would be quite a few of them, if any. But "All/0" isn't really justified - a king "deficient in elephants" doesn't really imply one "with no elephants at all".
DBMM Update:
As Paul Raper points out, the Cm(I) option for elephant-substitutes is not available under DBMM, where the class no longer exists. Cm(X), mentioned above as a possibility for DBM, is probably the best option now: Moorish Cm (I) become infantry with Portable Obstacle camel-barricades, but these have no effect on enemy elephants so are not approprite here; other Cm (I) become Cm (O), but that does not seem suitable for a mixture of substitutes that are not all camels. Cm (X) is used for anti-elephant gimmicks, and under DBMM they are allowed to contact mounted enemy, giving offensive capability against enemy elephants.
Reference:
The Arthasastra is online at -
http://www.mssu.edu/projectsouthasia/history/primarydocs/Arthashastra/index.htm
Proposal 2: Divine image as a "sacred standard"
Author: David Brown
Synopsis: Allow a statue of a god plus bearers as a WWg(I) in early armies
Proposal:
Add, under the Only before 321 BC (Pre-Mauryan) subhead:
Statue of a god surrounded by bearers and soldiers - Irr Wwg (I) in DBM or Irr Bge (S) in DBMM @ 2AP 0-1
Justification:
From Quintus Curtius Rufus (8.14.11), describing Porus' army:
"Before the infantry column was carried a statue of Hercules, which was a great stimulus to the warriors, and to desert its bearers was considered a disgrace for a soldier. The Indians had even authorized the death-penalty for failure to bring it back from battle, the fear they had once felt for that particular foe (Hercules) having been actually transformed into religious veneration".
Who knows what local god the westerners saw as Herakles? U P Thapliyal's book on Indian standards, The Dhvaja: Standards and Flags of India (Delhi 1983), cites opinions that it represented Shiva, Yaksha, or Krishna, but no identification can be certain.
Curtius' use of the plural "bearers" (gestantes) suggests something large than a simple standard, perhaps a large statue on a palanquin or litter as seen in more recent parades. See http://www.finearts.ubc.ca/courses/seminars_2001_02/hacker_fina457_2001_02.html (also in the Files section of the Yahoo group) for an illustration of the kind of thing.
In any case it should make a spectacular model.
Proposal 3: Regrade javelinmen
From: http://dbmm.org.uk/forums/index.php?topic=36.0
Hello All,
I Have a proposal for troop type changes for the Classical Indian Army for possible -
Inclusion in the forthcoming DBMM Army lists.Will also effect II/1 & II/2 armies.
Proposal.
Change Indian Javelinmen too - All Irr Sp(I) or All Irr Ax(I),Pre Mauryas 500 B.C to 322 B.C.
Reg Sp(I) or Reg Ax(I) Mauryas 321 B.C to 180 B.C.
0 - 1 Javelinmen per 4 Archers or on a separate line as 0 - 6 or 8 elements maximum. I think the
1 per 3 Bw elements was to facilitate the Bw(X) DB elements,not now an option for Indian armies,
but I may well be wrong.
The option for Sp(I) is to allow the use of Javelinmen as `shock troops`.
The option for Ax(I) is to allow the use of Javelinmen as Light troops.
Argument.
Current opinion on the use of large two handed swords by Indian infantry would suggest this was an
exception rather than as a standard for all.As Indian archers have been regraded in DBMM to reflect
this in conjunction with a less powerful bow,I would argue that Bd(I) as the definition stands is a
rather generous one for Indian Javelinmen.As there primary weapon was the javelin or spear and as
Indian infantry were also the lowest arm of Indian armies in terms of prestige,one can only guess as
to the military training they received but I do not think they can be classed as partially trained ?
swordsmen.Massed spearmen in either a shock role or as light troops,bearing in mind that most were
unarmoured would seem to be a better classification.
Evidence.
Unfortunately there is little evidence on Indian infantry to support the changes,but here goes;
That which contains big stones, dry or green trees, and ant-hills is the ground for the infantry.
That which is free from thorns, not very uneven, but very expansive, is an excellent ground for the infantry.
Book X, ?Relating to War,? of the Arthas?stra of Kautilya.Possible support for Auxilia.
Always carrying the weapons to all places; and fighting--these constitute the work of the infantry,
Book X, ?Relating to War,? of the Arthas?stra of Kautilya.Possible support for Auxilia.
In their left hands they carry small shields of untanned hide, narrower than their bearers, but not much shorter. Some have javelins in place of bows. All carry a broad scimitar, its length not under three cubits; and this, when they have a hand-to-hand fight -- and Indians do not readily fight so among themselves -- they bring down with both hands in smiting, so that the stroke may be an effective one.ARRIAN.BOOK VIII.XVI.Possible support for Auxilia.
Also the Arthasastra of Kautilya mentions spears 6ft long,possibly an alternative to the shorter -
javelin or used in conjunction with them.possible support for Spears.
DBM Army lists Bk2. 2 Mountain Indian.notes.
7,000 Indian mercenaries are described by Diodorus fighting against Alexander with javelins and large but
flimsy shields and fighting in a fairly static style.possible support for Spears/Auxilia (I).
Those are my proposals,hope it generates some discussion,
Happy gaming.
This proposal was posted on the TNE list as well as the DBMM Forum, but responses suggest it was not generally thought convincing.
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