Macedonian Epirot 342BC - 272BC
Under Discusion
Author: A Bennetts
- Macedonian Epirot List 27a
- Pyrrhus in Italy List 27b
Macedonian Epirot List 27a
Warm. Ag 4 between 295BC to 272BC (Pyrrhus), otherwise 0. WW, Rv, H(S), H(G), Wd, O, V, RGo, Rd, BUA
Nominal List Scale: 1 element = 250 men (normal scale)
CinC with xyston, Reg Kn(F) 1
SubG with xyston, Reg Kn(F) 1-2
Epirot and Macedonian cavalry with xyston, Reg Kn(F) 2-4 (1)
Allied Greek cavalry, Reg Cv(I) 0-2
Epirot and Macedonian phalangites, Reg Pk(O) 24-48
Replace phalangite sarissai with javelins as Reg Ax(O) Any (2)
Allied Greek Citizen hoplites, Irreg Sp(O) 0-12
Replace Greek Citizen hoplites with phalangites, Reg Pk(O) Any
Greek mercenaries, Reg Ax(O) or Reg Ax(X) 0-6 (3)
Camp defences, TF 0-12 (4)
Before 294BC
Replace phalangites with levies:
Up to 1/3 Irreg Ps(I), remainder Irreg Ax(I) Any
Replace Ps(I) with Archers & Slingers Irr Ps(O) 0-6 (5)
From 294BC
Ambraciot, Corcyran and other warships:
Up to 1/3 6er or larger Reg Gal(S), remainder Reg Gal(O) {Sp, Ax or Ps} 0-3 (6)
Mercenary Archers and Slingers, Reg Ps(O) 8-16 (7)
Acarnanian & Athamanian Infantry, Irr Ps(S) 4-16
Acarnanian & Athamanian Cavalry, Irr LH(O) 1-4
Aitolian Allies - Hellenistic Greek (Bk 2) (8)
From 287BC
Elephants, Irreg El(O) 0-2 (9)
From 284BC
Illyrians, Irreg Ax(S) 0-4 (10)
From 275BC
Replace Generals with xyston with
Generals with javelins & shield as Cv(O) Any (11)
Replace Epirot and Macedonian cavalry with xyston with Epirot and Macedonian cavalry with javelins & shield as Reg Cv(O) All
Replace Greek cavalry with Greek cavalry with javelins & shield as Reg Cv(O) Any (12)
Galatians mercenaries, Irr Wb(S) 0-8 (13)
Replace Greek mercenaries with thureophoroi as Reg Ax(S) Any (14)
The Epirot Confederacy consisted of the tribal groupings of Molossia,
Chaonia and Thasprotia. It was usually headed by the kings of Molossia.
The list covers the period of major Macedonian influence, commencing
with Philip of Macedon placing his brother-in-law Alexander 'the
Molossian' on the throne as a client and ends with the death of Pyrrhus,
the most famous of the Epirot kings. After being restored, with
Ptolemaic help, as joint king in 297BC, Pyrrhus became sole king after
murdering is colleague in 295BC. At various times he subsequently
conquered and ruled considerable parts of Macedonia (twice being
recognised as king) as well as campaigning in Thessaly, beseiging Athens
and finally invading the Peleponesse. Subsequent to this period, Epirus
was mostly subservient to Macedon, rarely fielding significant forces on
its own behalf.
The list does not cover the Italian expeditions of Alexander or Pyrrhus.
These are covered by separately.
Having spent time at the Macedonian court and being closely associated
with Philip, it is assumed that Alexander imitated Macedonian
institutions in the organisation of both the state and the army. This
was assisted by the greater economic means available to the king
following the Greek coastal settlements that controlled external trade
being brought under royal rule . However, until Pyrrhus was able to
complete this process, it is probable that some Epirot foot would have
remained ill equipped levies. Even afterwards, the terrain of Western
Greece suggests that infantry may have frequently employed javelins
instead of sarissai. The Greek settlements would have been able to
supply some cavalry and hoplites. Over time the latter may also have
been re-equipped as phalangites. Epirus is usually assumed to have
lacked the means to hire mercenaries on any scale, however small numbers
were probably available on occasion (see notes). Aitolians allies must
subsitute citizen hoplites for thureophoroi and may not use Tarantine
mercenary cavalry or any regular infantry.
The list does not include the Italian expeditions of either Alexander
the Molossian (334BC – 330BC) or Pyrrhus (280BC to 275BC). These are
covered separately.
Notes:
Aggression and Terrain: The Epirot Confederacy was generally passive.
Pyrrhus, who did all his campaigning on enemy soil, was the sole (and
radical!) exception.
Nominal List Scale: The maximum size of a native Epirot armies would
seem to have been between 25,000 and 30,000. Pyrrhus's Italian
expedition was considered exceptional and totalled 25,500 with an
advance guard of up 3000 more. A Molossian army in 385BC was large
enough to be recorded as suffering 15,000 casualties in a battle with
the Illyrians. On this basis the usual troop scale is sufficient.
1: Generals and cavalry. It is generally assumed that these would
use xyston following the Macedonian model. Generals whose command is
otherwise only foot dismount as Ax(S).
2: Re-equip phalangites as Ax(O). It seems generally recognised
that phalangites of the period could replace sarissa with javelins for
special operations. Given the terrain of Western Greece no qualification
is placed on this for Epirot phalangites. Note however it is not
available to re-equipped Greek Citizen hoplites.
3: Mercenaries. It is generally assumed that Epirus did not have
the means to hire mercenaries on any scale. However both Alexander and
Pyrrhus had wealthy external sponsors who could have provided help.
Philip would probably have given assistance to Alexander in his early
years while Ptolemy of Egypt supported Pyrrhus in his successful return
to Epirus in 297BC. In both cases any assistance is likely to have
included either mercenaries or the means to hire them. As part of the
alliance against Demetrius in 289BC the other kings may well have
supplied Pyrrhus with mercenaries or funds while Antigonus Gonatas may
have supplied troops (if so, undoubtedly mercenaries) for the
confrontation with Lysimachus in 285BC. The other successor kingdoms all
assisted Pyrrhus in preparing his Italian expedition and Pyrrhus was
definitely hiring troops on his return from Italy. Provision is made for
the mercenaries to be equipped as 'Iphicratians'.
4: Camp Defences. Camp defences were not unknown to the Macedonians
and their Successors while the Romans had a tradition that it was
Pyrrhus that taught them to fortify their camps.
5: Epirot levies. Prior to this period Epirot foot would have been
lightly equipped with javelins and wicker pelta and do not seem to have
had much of a reputation. Given the limited finances of the kingdom, the
re-equipment of Epirot foot as phalangites was likely to have been
gradual and not necessarily completed until the expansion of the kingdom
under Pyrrhus from 294BC.
6: Ambraciot and Corcyran warships. Pyrrhus had control of Ambracia
from 294BC and it is here that the famous 7er that was later captured by
the Carthaginians (and subsequently by the Romans in the 1st Punic War)
was built. Prior to this it is unlikely the Epirots had any significant
naval capability. In 294BC Pyrrhus also married the daughter of
Agathocles of Syracuse, whose dowry included the island of Corcyra which
had a significant history as a naval power. However the marriage did not
last and it may not have been until 281BC that Pyrrhus finally had
control of the island and it's navy.
7: Mercenary archers and slingers. The force Pyrrhus took to Italy
contained 2500 of these, an exceptional number for the time. They were
obviously a troop type he valued and the assumption is he began
employing them as soon as he could afford to.
8: Aitolian, Acarnanian and Athamanian troops. In 295BC Pyrrhus
intervened in a Macedonian dynastic dispute, gaining parts of Upper
Macedonia as well as Acarnania, Athamania, Amphilochia and Ambracia, all
of which had all been under Macedonian control. He also concluded an
alliance with the Aitolians, subsequently campaigning with them against
Demetrius in 288BC. The alliance appears to have lasted until at least
Pyrrhus's death. While the date is too early, the Hellenistic Greek
list, substituting hoplites for thureophoroi, is a better source for
Aitolians of this period than Later Hoplite Greek.
9: Elephants. Exactly how and when Pyrrhus obtained his elephants
is subject to debate. The earliest possible date is following his
intervention in Macedon in 295BC, the latest as part of his preparation
for the Italian expedition in 280BC. However the most likely moment
remains 287BC, Pyrrhus and Lysimachus splitting the Macedonian elephant
herd between them as part of the division of Macedon following the
defeat of Demetrius. Pyrrhus took 20 elephants to Italy but few, if any,
returned with him. However, when he invaded Macedon on his return from
Italy he captured the elephant herd of Antigonos Gonatas and so had 24
beasts for the invasion of the Peleponesse in 272BC.
10: Illyrians. One of Pyrrhus's wives was Illyrian and, following
his ejection from Macedon by Lysimachus in 284BC, he extended his
control nothwards into Illyria, perhaps as far as Epidamnus. While
Illyrians are never mentioned serving Pyrrhus, given his limited numbers
and their availability and reputation it seems likely that at least some
would have been employed. A force of up to 1000 seems plausible and
would be small enough to have escaped notice in our meagre surviving
sources.
11: Equip generals with javelins and shields. Having this as Any
rather than All follows the existing list on the basis of Pyrrhus still
using the xyston in his last battles. I'm not entirely convinced by this
but have retained it for now.
12: Equip cavalry with javelins and shields. Pyrrhus's Italian
expedition has been associated with the introduction of shielded cavalry
to mainland Greece. The assumption is his returning cavalry would
already have made the change.
13: Galatians. On his return from Italy, Pyrrhus immediately
employed 2000 of these. Their use as assault troops in the attack on
Sparta confirms the appropriateness of their Wb(S) classification.
14: Regrade mercenaries as thureophoroi. This is for consistency
with parallel lists which date the introduction of the thureos from 275BC.
Pyrrhus in Italy: 280BC to 272BC
Under Discussion
Author: A. Bennetts
Warm. Ag 2. WW, Rv, H(S), H(G), O, V, E, RGo, Rd, BUA
Nominal List Scale: 1 element = 500 men (twice normal scale);
CinC Reg Kn(F) or Cv(O) 1
Sub Generals Reg Kn(F) or Cv(O) 1-2
Epirot or Macedonian cavalry with xyston, Reg Kn(F) 1-3 (1)
Thessalian, Italiot or Oscan cavalry Reg Cv(O) 2-6
Aetolian, Acarnanian or Athamanian cavalry, Irr LH(O) 1-3
Tarantine light horse Reg LH(O) 2-4 (2)
Elephants, Irr El(O) 1-2 (3)
Epirot, Macedonian or Mercenary phalangites Reg Pk(O) 12-32 (4)
Tarantine and other Italiote citizen militia, Reg Sp(I) 12-32
Replace Tarantine or other Italiote citizen militia Sp(other than marines for warships) with Reg Pk(I) All or None (5)
Italiote, Siciliote or Oscan mercenaries: Up to half Reg Ax(O), otherwise Reg Sp(O) 0-12 (6)
Aetolian, Acarnanian or Athamanian infantry, Irr Ps(S) 4-16
Archers and slingers, Reg Ps(O) 5-10 (7)
Epirot & Tarantine warships Reg Gal(O) {Sp or Ps} 0-6 (8)
Replace Epirot and Macedonian cavalry with xyston with Epirot and Macedonian cavalry with javelins & shield as Reg Cv(O) Any (9)
Reduce the number of archers and slingers and replace Elephants with Escorted Elephants: as El(S) All or None
Archers and slingers, Reg Ps(O) 0-6 (10)
Replace Gal(O) warships with Pyrrhus's flagship as Reg Gal(S) 0-1 (11)
Camp defences, TF 0-12 (12)
Only in 280BC
Lucanian Allies -
Campanian, Apulian, Lucanian and Bruttian (Bk2) up to 12
Samnite Allies - Samnite (Bk2) up to 12
Only in 279BC
Bruttian infantry, Reg Ax(O) up to 10
Lucanian infantry, Reg Ax(O) or Reg Ax(S) up to 10
Samnite infantry, Reg Ax(O) or Reg Ax(S) up to 10
Only in 275BC
Samnite Allies - Samnite (Bk2) (13)
This list covers the expedition to Italy of Pyrrhus of Epirus in
response to a request for aid by the Greek city of Taras (Tarentum).
Pyrrhus's expedition began in 280BC and he defeated the Romans at the
battles of Heraclea and Asculum before switching operations to Sicily in
278BC to fight the Carthaginians at the request of Syracuse. Returning
to Italy in 275BC, he fought the Romans again at Beneventum in 275BC, a
battle the Romans claimed as a victory but which was more likely a hard
fought draw. Pyrrhus himself returned to Greece soon after but it was
not until after his death in 272BC that the last Epirot forces were
withdrawn from Italy. While ancient sources regard Pyrrhus alongside
Alexander the Great and Hannibal as a general, the costliness of his
victories over the Romans gave rise to the expression 'Pyrrhic Victory'.
For his Sicilian expedition, Pyrrhus took less than 10,000 of his own
troops, and was joined by twice that number of locals. This is best
represented as an allied contingent in the Syracusan list but with
Pyrrhus replacing the Syracusan CinC. Such a contingent may not
include otherwise compulsory Thessalian, Italiote or Oscan cavalry,
Tarantine light horse or Tarantine or Italiote citizens. It need not
include compulsory troops other than Epirot or Macedonian cavalry,
phalangites and elephants. The Syracusan list is assumed to be in
normal rather than double nominal scale so, when calculating the
contingent from this list, elephants can be included up to the list
maximum, but other element minima and maxima must be doubled.
Italiotes are the Greek inhabitants of Southern Italy (including the
Tarantines), Siciliotes the Greeks of Sicily (including Syracuse).
Oscans is the general term for the culturally related Apulian, Lucanian,
Bruttian and Samnite peoples of Central and Southern Italy.
This list does not cover Epirot armies in Greece nor the earlier Epirot
expedition to Italy of Alexander the Molossian (333BC – 330BC). These
are covered separately.
Notes:
Aggression and Terrain: The expeditions of Pyrrhus was not an invasion
as such but, at least nominally, to assist Taras in an essentially
defensive war. Of the three major battles Pyrrhus fought against the
Romans, Heraclea was near Taras itself, Asculum was in hostile Apulia
and Beneventum in allied friendly Samnium. Given the opposing Oscans and
Camillan Romans have Ag 1 (which BTW I believe is too low), an Ag of 2
seems appropriate. Terrain choices represent Southern Italy rather than
Western Greece.
Nominal List Scale: Once joined by his Italian allies, Pyhrrus's field
army in Italy operated in the 30,000-50,000 range (or more if
Dionysius's figures are taken literally). If Oscan allied troops are to
be included, this requires a nominal scale of 1 element to 500 to
represent in 400 - 600 AP.
1: Pyrrhus was renowned as a hand to hand fighter but was also
noted for his prudence and cool head in action. He has also been
associated with the Greek adoption of shielded javelin cavalry from the
Italians. Other Generals could include subordinate Italians, whether
Greek or Oscan, as well as Epirots. Generals can therefore be fielded as
Kn(F) or Cv(O). Generals of a command otherwise entirely of foot
dismount as Ax(S).
2: Cavalry numbers. These are hard to judge but Pyrrhus brought
3000 horse with him (6 elements) and perhaps half of these would have
been Epirot or Macedonian. The remainder were Aetolian and similar and
Thessalians, who were probably provided by Ptolemy Ceraunos. Estimates
for the Thessalians range from 400 to 1000 (or 4000 if Justin is taken
literally!). Up to 2 elements of Thessalians are included with the
Italian Cv while, on the basis that skirmisher elements probably
represent less men than the nominal 500, up to 3 elements seems about
right for the Aetolians and similar. The Thessalians may have returned
home in 278BC. Strabo gives Taras 1000 heavy and 3000 light horse but,
if this was a full levy, rather fewer are likely to have made the field
in an allied army. Other Italiote and Oscan cavalry would also be
available, either allied or mercenary. Including generals, the total
number of elements allowed is generous but consistent with numbers in
contemporaneous lists.
3: Elephant numbers. Pyrrhus took 20 Elephants with him to Italy.
This is not enough to justify 2 elements at double scale but they were
too prominent a feature of his army for a single element to be sufficient.
4: Epirot, Macedonian or Mercenary phalangites. As Pyrrhus's
expedition was heavily financed by the other Successor kingdoms it is
possible that it included mercenaries, in which case they are assumed to
have been drafted into the phalanx. His phalanx did include some highly
regarded Macedonians who were probably supplied by Ptolemy Ceranus and
may have returned home in 278BC. While it is generally recognised that
phalangites of the period could replace sarissa with javelins for
special operations there would be less need for this in Italy due to the
more open terrain and the availability of suitable of local troops. The
option to re-arm with javelins is therefore not available.
5: Citizen phalangites. The citizen troops of Taras are described
as forming a white shielded phalanx. Whether this is a sarissa or
hoplite phalanx is unclear but Pyrrhus is explicitly credited with
reorganising the Tarantine citizens militia and may well have taken this
opportunity to introduce the sarissa.
6: Italiote, Siciliote or Oscan mercenaries. Italian mercenaries
were likely to have been employed by Taras and would have been available
to Pyrrhus. Italiote or Siciliote Greeks would be hoplites, Oscans could
be armed in their native style or, if Campanian, as hoplites.
7: The number of Aetolian Acarnanian and similar infantry in
Pyrrhus's expedition is unknown but probably in the range of 2000 to
4000. These troops are described being used against enemy defending a
steep wooded hill at Asculum, suggesting they remained javelin
skirmishers. Plutarch lists 2000 archers and 500 slingers in Pyrrhus's
expedition. The minima and maxima are based on these numbers and allow
skirmisher elements to represent as few as half the number of men per
element as the list nominal scale.
8: Tarantine warships. Taras was the major naval power of Southern
Italy. It assisted in the transport of Pyrrhus to both Italy and Sicily
and also in Pyrrhus's operations against Rhegium following his return
from Sicily. 6 Galleys seems an appropriate allowance.
9: Equip cavalry with javelins and shields. Pyrrhus's Italian
expedition has been associated with the introduction of shielded cavalry
to mainland Greece. If true, it is assumed that cavalry in Italy would
have made the change prior to their return.
10: Escorted elephants. This is based on two premises. The first is
the need to relect the effect that Pyrrhus's elephants had on the
Romans, especially their infantry. Against a Camillan Roman army of 2/3
Sp, 1/3 Bd, El(S) have a much better chance of achieving this than
El(O). The second premise comes from an attempt to understand why
Plutarch separates out Pyrrhus's archers and slingers from the rest of
his infantry. It cannot be because they were the only light troops as we
know Aetolians and similar are included in the other 20,000 infantry and
these were almost certainly javelin skirmishers. The suggestion is that
at least some of the archers and slingers had a special role as elephant
escorts. Corroraboration for this is found in accounts of Asculum.
Plutarch states the elephants were provided with contingents of archers
and slingers while Dionysius describes close co-operation between the
elephants and the light armed in defeating the Roman anti-elephant wagons.
11: Pyrrhus's flagship. While the Epirot navy was never large, it
did include at least one vessel of particular size, Pyrrhus's flagship
7er. This particular vessel was later captured by the Carthaginians
following Pyrrhus's retreat from Sicily but by then he may have been
using a Syracusan 9er as his flagship. The 7er taken by the
Carthaginians was used by them in the First Punic War and eventually
captured by the Romans.
12: Camp Defences. Camp defences were not unknown to the
Macedonians and their Successors while the Romans had a tradition that
it was Pyrrhus who taught them to fortify their camps.
13: Oscan allies. Pyrrhus and the Tarantines were joined after the
battle of Heraclea by allied contingents from the Samnites and
Lucanians, both of whom were also at war with the Romans. They were
expected before the battle and their late arrival strikes as deliberate
tardiness, indicating they were perhaps potentially unreliable. These
ally contingents are restricted in size as they were unlikely to be the
main field armies of the respective nations. Dionysius's account of the
battle of Asculum has all the Oscan forces, including the Bruttians,
distributed throughout the overall army rather than acting as separate
entities. This suggests that a year of campaigning with Pyrrhus had seen
these contingents absorbed into the overall command structure. The total
number of Oscans at Asculum must have been 15,000 or more. Pyrrhus's
Beneventum campaign in 275BC was in support of the Samnites, who were
already fighting against a Roman invasion. Plutarch says that few
Samnites joined Pyrrhus for this campaign as they were still upset by
his abandonment of them to go to Sicily. This suggests that their main
army was not present but they remain available as potential allies.
Lucanians and Bruttians are not mentioned in this campaign.
Modification to Syracusan (Book 2 List 9)
Between 278BC and 276BC
Pyrrhic Allies – List: Tarantine Epirot (Book 2)
Add to Notes:
Pyrrhic Allies represent the expedition of Pyrrhus of Epirus to assist
the Syracusans against the Carthaginians. Pyrrhus brought less than
10,000 of his own troops (but including the elephants) and was joined by
20,000 Syracusans and other Siciliotes. If used, the Pyrrhic contingent
is chosen as described under the Tarantine Epirot list. However it does
not count as an allied command. Instead, it's general (Pyrrhus) replaces
the Syracusan CinC as army commander. His command must contain all
Pyrrhic troops but can also include others.
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