There are some who would have the pikes of the rear ranks progressively longer than those carried by the forward ranks so that the tips of the weapons carried by the third or even fourth rank will project the same distance as those carried by the front rank and also be able to reach an opponent.9
Furthermore, the supernumerary rear-commander [ouragos] of every syntagma should be a man of intelligence. He should see to it that every man in his line holds their position in both rank and file, and he should compel any man who is quitting his post, either from cowardice or on any other account, to resume it again. When a close-order formation is called for, the ouragos should ensure that his men lock up as close together as possible, for it is this that gives stability to the whole formation and is of great consequence. It is for these reasons that a soldier who is equal to the duties of a superior officer is placed not only at the front of the line, but at the rear of the line also.
ιε’ Περὶ τῶν ψιλῶν· πῶς αὐτοὺς δεῖ τετάχθαι
Αὐτάρκως δὲ εἰρηκότες περὶ τοῦ καταλοχισμοῦ τῶν ἐν τῇ φάλαγγι ὁπλιτῶν, νῦν καὶ περὶ τῶν ψιλῶν δηλώσομεν. ταγήσονται δὲ ὑπο τοῦ στρατηγοῦ πρὸς τὰς τῶν πολεμίων παρασκευάς, [ὁτὰς]a μὲν προτασσόμενοι [ὅταν δὲ ὀπίσω]b τῆς φάλαγγος, [ὁτὲ δὲ ἐκ τῶν δεξιῶν καὶ εὐωνύμων, οτὲ δὲ ὑποτασσόμενοι ὀπίσω τῆς φάλαγγος],c ὡς ἂν ἀπαιτῇ τὸ πρᾶγμα. νῦν δὲ συντετάχθωσαν οὕτως. λόχους μὲν καὶ ἐν τοῖς ψιλοῖς τάξομεν [χιλίους]d καὶ εἴκοσι τέσσαρες, τοὺς ἴσους [τῶν]e ἐν τῇ φάλαγγι, ὥστε ὑπὸ [τὸν]f πρῶτον [λόχον]g τῶν ὁπλιτῶν τὸν πρῶτον λόχον τῶν ψιλῶν τετάχθαι, [καὶ]h ὑπὸ τὸν δεύτερον [τὸν δεύτερον],i καὶ ὁμοίως κατὰ τὸ ἑξῆς, οὐ μέντοι δεκαὲξ ἀνδρῶν, [εἶναι ἀλλὰ τοὺς]j [ἡμίσεις]k ἐξ ὀκτὼ ἀνδρῶν, ὥστε τοὺς [χιλίους]l καὶ εἴκοσι τέσσαρες λόχους ἀνδρῶν εἶναι [ὀκταχίλιους]m καὶ ἑκατον καὶ ένενήκοντα δύο.
15. Light troops, how they are organized1
Having already treated at length all of the things concerning the proper positioning of the armed infantry within the main body of the phalanx, I will now elaborate on the deployment of the light-armed psiloi. They must be posted by the commander in such a manner as the order of battle chosen by the enemy dictates. Sometimes the psiloi will be positioned in the front of the line, while at other times they will be positioned behind the line, depending upon the tactical requirements of each situation. They may, for example, be formed in this manner: arranged into 1,024 files (the same number of files as are in the phalanx itself) they will, however, be positioned so that the first file of psiloi is directly behind the first file of the phalanx, the second file of light troops behind the second file of the phalanx, and so on. The files of the light infantry ought not to be sixteen men deep, but only half that number, namely eight deep. Thus, 1,024 files of light troops will contain 8,192 men.2
ις’ Ὅτι χιλίους εἴκοσι τέσσαρας λόχους τῶν ψιλῶν
Ὀνόματα δὲ αὐτῶν καὶ τάξεις εἰσὶν αἱ ὑποτεταγμέναι. οἱ τέσσαρες λόχοι τῶν ψιλῶν [καλοῦνται]a σύστασις, ἀνδρῶν τριάκοντα δύο, αἱ δὲ δύο συστάσεις πεντηκονταρχία, ἀνδρῶν ἑξήκοντα τέσσαρες, αἱ δὲ δύο πεντηκονταρχίαι ἑκατονταρχία, ἀνδρῶν ἑκατον καὶ εἴκοσι ὀκτώ. καθ’ ἑκάστην δὲ ἑκατονταρχίαν ἔκτακτοι [ἀνδρες]b ἔσονται πέντε. σημειοφόρος [καὶ]c οὐραγὸς [καὶ]d σαλπιγκτὴς [καὶ]e ὑπηρέτης [καὶ]f στρατοκῆρυξ. αἱ δὲ δύο ἑκατονταρχίαι εἰσὶ μὲν ἀνδρῶν διᾶκόσιοι καὶ πεντήκοντα ἕξ, καλεῖται δὲ ψιλαγία. αἱ δὲ [δύο]g ψιλαγίαι ξεναγία, ἀνδρῶν πεντακόσιοι καὶ δώδεκα. αἱ [δὲ]h δύο ξεναγίαι σύστρεμμα, ἀνδρῶν χιλίοι καὶ εἴκοσι τέσσαρες. τὰ δὲ δύο συστρέμματα ἐπιξεναγία, ἀνδρῶν δισχίλιοι καὶ τέσσαράκοντα ὀκτώ. αἱ δὲ δύο ἐπιξεναγίαι στῖφος, ἀνδρῶν τετραχίλιοι καὶ [ένηνήκοντα]i [ἕξ].j τὰ δὲ δύο στίφη ἐπίταγμα, λόχων μὲν χιλίοι καὶ εἴκοσι τέσσαρες, ἀνδρῶν δὲ ὀκταχίλιοι καὶ ἑκατον καὶ [ένηνήκοντα]k δύο. δεῖ δὲ καὶ τούτοις ὑπάρχειν [ἀνδρας]l ὀκτὼ ἐκτάκτους, ὧν οἱ μὲν τέσσαρες ἔσονται ἐπιξεναγοί, οἱ δὲ [τέσσαρες]m συστρεμματάρχαι.
16. On the 1,024 files of light troops1
The name and size of the various units of light troops are as follows: four files make up what is called a systasis [σύστασις] containing thirty-two men. Two systases make up a pentacontarchia [πεντηκονταρχία] containing sixty-four men. (See Plate 6.) Two pentacontarchiae make up a hecatontarchia [ἑκατονταρχία] containing 128 men. In each hecatontarchia there should be five supernumeraries [ektaktoi, ἔκτακτοι]: a standard-bearer [semeiphoros, σημειφόρος], a rear commander [ouragos, οὐραγός], a trumpeter [salpigktēs, σαλπιγκτής], an aide-de-camp [huperetēs, ὑπηρέτης], and a herald [stratokērux, στρατοκῆρυξ]. Two hecatontarchiae, containing 256 men, are called a psilagia [ψιλαγία]. Two psilagiae make a xenagia [ξεναγία] of 512 men. Two xenagiae form a systremma [σύστρεμμα] of 1,024 men.2 Two systremmae make an epixenagia [ἐπιξεναγία] of 2,048 men. Two epixenagiae form a stiphos [στίφος] containing 4,096 men. Two stiphoi form an epitagma [ἐπίταγμα] of 8,192 men arranged in 1,024 files. These ought to have eight supernumeraries, four of whom command the epixenagiae, while four are the systremmatarchs.3
ιζ’ Περὶ τῆς εὐχρηστίας τῶν ἀκροβολιστῶν
Ὁ δὲ ἀκοντιστὴς καὶ ὁ τοξότης καὶ πᾶς ὁ ἀκροβολιστικοῖς χρώμενος πρὸς τὸ κατάρξασθαι καὶ ἐκκαλέσασθαι καὶ τὰ ὅπλα κατακόψαι καὶ τραύματα καὶ πτώματα ἐκ διαστήματος ποιῆσαι καὶ τὰς τάξεις διαλῦσαι καὶ ἵππον ἀποκρούσασθαι καὶ [τόπους ὑπερδεξίους θᾶττον καταλαβέσθαι καὶ]a τοὺς προκατειλημμένους βάλλοντας [ὑποχωρεῖν]b ἀναγκάσαι καὶ τοὺς ὑπόπτους τῶν τόπων ἐρευνῆσαι καὶ ἐνέδρας παρασκευάσαι. τὸ δὲ ὅλον εἰπεῖν, [αὐτοι]c καὶ προαγωνιζόμενοι καὶ συναγωνιζόμενοι [καὶ ἐπιμαχόμενοι καὶ καθόλου τὰς ὀξείας καὶ ἐξ ἀποστήματος πράξεις παρεχόμενοι]d πολλὰ καὶ μεγάλα κατεργάζονται περὶ τὰς μάχας.
17. On the use of missile troops1
Javelineers, archers and all of those who cast missiles of any kind are of use to open a battle, to provoke the enemy, to damage their defences, to inflict wounds, to kill from a distance, and to disrupt their ranks.2 They are also useful to repulse an early and ill-formed charge of cavalry, to drive back advanced skirmishers, to probe into areas where an enemy ambush may lay in wait, as well as to occasionally lay in ambush themselves. In other
words, by commencing an attack before other troops, and by supporting them once they are engaged, missile troops produce many important effects in battle.
ιη’ Πόσα εἴδη τῆς ἱππικῆς συντάξεως τοῖς ἀρχαίοις ἐπενοήθη
Τὰς δὲ τῶν ἱππέων τάξεις ἤτοι τετραγώνους ἤ ἑτερομήκεις ἢ ῥομβοειδεῖς ἢ ἐμβολοειδεῖς οἱ [πρὸς]a ἡμῶν συνέταξαν. οὐδεὶς δέ, ὡς ἔπος εἰπεῖν, σαφῶς ἡμῖν παρέδωκε τὸ βούλημα, διόπερ ἡμεῖς καὶ ἐπὶ καταγραφῆς τὰ σχήματα τάξομεν, ὅπως εὐσύνοπτα γένηται.
ταῖς μὲν οὖν ῥομβοειδέσι δοκοῦσι Θεσσαλοὶ κεχρῆσθαι ἐν ἱππικῇ πολὺ δυνηθέντες, Ἰάσονος, [σφασι]b, πρώτου τὸ σχῆμα τοῦτο ἐπινοήσαντος ὡς ἐπιτηδειότατον πρὸς πάσας τὰς χρείας, καὶ τάχιστα μὲν πρὸς ἑκάστην ἐπιφάνειαν στρέφεσθαι δυναμένων τῶν ἐν τῷ σχήματι τούτῳ τεταγμένων ἱππέων. ἥκιστα δὲ κατὰ νώτου καὶ [πλαγίων]c ἁλίσκεσθαι. τούς τε γὰρ ἀρίστους τῶν ἱππέων ἐπὶ τῶν πλευρῶν τοῦ ῥόμβου τάσσεσθαι καὶ κατὰ τὰς γωνίας τοὺς ἡγεμόνας. ἐπὶ μὲν τῆς ἔμπροσθεν γωνίας τὸν ἰλάρχην, ἐπὶ δὲ τῆς δεξιᾶς καὶ εὐωνύμου γωνίας τοὺς καλουμένους πλαγιοφύλακας, ἐπὶ δὲ τῆς λοιπῆς τὸν οὐραγόν.
ταῖς δὲ ἐμβολοειδέσι Σκύθαι δοκοῦσι κεχρῆσθαι καὶ Θρᾷκες, καὶ Μακεδόνες [δὲ]d ἐχρήσαντο Φιλίππου τοῦτο εἰση γησαμένου. τὴν γὰρ χρείαν ἐνεργεστέραν ταύτας ἔχειν μᾶλλον τῶν τετραγώνων ὑπέλαβον διὰ τὸ κύκλῳ τοὺς ἡγεμόνας τετάχθαι, τὸ δὲ μέτωπον βραχύ τι γενόμενον καὶ τὴν [διίππευσιν]e εὔχρηστον ποιεῖν διὰ τοῦ τυχόντος διαστήματος καὶ τὴν ἀναστροφὴν [καὶ]f ἐπιστροφὴν σύντομον. οὐ γὰρ ἔχειν δυσκόλους τὰς περιαγωγάς, ὥσπερ [τὰς]g τετραγώνους.
ταῖς μέντοι τετραγώνοις ἐχρήσαντο Πέρσαι τε καὶ Σικελοὶ καὶ τῶν Ἑλλήνων οἱ πλεῖστοι, πεπεισμένοι καὶ τὴν σύνθεσιν ἔχειν εὐχερεστέραν καὶ τὴν συνίππευσιν καὶ τὴν χρείαν [πολλῷ]h βελτίω. τήν τε γὰρ σύνταξιν εὐχερεστέραν [ἔχειν]i κατά τε στίχον καὶ κατὰ ζυγόν, τεταγμένων [καὶ μόνων τούτων]j πάντας τοὺς ἡγεμόνας [ἀθρόως]k ἐμπίπτειν τοῖς πολεμίοις.
ἄρισται δέ εἰσιν αἱ διπλάσιον τὸν ἀριθμὸν [τὸν]l ἐν τῷ μήκει ἔχουσαι ἤπερ ἐν τῷ βάθει, οἷον ὀκτὼ μὲν τὸ μῆκος, τέσσαρες δὲ τὸ βάθος, ἢ δέκα μὲν τὸ μῆκος, πέντε δὲ τὸ βάθος. αὗται δὲ τῷ μὲν ἀριθμῷ εἰσιν ἑτερομήκεις, τῷ δὲ σχήματι γίνονται τετράγωνοι. τὸ γὰρ [τοῦ]m ἵππου ἀπὸ κεφαλῆς ἐπὶ οὐρὰν μῆκος πρὸς τὸ πλάτος συγκρινόμενον τοὺς κατὰ [τὰ]n [ζυγὰ]o τασσομένους τῶν κατὰ τοὺς στίχους πλείονας ἔχειν ὀφείλει. ἔνιοι δὲ τριπλάσιον ἐποίησαν τὸν ἀριθμὸν τῶν ἐν τῷ μήκει τεταγμένων παρὰ τοὺς ἐν τῷ βάθει, οὕτως δοκοῦντες τετράγωνον ποιήσειν τὸ σχῆμα. δοκεῖ γὰρ τριπλάσιον ὡς ἐπίπαν εἶναι τὸ μῆκος τοῦ ἵππου τοῦ κατὰ τοὺς ὤμους πλάτους, ὅθεν ἐννέα ἐν τῷ μετώπῳ τάσσοντες τρεῖς ἐν τῷ βάθει ποιοῦσιν.
οὐδὲ γὰρ τὸ πλῆθος τῶν ὄπισθεν [ἵππέων]p τὴν αὐτὴν ὠφέλειαν παρέχει, ἣν ἐπὶ τῶν πεζῶν τὸ βάθος ὄπισθεν ἐπερείδοντες. οὐδὲν γὰρ συμβάλλονται πρὸς τὴν σφοδρότητα τῆς ἀντερείσεως. οὐδὲ γὰρ ἐπωθοῦσιν οὐδὲ συνέχουσι τοὺς πρὸ ἑαυτῶν τοῦ σύμπαντος πλήθους ἕν τι βάρος ἀποτελοῦντος, ἐπιβάλλοντες δὲ τοὺς πρὸ ἑαυτῶν κακοποιήσουσιν, ἑαυτοὺς μᾶλλον [ἢ]q τῶν ἐναντίων [ἐν]r ἐκταράξαντες τοὺς ἵππους.
διόπερ [ἀεὶ]s συμβαίνει, ὅταν ἶσος [ὁ]t ἀριθμὸς τῶν ἱππέων ὁ τοῦ μήκους πρὸς [τὸ]u βάθος τυγχάνῃ, τὸν μὲν ἀριθμὸν τετράγωνον γίνεσθαι, τὸ δὲ σχῆμα ἑτερόμηκες τοῦ βάθους μείζονος ὄντος ἢ τοῦ μήκους. ὅταν δὲ τὸ σχῆμα τῆς [ἴλης]v τετράγωνον ᾖ, ὁ ἀριθμὸς τῶν ἱππέων γίνεται ἑτερομήκης.
18. What the ancients thought about cavalry formations1
Several previous authors have discussed the arrangement of cavalry into squares, parallelograms, the rhombus and the wedge.2 Unfortunately, none of these former writers have expressed themselves clearly. In order to make the concepts better understood, the descriptions shall be combined with figures so that the meaning may be comprehended with one glance of the eye.
The Thessalians, who were powerful in cavalry, seem to have been the first to have organized their horse into the rhombus (a formation originally attributed to Jason) as a formation adaptable to best meet all emergencies, as horse drawn up in such a formation are ready to face in any direction with the utmost speed and are less likely to be attacked from the flanks or rear.3 The best men are placed along the outside edges of the rhombus while the officers are positioned at the corners. The commander of the troop [ilarch, ιλάρχης] is posted into the leading corner of the formation, the flank-guards [plagiophylakai, πλαγιοφύλακαι] are positioned in the corners on the left and right-hand sides, and a fourth officer [ouragos, οὐραγός] is posted into the rearward corner. (See Plate 7.)
The Scythians and the Thracians seem to have been the first to have drawn up their cavalry into a wedge formation. (See Plate 8.) This formation was later adopted by the Macedonians, introduced into their armies by Philip, who considered the wedge formation more useful than the square, as the officers are placed all around the outside and, with such a narrow frontage, the motions of the squadron are easily performed and it passes swiftly through any given space. Added to this, movement such as wheeling and returning to the original position are performed in a shorter time and are less circuitous than when performed in a square.
The Persians, the Sicilians and, generally speaking, the Greeks used square formations, being of the opinion that they were more easily formed and better suited to the easy preservation of the formation and general use. The formation can be created with greater ease, whether arranged by rank or file. Additionally, in this form only, the experienced officers have the ability to charge the enemy simultaneously.4
Those squares are the best that have twice the number of men across the width of the formation as there are to its depth, such as eight in width and four deep, or ten in width and five deep; for, although the relative proportions of rank to file will differ, the square shape will remain as the length of a horse, from head to tail, compared to its breadth will allow for more men and mounts in the ranks than
in the files to make a complete square. Some commanders make the width of the formation three times greater than its depth, convinced that this more readily creates a regular square, as the length of a horse is generally three times the width of its shoulders and breast. Consequently, such formations may have a width of nine and a depth of three. (See Plate 9.)
Those following in the rear ranks in no way support the leaders as happens in infantry formations.5 The rear ranks do not contribute to how well an enemy charge is resisted, nor do they increase the momentum of those before them, nor close up with them, nor, holding on to each other, make a solid mass.6 If the leading files are pressed forward from the rear, the horses become annoyed, create disorder and are more likely to do harm to themselves than to the enemy.
If it ever happens that the number of men is equal in terms of both width and depth, then a square is formed in regards only to the numbers, but the formation actually takes on an oblong configuration, whereas if the formation itself is actually square in shape, then the number of men in the ranks and files has to be unequal. (See Plate 9.)
ἰθ’ Πῶς τῶν ῥομβοειδῶν ἱππέων
Δοκεῖ δὲ τὸ ῥομβοειδὲς σχῆμα ἀναγκαιότατον παρειλῆφθαι. τοῦ γὰρ [ἰλάρχου]a πρώτου τασσομένου οἱ ἐξ ἑκατέρου μέρους τασσόμενοι ἱππεῖς οὐκ ἐξ ἴσου τῷ [ἰλάρχῃ]b ζυγεῖν ὀφείλουσιν, ἀλλὰ ὑποβεβηκέναι ὥστε τὰς κεφαλὰς [τῶν ἱππέων]c αὐτῶν κατὰ τοὺς ὤμους τοῦ ἵππου τοῦ [ἰλάρχου]d τετάχθαι, διαστήματά τε ἀπ’ ἀλλήλων τοὺς ἱππέας ἔχειν τούς τε [ἐκ τῶν δεξιῶν μερῶν]e καὶ [τῶν]f εὐωνύμων ὄντας καὶ τοὺς ὀπίσω ἐν τοῖς μέρεσι τεταγμένους, ἵνα μὴ ἡ συνέχεια τάραχον ἐμποιῇ λακτίσμασί τινῶν περιπιπτόντων πολλάκις τῶν ἵππων [καὶ]g τραχυτέρων τὰς φύσεις ὄντων, ἔν τε τῷ ἀναστρέφειν ἵνα μὴ παράμηκες ὂν τὸ ζῷον εἰς τοὺς πλησίον ἵππους ἐντινάσσον [τραύματα]h τοῖς ἀγωνιζομένοις παρέχηται.
The Tactics of Aelian Page 7