Page 82 - History of War - Issue 30-16

WORDS MARCEL SERR

Discover the greatest army of the Iron Age Middle
East, and how it almost captured Jerusalem

he Assyrian Empire originated on the Assyrians were able to wage war all year long
upper Tigris River between the cities and to i eld a force of 150-200,000 men.
Tof Nimrud, Nineveh and Ashur in what This army was the i rst to be mainly equipped
is now known as the north-west of Iraq. with iron weapons and armour. Iron metallurgy
The geo-strategic position of its mainland had probably been invented by the Hittites
was somewhat precarious, because the area around 1300 BCE and had spread in the
lacked wood and usable stone for construction following centuries. Compared with bronze, iron
purposes, as well as iron ore for the production was a superior material because cold forging
of weapons, and steppes to breed horses. The created stronger and more reliable arms.
topography provided no natural barriers for A few centuries later, the discovery of
invaders, meaning if Assyria wanted to survive, tempering made iron the best material for arms
it had to conquer its neighbours. production. The widespread availability of iron
In the 9th century BCE it expanded its ore decreased production costs, making it even
territory extensively and emerged as the more attractive. Even minor powers were able
dominant power of the Middle East. 100 years to muster and equip formidable armies with
later, Tiglath-Pileser III (745-727 BCE) seized affordable, yet reliable weapons. It’s no wonder
the Assyrian crown and killed the royal family. that wars then became much more frequent,
Not only was he an excellent administrative and the Assyrians were the i rst to fully exploit
and military reformer, but a gifted general who the possibilities of this new Iron Age.
conquered most of the Middle East. The ancient Assyrians i elded a complex
The Assyrian army was the major instrument combined-arms i ghting force consisting
facilitating this expansion. Tiglath-Pileser of infantry, chariots, cavalry, sappers and
reformed the army, providing it with a strong auxiliaries. The king acted as supreme
backbone of professional, full-time soldiers commander and usually led the campaigns.
supported by contingents from conquered The heavy infantrymen provided the bulk of
realms. Commanding a standing army, the the army, supported by archers, slingers and
shield bearers. The archers were considered
as particularly dangerous because their iron
arrowheads easily penetrated the enemy
armour, while the invention of the quiver
WITH THEIR SPEARS AND SHIELDS, THESE MEN MADE increased their shot frequency immensely.
UP THE BULK OF THE ASSYRIAN ARMY Cavalry and war chariots formed elite forces.
A heavy infantryman would be armed with a two-edged Chariots were manned by a driver, an archer
lance, to be wielded as a close-range thrusting weapon, as and a shield bearer, serving as mobile artillery.
well as with a straight sword. His armour consisted of the If the terrain were suitable, they were deployed
characteristic Assyrian conical iron helmets, knee-long fringed as shock troops against the enemy’s infantry
coats, and lamellar body armour. The shield was a cone of ranks. When mounted archers were introduced
leather, edged and embossed with bronze. in the 9th century BCE, the cavalry became
increasingly important.

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