Page 54 - All About History - Issue 09-14

Alexander the Great

Alexander’S ARMY
How the Ancient Greeks fought and conquered

1. Companion cavalry 2. Thessalian Cavalry 3. Hoplites 4. Phalanx 5. Hypaspists
Strengths Strengths Hoplites were the basic foot Strengths The Hypaspists were Alexander’s
Well trained, wedge formation Well trained, diamond formation soldier of the Greek states. The phalanx formation is close-quarter shock troops.
made turning easier, heavy for manoeuvrability, variety of Strengths devastating against cavalry, well Strengths
bronze armour. weapons. Versatile and adaptable. trained and fast moving. Versatile close combat specialists,
Weaknesses Weaknesses Weaknesses Weaknesses well-trained veterans.
Vulnerable to tightly Lighter armour than most Low training, light armour. Vulnerable in the flanks and rear, Weaknesses
packed infantry. heavy cavalry. How did Alexander lightly equipped. Vulnerable to cavalry and massed
How did Alexander How did Alexander deploy them? How did Alexander infantry.
deploy them? deploy them? Hoplites were the citizen men- deploy them? How did Alexander
Led by Alexander personally, Similar to the Companion Cavalry, at-arms of the other Greek states Created by Alexander’s father deploy them?
the Companion Cavalry were the Thessalian Cavalry’s lighter and one of the army’s main the well-drilled and fast-moving Macedonia’s elite commandos,
the unstoppable knights of armour and shorter spears and cornerstones. Versatile but not pikemen fought in the dreaded the Hypaspists carried large round
Macedonia. Usually stationed on javelins made them an effective necessarily as well-trained or Macedonian phalanx with their shields, thrusting spears and
the right flank, they would punch defensive unit. Stationed on the heavily armoured as other units, 18-foot sarissa lance. Deployed in swords, and were placed on the
through the enemy lines with their left flank, they could go where Hoplites were placed behind the centre of the battle line, the flank of the Foot Companions for
xyston lances and then wheel they were needed to see off the phalanx to prevent the army phalanx could rush forward to tie their protection. Devastating in
round to charge the rear. any attackers. being encircled. down enemy cavalry or infantry. closed spaces.
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