The
Epirotes
See also
www.richardevers.nl
for information about the novel I wrote about the life of Pyrrhus.
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Pyrrhus of Epirus
A nephew of Alexander the great,
Pyrrhus had the family trade of a military genius. But his restless mind never
allowed for the good use of the battles he won. Several battles won against Macedon,
Rome and Carthaginians in Sicily, never
gained him a lot for long.
The
Epirote
Phalanx
Pyrrhus used a phalanx army just
like the Macedonians. The copper colours part in the middle of the pikes is a
nice technique to make the pikes look more interesting.
Macedonian Phalanx (Foundry models)
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The spears are made from a
kind of copper. First I make a point, then I flattened the point
with a hammer. |
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The
Tarentum Conscript
Phalanx
Pyrrhus arrived in Tarentum (Italy)
after a desperate cry for help from them against the Romans expansion drift. But
the Tarantines were not eager to fight with Pyrrhus. So he took control of the
city and started drilling the Greek hoplite style army into a pike phalanx.
Black Tree Greek hoplites
I like to use the Epirote this way:
The phalanx is best at pinning the enemy, and sometimes even pushing
the enemy back. With the help of light troops like the colourful
Samnites between the phalanx or on their flank this is a very
dangerous centre. On the flank the Agema Companions in a wedge are
the elite unit that can perforate the enemy in their flank. In front
of this wedge the Tarantines are placed to screen the Companians,
harass the enemy with javelins with a Parthian Shot and draw them
away with their Feigned Flight. Expensive but invaluable. On the
other flank the Chaeonian Guards are the perfect unit to defend this
flank. Drilled, Stubborn and flexible in their choice of weapons and
tactics. Again the Samnites or other light troops can add support if
needed. And then there is the mandatory elephant. Hold of the
cavalry on the flank with it, or add the extra punch in the centre. |
For this phalanx I used little wooden
sticks as are commonly used when preparing food. Normally available metal ones
are too thin, and to short. The sticks were a little too thick, so I spent a
weekend making then thinner with a knife. The front rank(s) should have the
spears pointed straight forward. But that would make it difficult to use them on
the battlefield then an enemy wants to charge them. So I decided to have them
pointed a little higher.
Above you can see
light armoured Chaeonians attacking a phalanx formation. It is clear that the
phalanx has an advantage with their very long spears against opponents armed
with much shorter weapons.
The
Elephants
Elephants are standard equipment in
the army of Pyrrhus.
It is said that he invented the
howdah (tower) that gave the crew extra sight and protection in war. The account
of Dionysius of Pyrrhus' battle at Asculum is the first time a tower is
mentioned.
The Romans
called the elephant the "Lucinian cow", when they they encountered them for the
first time in that part of Italy.
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a converted toy elephant |
Anti-elephant weapons in Dionysius, book XX:
When the king [Pyrrhus] had ordered the
elephants seem to be led up to the part of the line that was in
difficulties, the Romans mounted on the pole-bearing waggons, upon
learning of the approach of the beasts, drove to meet them. At first
they checked the onrush of the beasts, smiting them with their
engines and turning the fire-bearing grapnels into their eyes. Then,
when the men stationed in their towers no longer drove the beasts
forward, but hurled their spears down from above, and the
light-armed troops cut through the wattled screens surrounding the
waggons and hamstrung the oxen, the men at the machines, leaping
down from their cars, fled for refuge to the nearest infantry and
caused great confusion among them. |
The
Chaeonian Guard
Pyrrhus' guard was made out of
Chaeonians. One of the three tribes that formed Epirus.
Wargames Foundry
The
Italian allies
The
Samnites joined Pyrrhus in his campaign against Rome. They were sworn enemies of the Romans in the early period of Rome.
A&A Samnites
Some more pictures
of Pyrrhus' Italian allies are to be found here here.
Polybius on Pyrrhus:
The Roman general Scipio (Africanus) was known
to have asked Hannibal who was the greatest general. In response
Hannibal proclaimed Alexander the Macedonian king the greatest. When
asked who the second greatest was Hannibal exclaimed Pyrrhus. When
asked who was the third greatest Hannibal pronounced himself. With a
laugh Scipio proceeded to ask Hannibal's rank if he had defeated him
in battle. "Then, beyond doubt, " he replied, " I should place
myself before all other generals." |
The
Light Troops
I like these poorly
dressed peasant troops. You can use them in almost every kind of army, and they
really show of the lack of armour, and low leadership.
Wargames Foundry light javelinmen
The
Cavalry
The
Greek city state of Tarentum asked for Pyrrhus' help, but when his army
arrived, they were not that keen to help him anymore, and are described as
cowardly and weak. The Tarantine cavalry, however, always had a good name in
Greece.
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Navigator cavalry
I painted these soldiers with an Oscan/Samnite type of design; they
were in close contact with the native Italians. |
Pyrrhus' army could be
best used the way Alexander did. Pin the enemy with the Phalanx and
give a decisive blow with their shock cavalry in a wedge formation. |
The shock cavalry by Wargames foundry and
leader by Navigator. |
History
Click here for a little more on
Epirus history.
Battle reports
Carthaginians
vs Pyrrhus of Epiros
Heraclea
(Romans vs Pyrrhus of Epiros)
See also
www.richardevers.nl
for information about the novel I wrote about the life of Pyrrhus.
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