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SCENARIOS & VARIANTS ALEXANDER'S WEAPONRY Recent Research and Its Relevance to Wargaming by Ben Miller

See, just w hen you think you know me, ju st when Game designers, innuenced by Ih e his­ you til ink you'll never see sce ne rios or ru les tories they have read, have for some lime va rian ts ever pu bli shed in MO VES, I do a 180 10 beli eved that the Macedoni an infantr'y al­ keep you o ff bala nce . Actua lly, the man ner in ways used the sari ssa. New archeological which Mr. M iller supports and explains hi s va ria nts fi nds have been partially res ponsible for a (even th ough rendered for a nOi-wildly-popular major cha nge in views. Lance points UIl­ gamel is the rea l reason this article is seeing print. eart hed from the Macedonian fune ral 1/ so me more of 'IOU develop thoughtful bases l or variant rules, documen ted by seriOl1 S readings, I'll mound at Chaeronea have shown that only be happy to serioUSly consider them for publica­ the cavalry sarissa were present, as tion as well . - RAS di st inguished by the differi ng sizes of the ca valry and infantry sari ssas . Now rea li zing that onl y the cavalr y carried a sa rissa . it is possible to retranslate and reinterpret the original Greek sources. This knowledge, plus reexam inat ion of the batt lefie ld lerrain, as It is a commonly-held belief that the we ll as ot her supporti ng wo rk, has enabled a Macedonia n in fan ll'y of Alexander Ih e Great new view of Macecloni an sarissa use 10 be and his falhe r, Phil ip II, reg ularly employed formu lated. the sarissa , or long la nce , in com bat, A sari s­ According 10 the best es ti mat e, the sa consiSled of a wooden sha ft wit h a metal Macedonian cavalry carried a fiftee n fOOl point an d butt spi ke, and varied in lengt h sa rissa, dating from Chaeronea. In game from fifteen to eighteen feel, f rom the Battle terms, hal f the cavalr y in any given scenario of Chaeronea in 338 B.C. unti l Guagamela, involving Phil ip or Alexander should be sel in 331 B.C., the Macedonian infatmy are aside and marked as sarissa-armed. Only the depicted as using the sarissa , and this has Macedonian ca valry, such as the Compan­ been r'eflected in wargame designs concern­ ions, and perhap5 a very few others , were [8.26] Spca r-a rmcd infanr ry (C lass A) recei ve no ing the period. Examples of this are SPI 's defens ive benefit , when allacked by sarissa-ar med saris sa-armed. It should be noted, though, Spanan and Conquerors. This article at ­ caval ry (Cl ass C). that the sarissa-armed cavalry could also tempts 10 show that it was the Macedonia n employ the standard javelin instead of I he The effectiv eness of the saris sa-armed cavalry wh ich carried a sarissa at Chaeronea cavalry was a combillation of their arma­ sa ri ssa. Us ing the Spartan rules as a and I hat I he Macedonian infant ry di d not use framework, ru les fot' sarissa-armed cavalry ment, formation , and shock. Cavalry armed a saris sa in a pitched battle until Guagamela. in I his manner carried a fi ftee n fo ot sarissa would be: These changes will be di scussed in relation 10 along wit h a saber. The sarissa was gripped game rules changes and alteration of unit close 10 the middle and carried l2itber under­ capabil ities. hand, or overhand above the shoulder. A regular Greek hoplite spear of 7 to 8 feet [8.0] SARISSA-ARMED would project only about three and one half CAVALRY feel in fronl of the bearer. A sarissa-armed cavalryman would have about four to five CASES: feet of the sarissa in front of the horse's [8,1 ] MOVEMENT head, which would Outreach a spear-armed hoplite. A Macedonian cavalry squadro n of [8 .1 1] Sa ri ssd -ar me d ca val ry pa y nor ma l movc ­ menl cosr" one hundred and twenty men used a we dge­ shaped formation, with a point facing the [8.2] MELEE COMBAT enemy line. Greek hoplites usually formed in [8.2 1] In the first offensive melee ,-'om bat , and a li ne eight deep. The point rider would, in a on ly the first, double the melee srren gth of th e charge, kill a hoplite with his sarissa and con­ unilS. tinue on with his saber. Wilh a fift een fOOl [8.22] After the firs t offensive me lee . the un irs are sa rissa, combined with the lac k of stirrups, it Ir ea too as normal cavalry. would be necessary to release the sarissa or be [8.23] AI'rer determining [he combat res ult s or rile unhorsed. Behind and to the side of the point firSI ol'fen sive melee, rotl thc dic again, if a "6" is rider were two more horsemen who would rolled, th e unil is disrupt ed, kill Iheir opponents and continue on wit h [8.24] If Ihe defending un il(s) ~ r e elim ina red, the their sabers . Even if none of th e riders killed ca vatr y musl ad va nee i11 10 the va ca ted hex . a second man with their sabers, [here were (8,25] If the sa ri ssJ-nrm ed caval ry are altacked seven ot her men direct ly beh ind them, in pri or tOt hei r Ow n fi r.lt au ac k, do ub le I hei r mel ee every other rank. All th is , plus the shock of a .I treng th. Continue this unli l Ih e sar issa-nrmcd massed cavalry charge would enable the cava lr y makes Ihe ir own first auack. squad ron to pierc e a hopIite line. 9

The inabili ty of the sarissa-armed caval­ Sarissa-armed tioll to .rh e men under them. The addit io n to t he fire combat roll portrays this advantage. ryman to re tain his sarissa after charging ex­ IJII' Clear ~nl/S l ope Stream plains the one turn advantage in melee 1, The fo ur ranks of me n behind the fi rst -' ran k were ab le to maint ain an even wall of strength. Sin ce there is also a chance the at­ 2 tack could unsettle the squadron due to its vi­ spear po int.~ by hol di ng the sa l' issa furt he r 3 olence, a roll for possible disruption is called toward the butt and using t he shoulders o f 4 D for. Defensive ly, the reach of the sarissa the men in fronl fo r support. The butts and woul d put any attacker at a di sadva ntage . 5 '0 ' D ' sha fl s o f lhe first mnk's sarissas would pm­ The reach of the sariss a wou ld void any 6 D D D jec! backward, inl eri o<: king t he men be t ~ ' e en derensive advant age spear-armed in fan t ry them . This, plus Ihe weig ht of thc rear ranks receive . A successful alrac k would demolish [10.1) EXPL.I\.!\IATION OF HES U LTS press ing forward , jammi ng the fron t ranks slill cl ose r toget her, made fla nki ng ma­ that sect ion of the-tlOp ti te line an d carry the " - " = no effecl; " 0 " = disrll pli OIl . Th e affecled attac king cavall'y into the space the hoplit es unils arc lagged by Ih e pla<.:e me nl 01' a di .sru pt io ll neuvers very dif ficult. The increased cos ts to had he ld . ma rker. change fa cing is a depicti on of th is. T he pha­ lanx 's non-ma neu verabili[ y als o made it T he Macedon ian infanl ry carrie d an [10 .2] EFI'ECTS 01; DISIWPTION much more vu lnerable to a fia nk attack as it eigh tee n foot sarissa as opposed to [he caval­ UnilS wh ich arc disrup led in I his ma nner arc wou Id be ve rv hard to turn 10 meet it. If a so 1- ry's fiftee n f OOl one. The Macedonians may Irea led :1 , unil S Ih31 we re di srup ted by cornba l. di er was f OI 'c~ d to drop hi s sarissa, hc had on­ have bee n using the infan try sarissa as eady i.e., they may not inil ia,1e combat or be moved for ly a dagger and ve ry light armol' to figh t with. as 335 B.C. , bUl there is no eviden ce [hat it I he dura li on or Ih eir di sru pi ion. Di srupl iqn ne ver When implememed, these aforemen­ affe U5 lea der un i!.l, All norma l disru pli on rul e.1 was used in a pitched ball Ie un lil Guagamela t ioned rules changes will lessen the role of Ihc appl y. in 33 1 B.C. The Macedon ia n infant ry we re phalanx to a eert ai ll ex ten t, but it maintains trained in the use of bO lh the'hoplite spea r [10 .21 ] When Ihe unil' 3re Slacked with a Leader , an import ant position. In rea lity, the cavalry and the sal"i ssa. At the players' discret ion , .l Ub lra r.: 1on e fr OJl1 lil c roll . assumed a cruci al functi on. The cavalry the Mal: edonian infantrv units listed in Ihe {IO .22] If (he Defender elecl, 10 use ddeT\.\ ive fi re shou ld bc used to punch holes in the enemy's order of batt Ie may be considered eit her On Ihe un il, add one 10 Ihe roll . COllS ult lhe Infan­ fl anks and di slocate [h eir ab ili ty to fi gh t. tr v t.,10vern cll( Table firsr, adding one 10 Ihc die spea r- armed or sarissa-armed. Again using Thus, when the phalanx makes il s weighl the Spartan rules as the framework, the 1"(;11 , an d res olve I he Defensive Fire Com bal se­ ,'ond . fell, I he enemy will be shat tered. The cavalr y pla yer could deploy hi s Macedonian infanlry had alreadv decided t he iss ue al Ih e Ba rt les of as Professional Spearmen for the spear­ TIle gre al strenglh of the Macedoni an Gran icus ; nd Issus before the phalanx had armed [roops, and Professional Pike ill en for phalanx lay ill it s bri stli ng wall of sarissa effect ive lv entere d the batt le. A[ Ihe Ba ltles the saris sa-armed troops . Rules changes for ("J oints whic h omrea.ched their opponents' of Guaga'mela and [he Hydaspes rhe cavalr y Macedoni an infant ry wou ld be: spears, their un brok en li ne, and the we igh t of had somew hat le sser impo rt ance. The caval­ thei r attack. The ph al anx's \'1eak ncss ",,' as its ry alo ne does not have the we ight at times to limit ed lateral maneuverabili ty and vulne r­ defeat an enemy, and the fl anks of a phala nx abil ity on ce thei r line \vas brokcn. The pha­ without cavalry support are vul ne ra ble. Used [9.0] MACEDONIAN lanx was usuall y deployed sixtee n ranks correc t Iv it is possible to reneate on the INFANTRY deep. The first five ranks held their sarissas playing 'b'oard Alexander's achievement s and le ve lled, and the ra nks behi nd beld thei r sa­ also 10 see the limi[ ations tha t could have CU[ CASES: ri ssas upr igh t at a slanl over I heir shoulders. his success short. •• [9. 1] MOVEMENT A sarissa-armcd soldi er needed both han ds to wield the tleavy weapo n. The only ot her [9.11] Prior to the fi rst Fire or Melee Combal. all protect ion besides the sarissa was a two fOO l unil Sa re mo ved norm all y. Bib]iography sh ield slung over t he ne ck protec ting the left Adcock, F.E. The Greek and Macedonian [9. 12] Slib seque nt to the fir, t Fire or rvle lee Com ­ shoul der, very light armor, and a dagger. bat , for each hex Iha l a lIn il moves int o, ro ll one A n of War. Univ. of Ca li fornia Press , [957 . di e and co nsu lI Tabl e IO .O,lhe lnl'anlr y Movemen t On a parade ground, the sol.diers in [he Tab le. phalanx would march and keep ordet· accor­ Anderson, J.K. Ancien t Greek Horseman­ di ng to the plan. Once battlc was joined, all ship. Univ. of Cali fornia Press , 196 1. [9 .131 Sa rissa-armcd infan lry ex pe nd IWO move ­ men t po ints in orde r IO changc facing. the uncert aint ie s inhercnt in these situations Arrian. Hiswry of Alexander and In dica 1. come into play. Cert ain uni ts wou ld fa ll out T rans. P .A. Bru nt. Leob Classical Library. [9.2] FlRE COMBAT of step, and gaps would open in ! he line. The Cambri dge , Harvard Uni v. P ress, 1976 harder the terrain, the harder it was to keep [9 .21 ] Sa rissa-arm cd infamry 5ublrud one I'r om Brunt, P .A. . "Alexander's Macedonia n any roll when Ih ey are defc ndi ng aga in:; 1 a Fire al­ the line in order. The Infantry Movement Cavalr y." Journal of Hellenic Studies. Lon­ lac k. Table is a reflection of this fae l. Hoplite pha­ don, Society for Ihe promotion of Helleni stic la nxs we re more maneuverable and affe cted [9.3] MELEE COMBAT Studies, 1963 . to a lesser degree. At Iss us, the spear-armed [9.31] Sari ssa-armcd in fanl ry defe nd al one-Ihird phalanx broke format ion on It: vel. ground, Curtius, Quin tus. H istory of Alexander (2 thei r primed st renglh (reta ining I'meli on,) whe n vols). Trans. J,c. Rolfe . Loeb Classi<:al allac kecl throu gh a fla nk hexside . wil h a gap opened betwee n two units. Se l"i ous t rouble was avert ed because of a preposi­ Library. Cam bri dge, Harvard Uni v. Press , t ioned rese rve an d because Alexander' had 1946. alreadv won the battle on another part of tbe Diodonls Siculus. Diodorus Siculus VII, [10.0] INFANTRY fiel d . 'A leader prese nt wit h the phalanx Books X VI 66-XV!l. Trans. C. Bradfo rd MOVEMENT TABLE could mean ve ry much . AI Chaeronea, with Wells. Loeb Classica l. Library. Cambridge, P bilip commanding Ih e spear- armed pha­ Harvard Univ. Pre ss, 1963 . Spear- armed lanx , Ihe phalanx re treated backward across Hamillon, J. R. Alexander the Great. Un iv. a stream and up thc slope of a hill whi le bei ng /JIF. Clear Hill/Slupe Stream of Pi llsburg Press, 1973 . pursued by the At.h enians. The Macedonians 1 the n attacked down the slope, us ing their ____ Plutarch A lexander: Commentary. 2 momentum to smash th e At henians. Addi­ Oxford, ClaredoTl Press, 1969. 3 tio nally, a unit undergoing miss il e fi re would Mark le, M.M. " The Maeedonian Sari ssa, 4 have added (rouble maintaini ng order. Spear, and Related Armor." A mer. Jo urnal 5 D When receiv ing mis sile fire, the sarissas of Archeology. #81, Summer 1977, pp. 6 D D of the rea r ranks would give added protec- 323-339 . {con.tinued On page 191