Macedonian Battle Tactics

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Sources:
"Parallel Lives,", by Plutarch: amzn.to/2sOfr4O
"Alexander of Macedon," by Peter Green: amzn.to/2rMJqpn
"Alexander the Great," by Robin Lane Fox: amzn.to/2sOKqh3
"Ghost on the Throne," by James Romm: amzn.to/2tpuNxq
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
Music:
"Seeing the Future," by Dexter Britain
"Infados," by Kevin MacLeod
"Drums of the Deep," by Kevin MacLeod
"Hallon," by Christian Bjoerklund

[@EndOfSmallSanctuary97]

The Hammer and Anvil, or: How to Win Every Battle in Total War.

[@LukasJampen]

WheresWallace4883 I know it is kind of boring but the problem is that it is really effective. There's a reason it became the standard tactic for several hundred years if not almost 2 millenia. Why go back to the older tactics that are less effective. I mean normal hoplite battles were mostly pushing contests that ended when one flank gave in.

[@franzluggin398]

Was thinking that exact same thing.

[@mirceadonciu4983]

Starring Alexander the Great and Hannibal.

[@AnhTrieu90]

There's a reason it's one of the most popular battle tactics in antiquity (and perhaps modern time).

[@brovahkiin4302]

WheresWallace4883 The fun is when your opponent tries the same all while trying to protect his own flank, and trying to win the infantry engagement

[@Thrawny1]

"Sighs"......... Starts ROME: Total war

[@yw5617]

I'm pretty sure this is what Brought most of us here

[@misterfister7714]

Well no man can play total war and dont like history :P

[@Old_Guard2]

Dr. Love I love it for the soundtrack

[@Old_Guard2]

Dr. Love also Britain forever

[@wishiwassleeping8382]

The best total war game is Shogun 2

[@missilemagnet1111]

10:00 ok one more video and then I go to bed 3 AM: M A C E D O N I A N B A T T L E T A C T I C S

[@christianhoffmann8607]

:D

[@Juusokakku]

It's 3 AM here as I'm reading this comment. What is up with youtube recommending these at such hour?

[@alexandrusepetan2672]

2:36 am but pretty close

[@alexandermcewan95]

3:21 and i see this, are you a wizard my guy.

[@guyfuchs868]

I am literally watching this at 3 am

[@1987MartinT]

The fact that the companion cavalry fought so well despite their lack of saddles and stirrups says something about how good riders they were.

[@Trish156]

Exactly my thoughts. The conditioning to get to that point. great stuff

[@bkr1895]

If there is an afterlife I bet the Macedonians hang out with the Mongolians, they’ve got a lot in common

[@MuhammadUsman-mi4jk]

@@bkr1895 Numidians>>> mongols in terms of horse riding skill. Mongols used saddles and stirrups. Numidians rode bareback and controlled the horse with a small rope

[@misterdream5558]

@@MuhammadUsman-mi4jk Huns >>> Everybody else. No saddles, no stirrups and yet extreme precision with a bow and arrow on horseback

[@MuhammadUsman-mi4jk]

@@misterdream5558 the Huns used saddles and it was either them or the avars who brought stirrups to Western Europe. Both of those inventions came from the steppes the Huns inhabited anyways

[@xbox_cheeto5338]

Philip is so underrated. I feel his son took a lot of his fame from him because he was the one to use his reforms and new strength. don't get me wrong, Alexander is amazing, but he takes allot of due credit from his dad.

[@SpookyMarine]

Preußischer Jäger I’m sure Philip would be proud of Alexander anyway.

[@siddarth3955]

@@SpookyMarine Nah, he was most probably killed by Alexander himself ...

[@SpookyMarine]

Siddarth Reddy Really? What makes you say that?

[@pandamaninthewild]

ULTRA MEHREEN well, besides some subtle historical evidences, think about it, Philip was killed when he was at the peak of his power, so it’s most unlikely that his death was the result of an outside force. Therefore, Alexander is considered a suspect.

[@SpookyMarine]

Koala on a Whale True but he was also aged 46 at the time, back then that was beyond maximum life expectancy. Plus it’s not the first time for someone to die at the peak of their power. Hell it happened to Alexander himself

[@bcn1gh7h4wk]

this whole video can be summed up in just two battle cries: -"HEAVY INFANTRY!!" _click!_ -"FORWARD!!"

[@jahbama6202]

“CAVALRY!” “CHARRGE!!!”

[@andressotil4671]

SWIFT HORSES AT YOUR COMMAND!!

[@crazyhercules9442]

“Hoplites READYYY!”

[@Soronacabricot]

These are not soldiers, only frightened rabbits running from our men !

[@scolack123]

@@Soronacabricot i heard that in his voice 🤣

[@justinokraski3796]

So basically Caesar shouldn't have felt bad about not conquering the world in his 20's because he didn't have someone build a whole army for him.

[@TheFirstGoomba]

The ancient equivalent of a small loan of a million dollars.

[@capatani1152]

Alexander didn't conquer the world in his 20s more like early 30s look it up

[@scolack123]

@@capatani1152 he campaigned for 11 years Died at early 30s So he was literally conquering longer as a 20 year old

[@jhonnyjhonson2664]

@@capatani1152 Alexander died at 32 and took the throne at 20. He then began campaigning for up to 10 years after according to historians. I think you're the one who should "look it up"

[@capatani1152]

@@jhonnyjhonson2664 Fair enough but I just hate how everyone says he conquered the world at 20 years old. Like wtf he was only throned at 19 so by the time he was in India which is a massive feat yes, he was probably late 20's possibly 30 yano Also if was his father who was the true mastermind behind the campaigns. Although he was a master tactician (Even if those tactics were invented by Philip)

[@gabrielveloso6264]

This video makes the understanding of Alexander's military success a lot easier. He was a great commander, but his success was mostly due to the superiority of his troops in relation to his enemies. Plus he had loyal people watching his back. Thanks for another great video, I honestly feel bad that I can't afford to help you on patreon.

[@bruce000000070000000]

Not due to him routing Darius twice?

[@VntiHero]

His on the move decisions saved countless battles, while he was leading the charge himself, the GOAT 🐐

[@Imperator-Carolus]

First Phillip's story, and now Alexander's tactics? Hell yeah.

[@vesteel]

FUCKING PATRONS ALWAYS FIRST

[@PicklePickle7]

It's a full series. Prepare yourself for when the greeks are conquered, we would be marching across Asia minor, Egypt, Mesopotamia, Persia, Gedrosia, India and all the way to the edge of the known world!

[@MrPanos2000]

yo yo Greeks were united*

[@PicklePickle7]

MrPanos2000 United by conquest*

[@MrPanos2000]

yo yo by the council of Corinth*. Besides most Greeks didn't participate. Italiotes, Syracusians, Lakedaimonians, Epeirote, Pontics, none of them showed up or helped in the conquest. Chaironia was a show of force to intimidate some into joining the league

[@vesteel]

Macedonian Battle Tactics aka How to kill boxes Macedonian style

[@montaniusspiritum8439]

vesteel Genius.

[@christopherg2347]

Well, in a world full of boxes, the better box won. And one day they made such a big box with such a long stick that they defeated themself with it... Actually the sarissa had a big disadvantage - much weaker ranged proptection due to teh samler shield. But that was negated by the Maccedonians already having good cavalry before that reform. And the shieldbearers took over the flanking/flanking protection duty.

[@lc9245]

Interestingly, in Rome total war multiplayer, there was a popular tactics called boxing which is just the getting a bunch of Phalanx in a square formation so it couldn’t be flank. It mocked as noob box. The most effective and popular way to defeat these boxes are baiting the enemy into pushing out of the formation, open up a gap and exploit the inflexibility of their formation.

[@imperatorroma5012]

Duy Linh Chu Ha or use archers and horse archers to destroy their units, especially the back line.

[@Prometheukles]

Historia Civilis for Consul 2018

[@-dennis3755]

A Quite Old, yet still Quite underrated Comment

[@m.a.t.a.s]

3:39 the problem with this is that your leader tends to be the first one to die with this formation.

[@aleksaninkovic6116]

So they follow the seccond two guys what is your point

[@davidjarkeld2333]

A time when a leader actually lead

[@bilib1891]

@@davidjarkeld2333 Just going to charge to your own death doesn't make you a better leader.

[@davidjarkeld2333]

@@bilib1891 leading from the front doesn't mean charging to your own death. The example here being Alexander, but anyway I was referring to the origin of the word.

[@solthegamer3769]

@@davidjarkeld2333 It made sense back then for leaders to be somewhat involved, as they didn't have guns and radios. Nowadays it makes no sense for leaders to be on the frontlines as battles cover far more distance, your leader can be shot from 500 metres away, and if they are in base with equipment and infrastructure they can more effectively use communication technology to command their troops

[@za.monolit]

this helped me get better at total war. thank you so much

[@icedwhitechocolatemochafra9851]

Bruh

[@VioletMilks]

Get better? You mean win every battle besides siege battles

[@za.monolit]

@@VioletMilks meh siege battles are pretty simple, just flood or use engines lol

[@ghostinquisitor7743]

More battle tatics and army structure please. This is fascinating. Plus, do one for the Gauls and Germanics!

[@TheSecondVersion]

Phillip: "Oracle, will the Persian Empire be defeated?" Oracle at Delphi: "The bull is crowned." (Your bloodline reigns over Greece.) "All is done." (Military preparations are in place.) "The sacrificer is ready." (Alexander shall conquer.)

[@flyerton99]

Actually, I think it's more "The bull is crowned" (Bulls were used regularly as sacrifices to the gods, and a crowned sacrifice sounds like Phillip, doesn't it.) "All is done." (Sounds like it does) "The sacrificer is ready." (Alexander is ready to carry out the strange assassination?)

[@deanstav]

Unless Phillip himself is the sacrificer, Give his life to ensure victory. Very Interesting...

[@44Minutes100]

Shouldn't the sacrificer be Pausanias, Philip's murderer, actually ?

[@siddarth3955]

@Alex Imagine the intelligence required to script that shit 😂

[@siddarth3955]

@@44Minutes100 Many scholars and historians believe Alexander to be the conspirator who murdered his father ...

[@hellascommentor]

It is really great that this channel started presenting the ancient Hellenic/Greek History along with Roman :)

[@hellascommentor]

As Macedonian Kingdom unified the other Greek Tribes/States/Kingdoms (in Metropolitan Greece/Hellas) of that era this is the logical outcome. If it was Athenians, Thebans or Spartans (etc.) it would be *mainly* Athenian, Theban or Spartan (etc.) history.

[@hellascommentor]

@ziggyonthemoon, thank you for stating what should be obvious. In any case, we live in an era that everybody wants to form history according to his views. Greek History has A LOT of good and bad moments. I do not reject any of them and I do not want to be credited with something which has not happened (e.g. saying that Roman Empire is Greek :P). Alas!

[@jensjensen9035]

Hellas Commentor aka the beginning of western civilization

[@hellascommentor]

true. What is this trend with Pepe avatars? 3 comments and 3 with almost the same avatar :P

[@bassboostmusic7977]

@@pasal99 gayreece gayreek

[@PicklePickle7]

Can't wait until we continue through Asia minor, Egypt, Mesopotamia, Persia, Gedrosia, India and all the way to the edge of the known world! Alexander is gonna wreck shit up!

[@phetproductions5818]

yo yo actually Baz Battles did Alexander's Conquest in his channel, but I would love Historia Civilis' rendition.

[@PicklePickle7]

Japhet Falcutila oh right I forgot about that. You are right Historia Civilis might not make this seiries.

[@sarasamaletdin4574]

Since he did Phillip and now this I doupt he will quit now.

[@anD-vf7ld]

@Joshua JO If it "hasn't been done", it's hardly ever decently researched... bit like "Inside the Sphinx's ear", if you get my meaning ;)

[@Armorius2199]

This comment aged well!

[@priximus2254]

Philip II is woefully underrated

[@alanetchetto8908]

I've recently have been playing "Rome total war" and I just realised that I've always been using Macedonian's tactics ... all the time(?

[@martinsonnenschein9029]

We all have, the Macedonians invented the ancient European system of battle and basically everyone ripped them off to some extent for like 2 thousand years

[@Ben-zg5xb]

Could you do some videos on how Rome came into possession of Iberia? I never understood very well how that happened and you are the best at explaining those things

[@jnes624]

parts of it were taken from carthage in the punic wars i believe, im sure he covered this in other videos This process started with the Roman acquisition of the former Carthaginian territories in southern Hispania and along the east coast as a result of defeating the Carthaginians (206 BC) during the Second Punic War (218-201 BC), leading to them leaving the peninsula. This established Roman territorial presence in Hispania. Four years after the end of this war, in 197 BC, the Romans established two Roman provinces. They were Hispania Citerior (Nearer Spain) along most of the east coast (an area roughly corresponding to the modern Spanish autonomous communities of Valencia, Catalonia and part of Aragon) and Hispania Ulterior (Further Spain) in the south, roughly corresponding to modern Andalusia.

[@franzluggin398]

Short story: Carthage had Iberia. Rome beat Carthage into a pulp. Rome had Iberia. End of story.

[@Ben-zg5xb]

cjonesabc That was mostly the eastern and southeastern portions of Iberia. There are other parts though, such as the northwest corner of the peninsula that I know nothing of how Rome came to occupy it. This applies to most of the western half of modern Spain and Portugal for me, and I'm to lazy to spend 15 minutes looking for a good source of the information and reading it

[@konradplatt3833]

+Nobody Important Carthagae and Rome had a agreement to divide Iberia up to an certain river (Sadly i dont remember ne name. they had one province in Iberia already when they conquered the rest from Carthagae. And it wanst until Pompej that they completely conquered it. The Iberer fought a guerrilla war there.

[@pnessi570]

Nobody Important carthage started colonizing it prior to the punic wars and when taken by rome, were folded into the empire

[@TheSecondVersion]

"And now you got the pan-hellenist from Pella hella pissed"

[@tsarchasm1499]

Vito C nice reference ;)

[@rotciv1492]

ENOUGH! I don't stand a chance against your skills... NASDROVIA, a drink to your victory...

[@jabronjunklove760]

Because you insist, I get your gist.

[@medielijah]

Underrated channel. Keep up the high quality and thank you good Sir!

[@shawnk6736]

amazing video! i'm sure i'm not alone in the giddiness and excitement when i experience this kind of military history goodness. i'm a huge fan of military 'metas' (to use a gaming term), and this video was a great overview of what made macedon's military so impressive. keep doing what you're doing!

[@icecoldmeat4046]

This has quickly become one of my favorite channels. Only problem is that I️ have binge watched all your videos and now I️ have nothing. Please upload more, you’re absolutely brilliant!

[@TheHybrid96]

:(

[@mrdaniel511]

Love these types of channels that focus on a specific topic and make incredibly high-quality content about it. Keep up the good work, I love battle tactics :D

[@jpolchlopek]

Dude, your videos are getting more and more polished with each one. Keep it up! After having to take History 101 4 times before passing it, in college, I never thought I would look forward to these videos as much as I do!

[@jonny177]

This channel is outstanding. So many of the other history channels have such elaborate visuals but aren't nearly as interesting or educational. Seriously, well done mate. You've got this absolutely nailed.

[@ChristopherBuzzard]

Day made, cheers Historia Civilis

[@fernnds]

This channel is pure gold! Keep up the amazing videos.

[@MrSnip07]

Your history videos are the best! The war scenes with blocks lmao. I love it keep pumping these videos out, I gobble them up.

[@CaptainFireworkz]

great video, please do more in-depth analysis of ancient strategies and tactics, and maybe even some medieval ones as well

[@JerryAng-ex5sb]

"Alexander, Parmenion, Philip, Aristotle'' In Greek language those names mean words and characteristics actually. Very curious if those names mean anything in slavic language or it's just letters in a random queue...

[@rogersledz6793]

Thank you so much for uploading this video. It is helping me get through the pandemic!

[@SamirSamir-cd4qh]

day gets so much better when I see another one of your videos, thanks!

[@maxmustermann2417]

awesome work! ☺ hope you'll do a few episodes about the greek city states too in the future! 😊

[@GlazeBattleBorn]

This is a Greek city state.

[@alexandersosa6920]

I really enjoy military history but I can happily say I learned quite a bit from your video and how you break down tactics. Great job, definitely subbing

[@foxyvallis9176]

I look forward to your videos more than anyone else on KZbin. love it! I'd love to see you go over some of the other units Macedon employed, like the elite Agrianes..

[@giorgi.giorgi809]

Amazing. Absolutely amazing, you are the only channel who makes these kind of good no. great quality about history. Well done!

[@MagicSteel1]

"companions" and shield bearers? *Skyrim intensifies* :ppp

[@jaderbarrosoneto3382]

Their sarissas increased in length to the sixth row, leaving the spear points aligned externally. They could form circles or squares and fight completely surrounded, moving to either side. The mistake of finding that all spears were the same size, like pikes, was spread by Machiavelli in "The Art of War."

[@DcIxvi]

I love your channel. You make such high quality content - it's so underappreciated.

[@igorgolub159]

we need new episode 3-4 times a week... great job !

[@dylan865]

Wonder if he'll ever get a sponsorship deal from total war, hopefully they make a third Total War : Rome

[@sybedb]

Medeival Thats the stuff. I mean, then we Will have evrythin in HD

[@modarnwarfare2rull]

@@sybedb We just need a graphically better Medieval 2, I can't think of anything the new engine does better other than the unit response time.

[@tombombadilofficial]

10:05 that hammer was pitiful. I was expecting a blacksmith's hammer. lmao

[@rico1346]

Kinda same, I was thinking about Mjolnir but uhh... that is a little far south and out of culture for that heh

[@firstconsul7286]

@@rico1346 Wouldn't it be a bit early too?

[@charadremur7354]

Uhh

[@ne0ge047]

I just want to say I love this channel and keep the great videos coming

[@iadros10]

Amazing video, as always! Thank you for your work!

[@lordirish4955]

The Macedonian phalanx was also deeper-- often 16 men instead of 8.

[@shweatypalms4423]

Thats intresting. How come?

[@nono-kr7um]

@@shweatypalms4423 I believe the purpose of it was to basically create such density so that nothing could penetrate it. You kill one guy with a sarissa, right away another one comes up with his, just makes it impossible to get through it

[@shweatypalms4423]

@@nono-kr7um Makes perfect sense. Thanks very much

[@user-zm8nb8pk4n]

@@shweatypalms4423 The Macedonian reserve force were on the flanks, so they did the phalanx so deep to get shure they will not break for any price.

[@1905parth]

Never clicked so fast on a notification !

[@CharlysBonada]

me neither!

[@ihsankamil6279]

1905parth same

[@kingfedrick4698]

Facts!!

[@irongeneral7861]

Never came so fast before

[@Caleb-en5bo]

pretty ordinary video... U must need a doctor around when you see a great video come out.

[@haydentingey2865]

Honestly the best history channel on youtube or anywhere else for that matter. Thanks for all of the incredible content man.

[@matthewnunya6329]

Your content and presentations are so good. Thank you thank you

[@darrinmagnus1]

Not mentioned here are the light-armed specialists like the corps of Creto-Macedonian archers and the Agrianian javelineers, who were often employed to form a flying column with the Hypaspists and the Hetairoi; and the Thracian and Illyrian peltasts in general, who screened the army on the march, provided flankers, and who supported the Companions during a charge.

[@SteamCheese1]

I tried very similar tactics out with my airsoft team and in a few Video games with my friends. It's suprisingly very effective even in smaller scale.

[@colinmcewen9512]

You are very talented at what you do my friend, thank you for sharing your talent with the rest of us!

[@killerofbodom]

2 weeks of waiting for a video is too much for me to handle. Content is great. Keep it coming.

[@xtrmsword7127]

“The foot companions” Sounds like something I would name my lvl 4 heavy cav in civ 6

[@gavinsavage7842]

Underrated comment

[@georgios_5342]

6:18 wait what do you mean the spears they used in Greece? Macedonia was too a Greek state. Sarissa is longer than the spears they used in the REST of Greece or in southern Greece.

[@Johnny-xi4ti]

Xd good luck with that u moron🖕🖕🇬🇷

[@IMAK1063]

Olympic games were only for Greeks and guess what, Macedonians were there... So Find luck with that...

[@georgios_5342]

@@Johnny-xi4ti so you probably hate Macedonia. If so, why did you watch this video? You hate both Greece and Macedonia, so you don't have a side in this argument.

[@Johnny-xi4ti]

@@IMAK1063 that's what she sad lololo🖕🖕🖕🖕

[@user-fr2fm3ri3w]

@@Johnny-xi4ti oh my god ask any historian, they categorise macedonian history along with the rest of greece. Its a shame you have no identity and you are so committed into trying to steal ours. Try as you might, you will never become Greeks. You will always be slavs.

[@verdatum]

WOW. I didn't know so much of this. And I really geek out on this topic on an armchair level. Videos like that are tough to find. This channel is consistently fantastic.

[@mitchycool92]

Your best segment yet! By far!!! Keep it up man!!!!

[@user-zm8nb8pk4n]

fun fact: Phillip II ordered his soldiers to cut their beards so that enemy soldiers could not grab them by it during the fight.

[@LSMcN22]

Phalanxes didnt lock shields because that would mean surrendering their main advantage (the spear's length).

[@Trish156]

This video was explained beautifully, it all made sense. thanks for sharing, great vid

[@robertwatts5607]

can I just say your videos are my favorite on KZbin and I always get very excited when I wake up early in the morning to find that you've posted a new video I would sincerely like to say thank you. if I ever have the extra money to donate to a patreon I definitely will do yours.

[@theinacircleoftheancientpu492]

Phalanx shoving shields? Sceptics arise! I've heard a criticism of this before.

[@stony990]

I reacted to that too. It seam highly unlikely that that would ever happen because you have 2 enemies that are looking to kill each other and also not die them self. So marching well within the range of your opponents weapons just to get so close so that the enemy could punch/stab you in the face seams like a very bad strategy to win any fight.

[@elsasslotharingen7507]

I was looking for this comment. Faith in mankind restored.

[@breaden4381]

stony990 Plus your shield is just an obstacle to fight around if it's bound to your opponent's shield. Sure they are in the same situation, but if another enemy strikes at you you're dead.

[@CasperKersten]

Here's what Wikipedia has to say about this discussion / critisism: Hoplites also carried a sword, mostly a short sword called a xiphos, but later also longer and heavier types. This very short xiphos would be very advantageous in the press that occurred when two lines of hoplites met, capable of being thrust through gaps in the shieldwall into an enemy's unprotected groin or throat, while there was no room to swing a longer sword. (Note that this is not the full text of the paragraph; only what's useful for this topic. You can visit the Wikipedia page about hoplites to read the whole thing.)

[@theinacircleoftheancientpu492]

Casper Kersten That certainly sounds more realistic than the sports day version, although it is wikipedia so pinch of salt. Edit: also aren't hoplites and phalanx slightly different? P.p.s while I'm at it if you got this far I should also note that tbf it is still an interesting and well made video on the whole.

[@tombomb1506]

GODS BE PRAISED, A NEW VIDEO IS UPLOADED, THE DAY IS OURS!

[@alexandertasseff3739]

Was waiting for this video for quite a while, thanks

[@loissniper]

Your content is so interesting ! I found that great how you focus on the tactics of an era. Please do one video of this kind on the Seleucids, a mixture of Macedonian and Estern battle tactics should be quite intersting! Love your vids, keep up the good work!

[@AdobadoFantastico]

Ok, I have to dispute the shoving match thing. I've looked a few times and failed to find a first hand reference to this happening. As far as I can tell, it is simply an archeological assumption. While I'm sure it happened occasionally, it just seems like a worst case scenario. Most battles ended with ~10% casualties(from what I've read). This would happen almost immediately if it was a shoving match. Take a small, hypothetical formation 10 men deep and 20 men wide. Just that would be enough to probably kill the front line of BOTH formations. The weight of 9 rows of dudes behind you plus 10 in front of you simply does not seem survivable. I know the front lines often got double pay but this seems like utter suicide. Also, this would make the sarissa less effective. You simply equip a bigger shield so your side has more weight and better protection. A sarissa seems far *more* effective if you're approaching with tight, enclosed formations and trying to poke at people without getting into a shoving match. Otherwise all you need to close the reach advantage is the discipline to make it past the initial barbs. But that honestly sounds crazy for both sides *especially* because the companion infantry has smaller shields. That would be such a massive gamble that could go awry very easily. You could lose men just because the opponent's weren't *able* to break fast enough. Have you ever been in a super dense crowd? One that panicked? I dunno, can someone point me to a *first hand* account that describes two formations actually making _shield contact_ and then _pushing_ against each other as a whole formation? Do they really describe their buddies shoving them from behind with their own shields? It seems like you wouldn't actually be able to fight that way. How do you even bring your arm back to thrust if there's a wall of shield against your back? It doesn't sound very mechanically plausible to me.

[@AdobadoFantastico]

Outstanding video as always, btw. I'm​ a big fan, I just fail to understand this specific detail and it has bothered me for a long time now.

[@MrPanos2000]

Anguel Roumenov Bogoev Its a false fact and I tired of hearing it all the time too

[@webstercat]

Their ancestors are current day offense linemen….

[@razzvro]

oh boy today's a good day

[@MrProtopopescovici]

berserkkkkkk

[@AlexP-jz9sg]

Once again, superb work. One of finest channels on YT.

[@IllicitGreen]

these videos are probably the best i have ever seen on the topic. wow

[@Robert399]

4:56 Where does this idea of the phalanx scrum come from? It's an absolutely stupid *and* unnatural way to fight yet I've heard so many youtubers mention it that I'm not willing to dismiss it outright without knowing the source.

[@nykidxxx]

You're on the right path to not accept information from youtubers without doubt.... then you go ahead and ask youtuber commenters as your best source. So close.

[@Robert399]

@@nykidxxx I'm asking for a source so I can check it myself.

[@jarrodbright5231]

From the Athenians, perfected by the Spartans (by having the only professional military). Phalanxes were the dominant military formation and the supporting troops would often negate each other (cavalry would chase each other's peltasts away then chase each other around as they weren't able to do much against an unengaged phalanx even with a flank attack). It's strategic inbreeding, but it happened. "My Life and Times" by Xenophon (Athenian general circa 300BC) has a good description of how the Greeks saw it was the perfectly manly way to wage a war - the strongest at shoving the others off their feet won. There were other tactics to break up the "phalanx scrum", such as widening the phalanx upon engagement (trying to wrap around the enemy) once the initial charge had been absorbed, or deploying the same number of men into more phalanxes to outflank the enemy, however since the phalanx with more momentum (from deeper ranks providing more pushing power by pushing your shield against the guy in front of you) usually wiped out the phalanx with less momentum on the initial charge (i.e. pushing them off their feet) these strategies were considered questionable at best. It was usually determined by the strength of your soldiers (generally depending on how well trained they were) and the number of hoplites in the phalanx that carried the day. Then Leuctra happened and 200 years of inbred military theory got turned on its head... about 20 years before Philip of Macedon.

[@Robert399]

@@jarrodbright5231 But why do it in the first place? I can't believe that two spear-wielding units would walk within spear range and not use the spears. As I've said before, I can believe phalanxes got pressed together sometimes but not that they _intended_ to, given they're armed with spears.

[@jarrodbright5231]

​@@Robert399 If they weren't fighting other phalanxes they wouldn't; they would use the natural advantage of the phalanx of having 3 people fighting each individual enemy due to being in closer formation. However if you have a phalanx and the other side has one, the most decisive way to win is to break their phalanx formation up. Momentum from the charge pushes enough people in the phalanx that doesn't charge out of formation that they are no longer locked shield-to-shield. Worse, the enemy phalanx is now inside your phalanx, in formation, and can form a fighting square, arrow-wedge or similar formation (there is documentation of a few of these though few first-hand accounts of it happening as people would just run if their phalanx was broken). Some of the people in the phalanx getting pushed out of formation will get trampled or stabbed by the spears of the charging phalanx and the rest will be at a severe disadvantage. There is also a significant morale factor of being physically pushed out of your formation if you're planning to fight a battle a certain way and it just isn't working out, and you no longer have the advantage of knowing where your friends and enemies are on the battlefield whereas your opponents know very well that everyone outside of their formation is an enemy. Since each side using a phalanx know the other side will do this even if they don't, both sides inevitably charge to avoid giving the other side such an overwhelming advantage. It's worth mentioning that the front rank would try to aim their spears at the other side as they charged, but remember that spears tend to break when they hit bronze shields so this would inflict minimal casualties. Spear and short sword thrusts would definitely happen once the phalanxes are shield to shield, however with large hoplon shields, helmets, greaves and armored kilts, these would do a lot less damage than you might think. The strategy at this point would be to win the battle as decisively as possible to minimize casualties on your own side (i.e. people like to survive the battle). If you kill the guy in front of you with a spear or sword thrust you have someone else replace him as soon as his body is out of the way. If you break the enemy formation and force your phalanx into their phalanx you win the battle because now only one side is fighting in formation. Most enemies will flee at that point and that's the battle won and hooray you live to fight another day. Also, with spear and sword thrusts, only the front 2 ranks of the 8-20 ranks of the phalanx can get involved in the fighting (as opposed to the front 6 ranks with a Macedonian phalanx). With shields to the backs of the guys in front of you, all of the ranks can get involved. Now those thrusts did happen because they would disrupt the enemy's momentum / pushing power, but they wouldn't be the main way to win the battle.

[@Marko-od7eb]

@Historia Civilis @5:00 Again with the shallow"othismos" myth with physical shoving with shields which was proven false by historians and reenactors over and over again. You seem to forget that word "othismos" was also used to describe fearsome verbal debate, therefore, you should not use it in literal translation.

[@sithdestroya]

Great vid! Would love to see some Egyptian Strategy as well! You're obviously very good at what you do and I can't wait to see what's next!

[@robmann101]

i just want to say that i really enjoy these videos you make. thank you

[@claytonimor34]

One correction. Phalanxes couldn't do the shield lock like you suggest. The pressure from both ends would crush the lungs of most of the interior of both units, killing the entirety of both front lines. More likely, they used those spears and poked at each other.

[@you9totally9suck]

please give us some metric measurements, at least in text form on screen. This gets even more important when you show pictures that don't fit your description... Love your channel tho ♥

[@dave1741]

Another quality video. Dont think Ive ever crowd funded something before but I will 100% be heading over to your Patreon right now. Plus the idea about voting on future videos got me real excited. Never change!

[@turkishdisco2]

I'm not interested in military history, but your videos are so well made that they make me want to know more! Great work!

[@dannykhoshraftar4644]

Do a Persian empire battle tactic

[@Razzy1312]

10 second video: "We got lots of guys and chariots. CHARGE!"

[@rollon5865]

Razzy1312 dummy

[@aksmex2576]

Philip on legendary difficulty. Alexander on Easy.

[@HermelinCze]

you are one of three channel on youtube which i literally love to watch and i cannot wait to get my first salary after this mouth to support you in patrion :)

[@Ligalotz]

the content is at an all time high, keep it up!

[@simonhagsten6799]

Could you start using the metric system in your videos? It's hard for me and the rest if the world to understand distances, lenghts and so on without pausing and checking. Thanks! :P

[@KingGeorgeIIIiwanttoperish]

Simon Hagsten no

[@Fallout3Fr3aker12]

HacaPotato 3 fucking countries in the World use this mile and foot shit. One of them is america and you expect the Rest of the World to learn this unlogical shit? Hell no

[@abdmzn]

HacaPotato so let the rest of the world convert so you can stay the same?

[@Alf763]

Imperial makes more sense

[@alexfreestyleboy]

Well since you know both then there is no reason to not use the metric system so all of us can understand.

[@krispi1481]

Why when you refer to Macedonian you don't put the capital south near Pella but you choose to locate it in Thessaloniki?

[@captain_mike6787]

Γιατί δεν ξέρει

[@zethron1173]

I LOVE YOU BRO! I wish I would have found this channel years ago.

[@soworrounderfalckang1165]

Excellent video. Its a pleasure watching this channel.

[@LindrosPetri]

It is a great video but there are certain inaccuracies and speculations. The right explanation of the phalanx is a tightly packed rectangular formation of infantry. I never see people getting the phalanx terminology right. Also, a thing which is already noted in the comments - these shoving matches cannot be proven with sources. This is just a speculation.

[@elessargriz1736]

Shoving matches is extremely bizarre and din't happen regularly if at all. Why arm men with spears then just get into a shoving match? Why not just give them all knives or swords and do the shoving?

[@purebloodedgriffin]

@@elessargriz1736 Worked fine for the romans

[@Martin-is3jr]

HC: The most effective cavalry unit in history! Winged Hussars: :'(

[@F14thunderhawk]

TBF The Winged Hussars arent really special, theyre memorable because their moment of Glory is about as good as any military doctrine can ever hope for. The Companion Cavalry is better because of specifically the unified strategic and tactical order the armies were able to employ.

[@d4tas42]

@@F14thunderhawk not realy winged boys were special

[@wankawanka3053]

Well did the winged hussars ever conquer the same land mass as the companions?

[@Tails7777]

I think this may be my favorite video from you yet

[@decem_sagittae]

This was really good, probably your best vid to date

[@plumeater1]

Don't mind me I'm just watching a Total War tutorial Hip di do

[@hellenictech]

Macedonians had the best of greek armies in ancient world. Very good video!

[@mrmomo21]

There is not a single percent chance that their army was greek cause its different nation

[@jirf5962]

Another stellar video Mr. Civilis.

[@ronanobrien88]

lol 4k! Just want to say I really look forward to every time they come out. Keep it coming buddy!

[@aggelosflyer6073]

You will never reach warm waters, Skopje, Skopje!!!

[@davorpetrovski6420]

Tocno !!! SUPACI STE GRCI

[@TheRomaduce]

Philip:We'll make spears. Hundreds of them! Long spears, twice as long as a man. Military right hand: That long? Philip: YES. Military right hand son:Some men are longer than others. Military right hand:Your mother been telling you stories about me again, eh?

[@pfl0kk550]

U've watched to mo much Braveheart? ;]

[@anathamon]

Good movie

[@k6286]

TheRomaduce classic movie

[@wife_puncher_bot8483]

What the fuck is your pfp

[@houser2094]

@@wife_puncher_bot8483 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@EddyGurge]

Source of a lot of the Companions from Skyrim.

[@cool_beannnn]

Samithon James lmao calm down buddy

[@CasperKersten]

This is exciting! I'd love to see a follow-up of this episode.

[@zachg3563]

This video was absolutely excellent!