How mobile was the Macedonian phalanx?

**QuintusSertorius** · 03-10-2011, 23:29

Originally Posted by Ludens

I doubt the enemy would be so obliging as to wait while the pikemen were reassembling their sarrisa after the charge. So any charging pikeman would have to fight with a normal spear during combat. In which case, why didn't they simply front the phalanx with hoplites, who have a spear and a proper shield as well?

I'm sure I read somewhere that the promachoi/front rank might be armed in the hoplite fashion. Can't for the life of me remember where I saw it, though.

**The_Blacksmith** · 03-11-2011, 00:45

i read post this the other day and i thought to my self "I wanna try jog with a 4 meter long stick"... and I did so, and it worked... for 2 minutes, then i was exhausted

but my assesment of the "running pikes" is YES:a well drilled formation with really endurant men can do it... but, it could turn into a game of mikado if they are not carefull... the teqhnique is for the guys in front row to use their right hand held relatively close to the counterweight, to push it down... and the rest is easy peasy...

**QuintusSertorius** · 03-11-2011, 01:01

Originally Posted by The_Blacksmith

i read post this the other day and i thought to my self "I wanna try jog with a 4 meter long stick"... and I did so, and it worked... for 2 minutes, then i was exhausted

but my assesment of the "running pikes" is YES:a well drilled formation with really endurant men can do it... but, it could turn into a game of mikado if they are not carefull... the teqhnique is for the guys in front row to use their right hand held relatively close to the counterweight, to push it down... and the rest is easy peasy...

This is the thing, one guy could do it. But 256 trying to stay in formation?

**Populus Romanus** · 03-11-2011, 01:27

If they have been training at it for years, then yes, they probably could pull that off.

**fomalhaut** · 03-11-2011, 01:46

Originally Posted by QuintusSertorius

This is the thing, one guy could do it. But 256 trying to stay in formation?

If their profession is combat then i don't see it as unlikely. Not that professionals were really common i don't think

**jirisys** · 03-11-2011, 02:39

Originally Posted by QuintusSertorius

This is the thing, one guy could do it. But 256 trying to stay in formation?

256 hundred you mean?

Maybe 256 dozens, but you cannot part it that small or else it would be quasi-useless, I agree the lochagos can see to the few men he has under his command but remember this is not a manipular or cohortal army.

~Jirisys ()

**QuintusSertorius** · 03-11-2011, 11:59

Originally Posted by jirisys

256 hundred you mean?

Maybe 256 dozens, but you cannot part it that small or else it would be quasi-useless, I agree the lochagos can see to the few men he has under his command but remember this is not a manipular or cohortal army.

~Jirisys ()

No, I just meant one syntagma as the smallest possible tactical unit of the phalanx. If that small a number would struggle to do it, then a full taxeis or bigger would make it impossible.

**fallen851** · 03-11-2011, 15:15

I actually read a good book on this topic.

Anyway, the quick summary is that Alexander's Phalanx was highly mobile, and could change directions very quickly.

After his death, phalanx formations became deeper, used longer spears and the soldiers had heavier armor. This meant they could easily overwhelm one of Alexander's formations in a head on fight and stood a better chance against elephants that became common in Sucessor Armies. However, they became increasingly immobile and unable to manuver. The result was that flank attacks were devastating, and soldiers often just fled when the threat of a flank attack occured, since their spears were so long and often were intertwined between the ranks of many of their peers in front of them that they had no way of turning to meet their enemy.

So the answer is quite complex. Over time they became increasingly heavier armed and armored, because when one nation increases ranks and spear length, all nations have to, because the phalanx with the deeper ranks, longer spears and heavier armor wins in a head to head fight. The result is that this left them vulnerable in other areas, and made them a very one dimensional unit, which led to the rise of many types of support units that surrounded their flanks. So the answer is that it really depends on what period you are looking at the phalanx. The earlier you go, the more mobile the unit is.