How mobile was the Macedonian phalanx?

[fomalhaut]

The reference to Alexander literally scaring an enemy into submission with precise phalanx movements is described in Arrian in the early part of his rule, before Thebes got owned I believe.

yes it was quite early in his career, i figured it was either right before he left greece or right after. When i read that i was just, dang, there really isn't any force as well trained as that and his quick work of Persia really showed that. It wasn't until Porus that he seemed to be challenged to the highest degree.

I read an article in an Ancient Warfare magazine contending that the Macedonian Armies up until their ultimate defeat were actually more disciplined than the Roman Legions, yet did not resort to the very brutal reprucussions used to keep discipline found in the Roman Army.

It was actually argued that the reason the Roman army had to resort to such brutal forms of discipline because of a relative lack of overall drilled discipline and punishment by death was a necessary measure to keep basic composure.

Macedonian infractions were punishable mostly by fees, but they were systematically so based on a written set of rules. It also mentioned the Hypaspists as a police/guard type of force when camp was set up.