Diadochoi armies are all about two things - pikes and cavalry. The Seleukids are no exception. If there is one weakness to this army, it is that it requires extreme cohesion to work effectively. The pikes have to stay in formation, the cavalry has to able to check its pursuit, and communication between the two halves has to be frequent and full. How did the Seleukids manage this with the hodgepodge of ethnic enclaves that was their empire? How did the soldiers trust each other? Did the pezoi know, did they feel in their hearts, that the cavalry would return to rescue them after a successful breakthrough, like Alexander did at Gaugamela? It is puzzling through these questions that brought me to the forums to ask for some historical/roleplaying advice.
I noticed that the AS can be divided into roughly two classes - "native" and for lack of a better term "royal". The royals are not neccesarily Greeks, nor are the native barbarians. Anyone who received a land-grant for their service and thus had a stake in the outcome of a fight would be considered of the royal faction. In the Greek and Roman context, they would be the full citizens. The native are those who fight because they are either forced to, or are receiving regular pay. Levies and mercenaries fall into this category, but also those who are obliged to serve the Basileous without promise of receiving land or citizenship. This includes the soldiers of the Type III and IV client states, even the elite cavalry.
Besides the above division, there is also the variable of ethnicity. The hoplitai and hippakontistai of Mikra Asia have a much larger chance of joining the katoikoi military settlers if they perform well in battle than do the Mada Asabara or horse-archers of the East.
Lastly there is the division of socio-economic status. As seen in the game, the defeated Persians aristocracy are a proud and fierce body of men. Even though they serve a foreign master, units like the Kinsmen heavy cavalry will fight well if only for their honor. Conversely, only so much can be expected of a Syriakoi Klerouchoi phalangitai.
So using the above variables, here's what I've come up with for my Seleukid armies. All of the lists below show the "core" of the army. Room for an additional few units is left for customization.
"Royal Army" [Antiocheia]- almost exclusively rich Makedonian citizens.
H. Cavalry (2) - Hetairoi
L. Cavalry (2) - Prodromoi
Pikemen (6) - 5 Pezhetaroi, 1 Argyraspidai
Heavy Infantry (3) - 1 Thorakitai Argyraspidai, 1 Hypaspistai, 1 P. Makedoniai
Skirmisher (2) - Peltastai
Ranged (2) - 1 Toxotai Kretikoi, 1 Toxotai Syriakoi
"Western Standing Army" [Ipsos]- a Klerouchoi pikeline with Greek auxilliaries
M. Cavalry (2) - Lonchophoroi Hippeis (I treat this as local Greek nobles insted of Makedonians)
Missle Cavalry (2) - Hippakontistai
Pikemen (6) - Klerouchoi Phalangitai
Heavy Infantry (3) - Hoplitai/Thureophoroi/Thorakitai
Skirmisher (2) - 1 Peltastai, 1 Akontistai
Ranged (2) - Toxotai/Sphendonetai
"Eastern Standing Army" [Hekatompylos or Antiocheia Margiana or Khiva] - A smaller Klerouchoi pikeline with more ranged units. My concern with this army list is that it doesn't have enough "royal" Seleukid units in it, especially before the Kataphrakt reforms. What's to stop them from simply joining the enemy?
H. Cavalry (2) - Khuveshagana or Kataphraktoi Hellenikoi
M. Cavalry (2) - Mada Asabara/Eastern Medium Cavalry
Ms. Cavalry (2) - Regional javalin cavalry
Pikemen (4) - Klerouchoi Phalangitai, or if not available, Pantodapoi Phalangitai
Spearmen (2) - Regional spearmen
Ranged (6) - Regional Footarchers
"Late Horse-Archer Army" [East] - I roleplay this when its later in my AS campaign and I've defeated the Parthians. I have it that my enlightned Basileios has wisely given the Parthian nobles klerouchies, absorbing them into the Hellenic Kataphractery, and instructing them to maintain their herds and kinsmen. The Pahlavan-i Shivatir (Parthian HA's) are thus "epiklerouchoi" in that if we win battles, their nobles get lots of land, and in turn the whole tribe gets more pasturage and riches.
H. Cavalry (5) - Kataphraktoi Hellenikoi
Ms. Cavalry (15) - Pahlavan-i Shivatir
So there you have it. Any comments about how historical this all is? How I might change things or suggestions for historical roleplay? I am also capable of modding everything but the .CAS files, so suggestions that involve modding are also welcome.
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