Research On The Tactical System Of Macedonia Phalanx

In 359 BC,Philip Ⅱ of Macedonia Kingdom carried out a military reform and created the tactical system of Macedonia Phalanx to save the country.This military system was followed by his son Alexander Ⅲ and the Hellenistic kingdoms.It made important contributions to the conquest of the Kingdom of Macedonia and the stability of the Hellenistic Kingdoms.The establishment of the tactical system of Macedonia Phalanx was benefited from the unique natural conditions of Macedonia Kingdom.The Lower Macedonia Central Plain,which was flowed through by Haliacmon River and Axius River,was abundant in natural sources,and Upper Macedonia which had verdant lands,rich mineral resources was one of the best pastures in Europe.The grim geopolitical situation that Macedonia was surrounded by powerful enemies forced Macedonia Kingdom to create a strong army to protect itself so that Philip II came back to Macedonia to train his army strictly and improved the number of cavalry after studying the advanced Greek military strategies and tactics in Thebes with Epaminondas.Tactical system of Macedonia Phalanx had been established because of the effect of many internal and external factors.The tactical system of Macedonia Phalanx can be divided into four different subsystems.First one is the heavy cavalry system.The Cavalry Companion,Thessalian cavalry is the representative of typical impact cavalry.They were recruited from different regions,equipped by lancers(Sarissa).Cataphracts was developed in Hellenistic Age.The second is the light cavalry system.In addition to the short existence of the Prodromoi,Macedonia kingdom’s allies or vassals generally provide light cavalry for Phalanx system,such as Thracian cavalry and Asian Light Cavalry.They provided missile fires with javelin and arrows.The third is the heavy infantry system.Philip II continued the tradition of Greece phalanx battle among the city-states,but he changed the equipments of soldiers of Phalanx and formed the Macedonia Phalanx with Foot Companion as the major part of tactical system.Hypaspists were elite troops whom were selected from Foot Companion.They could be either heavy infantries or light infantries so that they would undertake a variety of combat missions.The fourth is light infantry system.Peltasts could cover the disadvantage of missile fire powers.Archers and slingers were important supplement of ranged attack.They still played important roles in Macedonia Phalanx tactical system.Considering from the perspective of army construction,we will find that the structure of arms in Macedonia Phalanx tactical system is invulnerable.Thus if it can realize the cooperation of combined arms,there is no weakness in the Macedonia Phalanx tactical system in theory.The tactical system of Macedonia Phalanx had mature and reliable methods of operation.The whole formation of entire army could be divided into linear,oblique,hollow square,crescent and wedge formation.Cavalry and infantry had different operational formations playing different tactical roles in the battlefields.When the terrain didn’t have advantages,the army had the ability to maintain its formation and got victory.When strategically forced to attack,the troops could rely on their strong engineering ability and storming fortification ability to attack the city.The basic deployment principles of the Phalanx tactical system were not complicated.It generally showed that Foot Companion was in the centre,on the left wing were weak troops,and the commander-in-chief and the main forces were on the right wing.The military organization had fully considered the influences of logistics on the combat capability of the troops.The tactic system had the function of the logistics department,thus it could provide material guarantee for expeditions.According to the analysis of specific battle cases,the advantages of Macedonia Phalanx tactical system can be summed up as three points:outstanding maneuverability,positive powerful offensive ability,and the cooperation of combined arms.In ancient times it was unable to find thorough methods to solve the tactical system’ s disadvantages.The chance of winning was excessively dependent on the advantage of cavalry;the deterioration of armies led to a decline in operational capabilities;only the commander with high military talents could manage combined arms coorperation,but such professional general couldn’ t be systematically trained at that times.Finally,the tactical system of Macedonia Phalanx was defeated by Roman Legion and disappeared then.In short,the Macedonia Phalanx tactic system once had great influences on political and military fields,such as the National Phalanx has become the focus of scholars in recent studies,because the expanded manpower resources of Phalanx shook the foundation of the Hellenistic kingdoms;combined arms cooperation is an eternal proposition for the exploration of modern militarist.These problems currently still have important significance.