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Early Macedonian
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It is probable that Macedonian exposure to the Greek methods of war induced Archelaos to reform the infantry and cavalry organization. He is said to have created a force of foot companions (pezhetairoi) armed like hoplites, reorganized the cavalry, and provided both with armor and weapons from state funds. The formation peasants in different regions into regiments (taxeis) could possibly date to the Archelaos reforms, although it is more likely that Philip instituted this measure when he reformed the peasant levies to create the pike phalanx. Macedonian control of the silver mines near Amphipolis probably assisted in paying for the reform efforts. Little else is known about Macedonian military changes until Philip's day.
The Dardanian king Bardhylus united Illyria and Molossia, fought against Macedonian expansion efforts, and actually annexed portions of western Macedonia after winning a great battle against the Macedonians in which the king and 4000 of his solders were killed. Philip II assumed the throne, reorganized and reequipped the peasant levy into the famous pike phalanx, and recovered the lost territory, thus ending the list.| 1x3Kn (Gen) | The King and his Companions (hetairoi) |
| 1x3Kn | Other Macedonian noble cavalrymen |
| 2x4Sp or 3Ax | Lynkestian, other subject, or coastal Greek hoplites. After Archelaos reforms, Macedonian infantry improved to pezhetairoi. Or field as additional Akontistai or Illyrian mercenaries |
| 6x3Ax | Akontistai, the peasant levy, armed primarily with javelins and wicker shields. |
| 2x2Ps | Peasant archers, slingers, and javelin armed men without shields |
Variant Composition
Although the Macedonian cavalry later during this period wore breastplates (Thucydides) charge vigorously (at Olynthos in 382 BC) and adopted the xyston as their primary weapon, cavalry during the earlier period (from coin reliefs) wore petasos hats and cloaks and carried two throwing spears. Therefore, the Kn elements should be regraded to Cv at least prior to the 420s. Phillip IIís reforms occurred after he became king in 359 BC, so the list should probably end at 359 or some time shortly thereafter.
Enemies and Allies
Perennial enemies of the Early Macedonians include the Illyrians (I/47) and Thracians (I/48). The Thessalians (I/52c), Persians (I/60a), Paionians (I/63), Spartans (II/5a), Athenians (II/5b), Thebans (II/5), and other Greeks (II/5i) including the Olynthians, also fought against the Macedonians.
Allies of the Macedonians include the Argives (I/52a) and the Thessalians (I/52c). The Spartans (II/5a) and Athenians (II/5b) could also be included as allies in any Peloponnesian war campaign.
Tactics
The key to Macedonian success is to avoid the defeat of the akontistai (Auxilia) while gaining victory with the hetairoi (Knights).
The akontistai are not as disadvantaged against the Thracian and Illyrian Auxilia without the inferior grading given to them in DBM army lists. Therefore, against the Thracians and Illyrians, try to seize the bad going first and force your opponent to deploy in the open, or place your Auxilia in the open in a way that forces your opponent to fight them in the open. If you are the defender, place less terrain so your opponent ends up with some of his bad going troops in open ground to face your knights. Use your knights to defeat his cavalry and then crush the Auxilia infantry under your hooves. The Thracian player can choose to take three Light Horse instead of Auxilia. Watch out! You donšt want to involve your knights in a tangle with the light horse.
Fighting the Thessalians is similar to fighting the Thracians, only now there are more Spear infantry elements, making the job of running down the Thessalian infantry much more difficult. Against the Thessalians or the other Greek armies, place more bad going if you are the ground. Try to force your opponent to bring his hoplites into bad going where your Auxilia will fight on more even terms.
Against the Thracians, Thessalians, and Greeks, consider taking the spear option. One can be placed in your camp to stop any roving light horse from seizing your camp. One or both can also be used with Psiloi support to guard the flanks of your line against mounted attacks.
Against the Thracians, if you are the defender and have placed less terrain, you can use your hoplites to attack in addition to your knights. Finally, both Spears can be used to refuse a flank against Greek cavalry or hoplites while you seek a decision with the Knights elsewhere.
Miniatures and Painting Tips
Knights: A coin from the reign of Alexander I shows Macedonian cavalrymen in petasos hat and cloak, carrying two long spears on a heavy horse. The coin at the head of this page depicting a similar horseman with two spears is from the reign of Perdikkas II. Thucydides describes Macedonian cavalry against the Thracians as excellent horsemen in breastplates in the 420s BC. The hetairoi charged aggressively at Olynthos in 382. It is possible they had the xyston by then. An option is to develop an Early Macedonian army to fight in either a Peloponnesian war campaign or a 4th century pre-Philip II campaign. In the first instance, select miniatures that look similar to Thessalian cavalry. In the second, morphing Alexandrian Macedonian companions into the hetairoi should be fine. For my 6mm Early Macedonian army, I am using Baccus AMA5 Companion cavalry with the xyston cut down to a shorter spear length. I could also use AG5 Thessalian cavalry for pre-400 BC hetairoi or AMA6 Thessalian cavalry for post 400 BC hetairoi.
Auxilia: The peasant infantry akontistai were armed mostly with javelins and wicker shields. I personally would use Greek javelin armed figures with small round or oval shields or even pelta, but without the other distinguishing marks of Thracian peltasts (hat, cloak, etc.). One or two elements of Illyrian mercenaries are also appropriate. For my 6mm Early Macedonian army I am using Baccus AG9 Peltasts with the thureos painted as wicker shields and the pilos helmets painted occasionally as leather hats.
Spear: The reforms of Archelaos may have brought the pezhetairoi or foot companions into line with other hoplites of the day. Use later hoplites with pilos helmet and no armor for these troops, or possibly Alexandrian Macedonian hypaspists (armed with apis and spear). For my 6mm army I am using AMA3 Phalangites advancing (OH) with short spears instead of long pikes. I could also use AG8 Hoplites (unarmored). Lynkestian and coastal Greek hoplites are a possibility. Most hoplite figures would be suitable, though I would consider a lessened panoply (pilos helmet and shield rather than breastplate, greaves, Corinthian helm and shield). I am using Baccus AG8 Hoplites (unarmored).
Psiloi: Other light armed peasants. Most any Greek looking slinger, archer, or javelinman will do. Morphing Agrianians is possible in conjunction with using xyston equipped figures for Kn elements and hypaspist figures for Sp. I use Baccus AG3 Psiloi javelin, AG4 Psiloi Bow, and AG10 Psiloi Slingers for my Early Macedonian Ps.
Camp/BUAs
A mountain stronghold or highland village would be an appropriate BUA for this army. Since many of the peasant levy engaged in pastoralism, a flock of sheep to protect from the Thracians would make a good camp.
Miniatures
I have little knowledge of 15mm/25mm manufacturers, and no knowledge of any
who provide figures specifically for Early Macedonia. Greek figures should
suffice for almost every need, however. Here are a couple of manufacturers of
Greek and Macedonian/Hellenistic figures:
Xyston Miniatures offers a nice range of
Greek and Hellenistic figures in 15mm. The vast majority of Greek armies in the
Eye Candy section of the web pages are Xyston figures. Pictures of Xyston miniatures (Spartan, Thracian, 10,000) can be found in the Eye Candy section of the Fanaticus Resources pages.
Essex Miniatures also offers a range of Greek/Hellenistic figures in 15mm or 25mm.
Old Glory offers some Greek and Macedonian/Hellenistic figures in 25mm, along with Old Glory15s.
Bronze Goat offers a 28mm Early Macedonian/Hellenistic range.
In plastic, both HAT and Italieri offer Greek figures in 20mm or 1/72 scale.
Of course my favorite manufacturers are Baccus and Irregular in 6mm scale.
Other Resources
Recommended books include:
Borza, Eugene N. Before Alexander: Constructing Early Macedonia. (Claremont, Calif: Regina Books, 1999).
Casson, Stanley. Macedonia, Thrace and Illyria. Their relations to Greece from the earliest times down to the time of Philip son of Amyntas. (Groningen: Bouma's Boekhuis, 1968).
Hammond, N.G.L. A History of Macedonia. 3 vols. (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1972) and Philip of Macedon. (Baltimore : Johns Hopkins University Press, 1994).
Philip II of Macedon : A Life From the Ancient Sources. Ed and trans. Alfred S. Bradford (Westport, Conn.: Praeger, 1992).
Sage, Michael. Warfare in Ancient Greece: A Sourcebook. (London, New York: Routledge, 1996).
Sekunda, Nick. The Ancient Greeks. Osprey Elite Series #7. (London: Osprey Publishing, 1986) and Greek Hoplite 480-323 BC. Osprey Warrior Series #27. (Oxford: Osprey Publishing, 2000).
See Luke Ueda-Sarson's variant DBM army list for the Early Macedonians, which includes literary and archaeological references.
Chris Brantley: Historian Eugene Borza has also authored In the Shadow of Olympus, the Emergence of Macedon and Makedonika, both of which stake out the author's historical views on the controversial issue of Macedonian ethnic heritage.
Armies > Resources > Fanaticus
Last Updated: 25 March 2005
Questions, comments, suggestions welcome.
Send them to Chris Brantley at brant@erols.com.