12-27-2009, 07:15 PM
Quote:I agree that its generally true that peasants from relatively egalitarian societies formed more enthusiastic militias. But its not true that the fact that a society was aristocratic always caused the commoners to lose interest in fighting.Sean Manning:18b3xzek Wrote:I don't know much about the Sassanids, but it does occur to me that "peasant militia" describes Greek or Republican Roman hoplites pretty well! I doubt that most Sassanid infantry were as good as those troops, but effective ancient soldiers weren't always professional.I think there's a big difference between a 'peasant militia' from a Greek citty state or the Roman republic on the one hand, or one from the Sassanian aristocracy-ruled empire.
I read one report of the Sassanian peasant infantry being chaned together on the battlefield (don't know if it was an accurate report)...
The chained thing seems to be a translation of an Arabic figure of speech. I don't know whether scholars think it was literal or not. David Niccole's Medieval Warfare Sourcebook doesn't mention it.
Nullis in verba
I have not checked this forum frequently since 2013, but I hope that these old posts have some value. I now have a blog on books, swords, and the curious things humans do with them.
I have not checked this forum frequently since 2013, but I hope that these old posts have some value. I now have a blog on books, swords, and the curious things humans do with them.