08-22-2016, 07:53 PM
(08-22-2016, 07:27 PM)JaM Wrote: and how would they know they are not winning? by them being pushed back? that would just make them pushing harder...for the worst for the guys in the front row.. Until these guys are somehow physically threatened, they would not rout.. so you would have to flank them or something... but i dont see how would they start panic sooner than those in front rank
They were already pushing, and even though the back rankers are pushing their whole phalanx is getting pushed back. That is why they know they are losing.
The rear rankers are almost never threatened and almost always the first to run, which is why both the Greeks and the Romans had officers stationed in the rear ranks or behind the formation. Rear rankers, unless given special status and higher rank, are never going to be part of the percentage of forces that are considered "quality." If you have eight men and have to assign them into a phalanx, the best will go in the front, where they are needed the most. The Greeks, especially the Macedonians, actually also started putting sub-officers in the rear ranks just to prevent what we are describing.
