Byzantine Weapons and Warfare

[Orlirva]

Key Differences between Roman Principate Legionary armies and Middle Byzantine Armies

(Since we are attending an event hosted by the Legio XX of Principate era, I outlined some talking points when we compare /contrast. I would appreciate additions, corrections, arguments. -Rick)

Kit (Compared to the Principate legions)

• Pants or padded leggings
• High boots (sometimes)
• sometimes turbans, simpler rounded or conical helmets
• Lamellar and padded armor; Maile often longer and sometimes with long sleeves.
• Sword, longer & worn on left
• Shield/Scutum/skoutarion, lighter, smaller, variable carry positions. Oval or Kite shaped.
• Bow is common– strong, effective composite, usually with thumb but both thumb and 3-finger methods were used (explicitly both).
• Long Pike/spear instead of pilum/sword as primary heavy infantry weapon
• Stirrup - a critical advantage for horse archery, modest advantage for shock cavalry; allowed “B” and even “C” class riders to be militarily effective. (where a strong modern professional polo player is “A” class, strong amateur is “B” class, “C” class can ride a hunt with little chance of falling off …hint: “A” class riders’ leg bones and muscles deform during their youth to fit the saddle better


Strategy (per Luttwak)
• Less emphasis on attempts at complete conquest (only two examples were Justinian’s 6th C reconquests and Basil II’s 11th C. Bulgarian conquest – 500 years apart). Today’s enemies are tomorrow’s allies; defeating an enemy utterly only means the power vacuum is filled by new, less known and possibly far more dangerous enemies.
• Generally avoid ‘decisive’ battle of the sort the Legions routinely sought out, and also avoid attrition battle. Fall back and let the enemy lose supply lines, exhaust himself and spread out; use maneuver, attack and defeat in detail. Employ harassment and interdiction and raiding tactics.
• Use tax revenue to achieve political/military ends creatively - buying off enemies, turning one against the other….
• Border protected by provincial forces – effectively reinforced border police with a small professional core plus militia; – (Thematic armies) these were to avoid serious threats and battle, unless supported by professional mobile field forces (Tagmatic armies)
• Semi-professional intelligence and diplomatic functions (not formal by modern standards, but far better and more consistent than any enemy managed)
• Plan engagements ‘relationally’ – exploit enemy’s weakness and avoid strengths.
• Invest in small, professional forces (e.g. with versatility to fight relationally…. To be horse archers when fighting Franks, and heavy cavalry when fighting Turks.) (Basic combat readiness training seems to be about 3 years while US Army training is usually about 3-4 months.)
• Invest in highly mobile and especially cavalry forces, to maneuver faster and also have greater ability to control engagement to reduce risk and avoid attrition.
• Use of Christian church as unifying force.
• State’s social contract is centralized and imperial (top down). Less reliance on voluntary service of senatorial class and civic leaders.
• Careful use of mercenaries and client state units – they knew the story of the Vandals and many others so were usually (not always) careful to keep tribal units small, dispersed and in tight control.

Unit Organization and Tactics (Compared to the Principate legions)
• Relational tactics (as Luttwak calls it) meaning explicit training to be flexible to face different enemies and situations optimally – including formations, maneuvers and weapon choices.
• Balanced ‘combined arms’ capability “fire and shock”, with infantry and cavalry, but clear Cavalry dominance in the strike/maneuver arm
• Combined fire and shock capability even from most individual soldiers
• Integrated formation (fire and shock in same formation) optional
• Heavy use of powerful bows and other fire weapons
• Pike & shield heavy infantry to keep cavalry off and arrows out
• Specialty anti-cavalry troops and tactics (the menavalatoi)
• Specialty ‘high tech’ expertise (e.g. war machinery and greek fire)
• Preference for (or comfort with) irregular operations and raids, night attacks, stratagems, tricks and traps (feigned retreats, ambushes, misdirection).
• Greek (not Latin) as command language
• Chiliarchion/Kentarkhion/Bandon/Tagma/Thema etc.


Epochs (for context)
Republic pre 27BC
Principate about 30BC-300 AD
Dominate 300-476 (to fall of Western Empire)
Early Byzantine 476-850
Middle Byzantine 850-1204 (Basil to Sack of Constantinople by 4th Crusade)
Late Byzantine -Greek kingdom 1204-1456.