The end of the Peloponnesian War in 404 BCE finds Sparta a winner and Athens a loser to capitulate on unbearable terms. At that time, Greeks from the city-states began gradually to work as mercenaries. Thousands of Greek warriors, trained in combat operations and strategies, offered their services to kings, contenders of thrones and satraps of the Persian kingdom.
The machinations that took place in the Persian court provided opportunities for the Greek soldiers to be involved in revolutions to overthrow the power. The riches of the Great King constituted a powerful lure for the Greek soldiers, whose abilities in combat were recognized and admired particularly in the ancient world.
In "Anabasis", Xenophon records the course of the mercenary army of the Greeks step by step, consisting of soldiers coming from different city-states, from the coast of Asia Minor to the battle of Cunaxa on September 5, 401 BCE and their return from Cunaxa to Trabzon and from there to Pergamon. The Greek mercenaries fought for Cyrus the Younger, against his brother Artaxerxes, who was on the Persian throne.
The significance and role of the Anabasis of the Myriad was particularly important for antiquity, especially for Greece. Xenophon's work was known in the ancient world, and is a precursor of Alexander the Great's campaign half a century later. The Greek historian has provided important information on issues of military, administrative, psychological, moral, economic, cultural and geographic interest:
i. First of all, Xenophon accurately records the course of the army from one city to the other listing the different distances covered and the stops that took place.: He also describes in detail the geomorphology of the Persian mainland, through the reporting of rivers, lakes, deserts and mountains. Moreover, the administrative division of the state, their satrapies and borders, as well as the peoples living in each region, are thoroughly mentioned.
ii. In 'Anabasis', the areas beyond the Tigris and Euphrates rivers are described for the first time.These rivers will later be crossed by Alexander the Great. In addition, the capture of cities, villages and fortifications will help the Greeks to get to know and study the interior of the Persian empire.
iii. The claim of the royal throne by Cyrus and his controversy with Artaxerxes fully reflects what was happening within the Persian court. The successors of the throne clashed in order to claim the kingdom and riches of the empire. The satraps of the provinces were often involved in these controversies, always with the expectation of material and moral exchange. Several satraps rebelled against the Persian King claiming the independence of their province. The internal disputes of the Persian Empire were maintained during the campaign of Alexander the Great.
v. The satraps didn't keep a united front against the troops passing through their province to fight the Grand King. So, they either conspired with the invaders hoping that they would overthrow the King, or kept a neutral stance, trying not to create problems so that the Greek troops would quickly leave their area without looting it. Finally, there were occasions when satraps fought against the invaders, claiming the favour of the Persian King for the services they offered.
v. The Army of the Myriad suffered several hardships. Lack of food, fatigue, constant battles and, in general, disputes over the correctness of the choices of the Greek generals made the situation extremely difficult. The management of the Greeks on such crises and disagreements among soldiers, would become a model for the campaigns to be carried out in the future. The distance separating the soldiers from their homeland, combined with the anxiety of survival, would act as handicap for any attempt to move further into the Persian Empire. Similar problems would be presented to the Macedonian army with its continuous course to the Asian mainland during the campaign of Alexander the Great.
vi. There were significant differences between the battle tactics of the Greek and the Persian armies. The Persian army did not change its structure, relying primarily on its arithmetic superiority over the opponent and the forces of the cavalry and the archers. On the other hand, the Greeks relied on the courage, the bravery, the maneuvers and the discipline of the soldiers. The Persian army was unable to withstand a direct attack from the Greek soldiers- as a result, they retreated and scattered.
vii. Also, one of the usual tactics of the Persian army was to leave the battlefield when their leader was killed. This fact was also confirmed in Cunaxa, when, despite the victory of the Myriads, the death of Cyrus caused the Persian part of his army to flee for their lives. The victory of the Myriads became a defeat, the moment Cyrus died. This practice will later be exploited by Alexander the Great when, as the head of the Macedonian cavalry, he attacked the central part of the Persian army faction to kill King Darius.
viii. One century after their invasion to Greece, the Persians were not invincible- despite the wealth they possessed and despite their more active involvement in Greek affairs through the financial support of rival cities-states. As was the case in the Persian Wars, they were defeated by the Greek mercenary army.
ix. It was the first time that the Greeks clashed with the Persians in a battle which took place in the mainland of the Persian empire, just 70 kilometers north of Babylon. Despite the adversity they faced and the lack of proper supplies, the Greek mercenaries were making a major victory. Now, the Great King was beaten within his empire.
x. Despite the hardships and difficult conditions that the Army of Myriads faced, they managed to return to Greece. When they began the journey into the interior of the Persian empire, the troops numbered about 13,000 hoplites from various city-states. About 8,600 of them returned home; that is,more than half of the original army survived, despite the constant battles and the heavy winter in the distant East.
xi. Finally, the achievement of the Greek mercenaries took place despite the campaign's objective difficulties. The heterogeneous character of the army and the fact that the hoplites came from various city-states of metropolitan Hellas, were secondary issues. The Myriad were mercenaries and the only motivation for their participation in Cyrus' effort to claim the throne of the Persian Empire, was money that would provide them with a better life. However, victory revealed the potential for a comprehensive and properly trained military campaign in the near future. This army would be placed under the orders of Alexander the Great.
In conclusion, the victory of the Myriad against the Persian army, their successful course and return from the interior of the Persian empire, and the adversities that they managed to overcome renewed the feeling of power and superiority of the Greeks towards the Persians. After their defeat at Plataea, the Persians did not try to campaign against the main Greek territory again- instead, they focused on their economic interference in the city-states of the Greek mainland and their controversies over the hegemony of Greece. Persian gold would be a cause of friction, with Greek cities scorning for the favor of the Great King. The Persian King will intervene internally and act as the regulator and referee of the issues. Persian involvement will continue throughout the 4th century BCE.
The "Anabasis" provided important information to the ancient world about the structure and composition of the Persian Empire. The descent of the Myriad managed to bring out the Persian weaknesses. 66 years later, when Alexander the Great would subjugate the Persian Empire, he would be confronted with much of what Xenophon has recorded in his book. The course of the mercenary army from the coasts of Asia Minor to the Mesopotamian region and its return through inaccessible paths, the constant battles with the peoples of the empire, the handling of disagreements within the army and the bad weather conditions they endured, inspired the ancient Greek world- putting an end to the legend of the great Persian King and his supposedly mighty army. The policy of Philip II and then Alexander the Great for a campaign of the Greeks for the subjugation of the Persians had a chance of success thanks to the achievement of the Myriad.
Edited from : Historical Quest
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