Assyrian method of War

[JP Vieira]

Hello

Besides the Roman army, the Assyrian one allways fascinated me.

The Assyrian army was, perhaps, the first truly organised (in every aspect) army of History.

As said, the Assyrian had infantry, both nationals

http://community.imaginefx.com/fxpose/jp_v...cture35544.aspx

and foreign auxiliary

http://community.imaginefx.com/fxpose/jp_v...cture35546.aspx

The use of the horse would that be in chariots or as cavalry

http://community.imaginefx.com/fxpose/jp_v...cture30728.aspx

Was also a weapon that helped the Assyrian to achieve their maximum glory.

The Assyrian exceled also and notably at siege warfare.

Besides all the major components of an army (until the advent of gunpowder), the Assyrian made great use of psychological warfare.

Their method was simple but very effective: to inspire the terror on your foe is almost to win the war; after each action of intimidation the Assyrian made sure that everyone possible knew about it.

So, even before Rome was anything else than a small city, Assyrian had a professional, highly trained, ruthless and efficiently army.

Best regards

[Praebitorae]

Hello

Besides the Roman army, the Assyrian one allways fascinated me.

The Assyrian army was, perhaps, the first truly organised (in every aspect) army of History.

As said, the Assyrian had infantry, both nationals

http://community.imaginefx.com/fxpose/jp_v...cture35544.aspx

and foreign auxiliary

http://community.imaginefx.com/fxpose/jp_v...cture35546.aspx

The use of the horse would that be in chariots or as cavalry

http://community.imaginefx.com/fxpose/jp_v...cture30728.aspx

Was also a weapon that helped the Assyrian to achieve their maximum glory.

The Assyrian exceled also and notably at siege warfare.

Besides all the major components of an army (until the advent of gunpowder), the Assyrian made great use of psychological warfare.

Their method was simple but very effective: to inspire the terror on your foe is almost to win the war; after each action of intimidation the Assyrian made sure that everyone possible knew about it.

So, even before Rome was anything else than a small city, Assyrian had a professional, highly trained, ruthless and efficiently army.

Best regards

 

I too share youre admiration for the Assyrians ,not only its military.

The Assyrian army brought in a new element of tactics and that was the so called first striking unit ,a group of specialy trained man who would deliver a first blow against a enemy that was still gathering and organising its troops and positions.

The aim of such a striking force was to create disorder and to delay the organaised resistance of there enemy.

It failed only once..during the battle of Quarqar in coastal northern Syria 858B.C

It worked perfect on open plain area's but not against the hill and mountiniouce fighters of Urartu.

 

a Funny work on ancient soldiering: http://www.amazon.de/You-Wouldnt-Want-Assy...6597&sr=1-1

[Pertinax]

Might I commend the invention of the jackboot ( by the Assyrians) as the fundamental tool of military excellence? Allowing all season , all terrain campaigning over lesser sandal- wearing types in the Fertile Crescent.

[Praebitorae]

Might I commend the invention of the jackboot ( by the Assyrians) as the fundamental tool of military excellence? Allowing all season , all terrain campaigning over lesser sandal- wearing types in the Fertile Crescent.

The Hittites got footwear as well and they campained in winter as well (Tuthayalis IV campaining in Valivida to upperhand Pyaradush who sought refuge in a (app!) Greeck city (poss) presentday Halicarnassos)

 

One will forgive me for it but I greatly admired the work of the artist drawing all those historical scenes.

[JP Vieira]

Hello

Thanks for the replies and comments.

The Assyrians really laid down many of the features of a true national and professional army.

Perhaps they failed in the way they treated conquered populations: not integrating and making them feel as part of something bigger (like the Roman did with many of the populations they conquered).

Thanks again for the comments.

Praebitorae: you are most wellcome in your appreciation of the work

Best regards

JP Vieira

Edited September 29, 2007 by JP Vieira

[ASCLEPIADES]

Salve, Amici!

 

This nice essay came from e-cheat. (2005)

 

Assyrian Weapons and Warfare Paper

 

The Assyrians have long been known as a ruthless and barbaric people of the ancient civilizations. While this may be true in some instances, it is not an entirely accurate view of the Empire of Assyria. The Assyrians took their warfare seriously; in fact they studied war techniques like a science (Riley, 45). The Assyrians even had special schools set up to teach sapping (military demolition of walls etc.) and mining city walls (Riley, 45). The Assyrians were the innovators of war in their time.

 

The Assyrian army was feared for many reasons one including the use of iron in their weapons. The Assyrians were the first to use iron in spears, swords, shields and armor. They even tipped their battering rams for extra effectiveness. When the Assyrians first attacked their enemies with these awesome novelties of war, it caused almost as profound a reaction as the atom bomb has in our time (Fairservis, 96). Against iron spears and swords, bronze shields were useless. The Assyrians had the most advanced weapons of their time. Their arrows were tipped in iron, the strongest metal of the time. Their bowmen were also among the worlds finest (Fairservis, 95). They had heavy chariots drawn by two horses and had a crew of two, the driver and an archer. Later, a third man was added to protect the rear and a spare horse was hitched at the rear (Za Khan). They introduced cavalry and an accurate sling and developed siege craft with siege towers, battering rams and hand propelled vehicles with armor protection (Za Khan). The primary weapon of the infantry was the bow. It was used in groups or individually; a shield bearer protected the bowman. The bow had a range of over two hundred and fifty meters. A quiver held fifty arrows and a captain had one hundred shield bowmen and shield bearers under his command, which produced formidable firepower (Za Khan). Other weapons used by the infantry wear the spear, the javelin, slings and swords (Za Khan).

 

The cavalry employed horses ridden bareback by two horsemen. One rider held the reins while the other rider, with a shield on his back, used a bow or a lance. Because cavalry could be used on uneven ground, it started replacing the chariot around six hundred B.C (Za Khan).

 

The army also had special technical units. They accompanied the army and had chariots for the battle field and wagons for transporting necessary equipment which would include not only the obvious items of rations and tents but also such specialists types of equipment such as siege engines and rams (Saggs, 244). When roads had to be cut, a task force of men equipped with bronze, iron or copper picks and axes would hack a path for the army to pass through. Not even a river could stop the well-equipped Assyrians. If the river could not be crossed on foot, they would construct boats or bridges to cross the river with. The bridges were most commonly boat bridges, bridges formed by tying a number of boats together across the river with planks on top to make a footway or even a road for the chariots to pass over (Saggs, 244). Other specialists in lesser numbers included scribes for recording booty and other details of the armies campaign (Sags, 244).

 

Another weapon used by the Assyrians was not made of wood or iron, but was used in equal effect was psychological warfare. The Assyrians were masters of psychological warfare. They believed that it was necessary that should be persuaded that it was vain to attempt to oppose Assyria. The Assyrians achieved this in two ways, demonstration of overwhelming might and by propaganda (Saggs, 248). King Sargon explicitly states that his victories had a propaganda aspect to them. After his defeat of the forces of the kingdom of Ururtu and their allies in his major campaign of 714, he says,

[JP Vieira]

Excellent post Asclepiades: thank you.