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Osprey Men at Arms #175
Rome's Enemies (3): Parthians and Sassanid Persians
The Parthians were a warrior people. Though possessing no regular army they were superb horsemen and archers, and in time of war the nobility provided heavily armoured knights mounted on weight-carrying chargers. During the Battle of Carrhae (53 BC), it is believed that 20,000 Roman troops out of a force of about 36,000 died at the hands of the Parthians. In the third of four volumes covering Rome's enemies, this fascinating text by Peter Wilcox examines the armies and campaigns of the Parthians and Sassanid Persians. This worthy addition to Osprey's Men-at-Arms series contains a wealth of illustrations, including eight full page colour plates by popular artist Angus McBride.
48 pages, Paperback
Published July 24, 1986
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November 26, 2024
ROME'S ENEMIES (3): PARTHIANS AND SASSANID PERSIANS was about Rome's enemies on her eastern border. Unlike some of her other enemies, Rome won some of the battles with these people but never conquered them. To quote the book, "The Perthians were a Scythian people. From about 700 BC the Scythians proper occupied an area north of the Danube and east of the Carpathians, across the grasslands of east central Europe and southern Russia to the Don." In time their empire which was centered in modern day Iran also included most of the fertile crescent of Mesopotamia. Though they held the Romans at bay for about 400 years they were eventually overthrown by other Iranians, the Sassanian Persians. The Sassanian Persians ruled their territory until they in turn were overthrown by the Arabs of the Islamic conquest in AD 649.
A bit of interest here is that the ancient Iranians knew of the Romans to the west and the Chinese empire to the east. Considerable trade was carried out over the centuries between ancient Iran and China.
One reason for the Parthians being such a worthy enemy was the composition of their army. While Rome's strength lay in her heavy, meaning well armored, infantry, the Parthians relied on their cavalry. The nobility, with their money, could afford the bronze scale armor and iron chain mail and plate armor. They bred and rode their horses which were covered in bronze scale armor as well. This heavy cavalry was referred to as the cataphracts. Imagine Warren Buffett or Elon Musk leading our troops into battle! Those of lesser means were the famed horse archers. Of lesser status, yet still important, were the foot archers and slingers. At the bottom of the hierarchy was the lowly infantry, not good for much other than guarding the camp. Imagine that is where I would be.
Parthanian tactics were to have mounted archers charge the enemy while showering them with arrows. Wheeling their horses about, they would continue to shoot their arrows to the rear in what was known as the Parthian shot. They would continue to do this until they were out of arrows, and then they would go get more. If enemy light cavalry tried to intervene then the cataphracts would run them down. Once the enemy was weakened enough the cataphracts would finish them off.
The cataphracts were pretty immune to hand propelled missiles and arrows, but less so from sling pellets and machine weapons, such as catapults. In other words, David had a deadly weapon when he went to face Goliath.
The Parthians carried these great wind socks that resembled dragons and such. In the 2004 movie KING ARTHUR they carried these before their final battle. These wind socks served a practical purpose other than signaling a rally point. Wind speed and direction was of assistance to archers, much like the fancy equipment used by modern snipers.
A chronology, maps, photos and color plates are included.
A bit of interest here is that the ancient Iranians knew of the Romans to the west and the Chinese empire to the east. Considerable trade was carried out over the centuries between ancient Iran and China.
One reason for the Parthians being such a worthy enemy was the composition of their army. While Rome's strength lay in her heavy, meaning well armored, infantry, the Parthians relied on their cavalry. The nobility, with their money, could afford the bronze scale armor and iron chain mail and plate armor. They bred and rode their horses which were covered in bronze scale armor as well. This heavy cavalry was referred to as the cataphracts. Imagine Warren Buffett or Elon Musk leading our troops into battle! Those of lesser means were the famed horse archers. Of lesser status, yet still important, were the foot archers and slingers. At the bottom of the hierarchy was the lowly infantry, not good for much other than guarding the camp. Imagine that is where I would be.
Parthanian tactics were to have mounted archers charge the enemy while showering them with arrows. Wheeling their horses about, they would continue to shoot their arrows to the rear in what was known as the Parthian shot. They would continue to do this until they were out of arrows, and then they would go get more. If enemy light cavalry tried to intervene then the cataphracts would run them down. Once the enemy was weakened enough the cataphracts would finish them off.
The cataphracts were pretty immune to hand propelled missiles and arrows, but less so from sling pellets and machine weapons, such as catapults. In other words, David had a deadly weapon when he went to face Goliath.
The Parthians carried these great wind socks that resembled dragons and such. In the 2004 movie KING ARTHUR they carried these before their final battle. These wind socks served a practical purpose other than signaling a rally point. Wind speed and direction was of assistance to archers, much like the fancy equipment used by modern snipers.
A chronology, maps, photos and color plates are included.
November 29, 2021
As always sold information and I love the visuals
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews