a Etats: sits Ant AND BLOODSHED THAT FORGED HISTORY’S FINEST FIGHTERS Reva ca8 ji SPARTANS # CRUSADERS # NINJAS # GURKHASAhAbAbhhMhhaAasAhnaaahsaaaaad. AAMAAhAhAhhhaAahaaaasahaaaad, TVW VV VW VV VV VV VT VV VV VV VV AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA, AAAAAasshhsssssssassadad. AAbAbAhAhhshshsahsasAsaasasaaad. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAasaaaaaad, AAhAbAAAhsahshshsaaasasssaaad. AAAAAAshshsAbshhasssasaaada. AAhhhhahsahshhahsssahsaaaadd, AAAAAhAhhAAhAhaAaAssaaaaad, MAAAAbAAhshshaAaAshssaasasassAadad. AAhhbahshsahsasassssassadad, MAAhhhhahhshshsasAahsaahasaadad, AAAAAAAAAAhAhAaaAasAahaaad. MAAhhAbhhshshsbshsassssssadd, MAAAhAbAAshshashssssssassadd. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA,HISTORY’S GREATEST WARRIORS <)> Human history has all too often been scarred. by violence, s of savagery that have provided skilled warriors with the opportunity to change the course of events. The crucible of war has given rise to of ferocious fighters such as Cassius Scaeva, who lost an. eye yet fought on under a shower of arrows, illiam Marshal, a medieval knight who waged wi ‘war for five English monarchs, and Michel Ney, "Napoleon's recklessly brave cavalryman, {In this bookazine you'll discover how some of the most formidable soldiers of antiquity immerse yourself in the methods of armies from ancient Rome to Mongolia, walk through the ‘camage of bloody battlefields and see some of history's most lethal weapons from the sharp ‘end. Let battle commence!4 L FUTURE 4 rGREATEST WARRIORSWesty WARRIORS hs ENC UTI AIA Pa SUNS ANON SN WARRIORSTATE LETHAL WEAPONS OVI KONNY Busine MEDIEVAL MARAUDERS —_ 36 THEHUNS: SCOURGE OF EUROPE 42 KNIGHTS TEMPLAR 52 MIGHTOF THEMONGOLS 60 SIXMONGOL SACKINGS 62 DEATHOF PUT ET ULL TNE CS e Xe eyas = aa UES BOLDEST R PREV RSE VU UB ETB aay TOS Tio) ESN) ALOU i VT] Bd tel FAVE f 102 NAPOLEON'S Sig TURC ND) ea TO Ret er ei Pty Ana THE SAS iANCIENT WARRIORS i) AKKADIANS AT WAR emer toner Re ereemrenereertn ey ASSYRIAN WAR MACHINE ere rer pti ervey eS e teten ee nce er LETHAL WEAPONS eens ‘mostterfying weapons ROMEON THE MARCH. Pennetta)@ GREATEST WARRIORS pe ee LU rae ee AKKADIANS AT WAR HOW THE AKKADIAN EMPIRE REVOLUTIONISED WARFARE TO CREATE AN UNSTOPPABLE FIGHTING FORCE ee ste meat 0 eee aceon considering the immense power it ‘wielded and influence it hed over the ‘work's suprising how the cty of Akad is stooped in mystery. Nobody knows exacly where it was located. ‘now ise to become so prominent, of even the ‘exact circumstances offal Yet despite all ths, ‘Akad was once the seat of what is lagely regarded as one ofthe fist true empires in history. It asunder the leadership of Sargon the Great, amanas steeped in legend 2s Aad itself that the Akkadian Empire began to bioom, flourish And conquer. the 24th century BCE, ancient Mesopotamia vas divided between the powerful Sumerians inthe south and the develop, Akkadian inthe north Having ousted the previous king UrZababa of Zsh, Sargan was soon Challenged by the most powerful king in Sumer LugalZageesi.LgalZagges had managed to unite the warring city:stats of Sumer into a kind of fempite. However. na shock result, Sargon defeated the mighty king While doing so he captured a large number of Sumers most importa leaders ‘After being greatly underestimated, Sargon set his sights on bringing all of Sumer and beyond under hiscontol ‘Sargon continaed his great miitary conquest and marched agsnst Ur then from Lagash to the So Lower Sea Sargon conquered his way fom the Persian Gulf and captured the last strongheld of his enemies, the city of Umma, Albough Sargon ‘conquest began with Sumer, it gow rapidly, stretching to Syria and the Taurus Mountains in rmodetn-day tay Ancient Mesopotamia was not unfamiliar with ‘conquerors t had been conquered befor However ‘ese ‘empires never usually spread beyond Sumer and were very queckly ended with che death ofthe ‘conqueror But the Akkadian Empire was diferent, island steched far beyond anything that had ‘been conquered before and would gp on to not only ‘outlive Sargon himself but actualy thrive for neariy ‘ovo centuries, So how did Sargon achieve thi? And what did he putin place to ensureit would not crumble after his deat? One maris tact and kil can ‘only extend sofa, and as commited as Sargon was to extending his power, he was even ore ‘dedicated to ensuring his empire would survive for generations to come. His most impressive innovation, and arguably the most sigficant ‘contribution to his success, was the unstoppable ‘Akkadian war machine he ceated during his ign Its said that ove 5O years of ruling Sargon fought in 34 wars and amassed a core military force of around 5400 men. Although this number@ GREATEST WARRIORS ° THE GREAT EMPIRE BUILDER —— Sra the Great not says ao he wap Grate ere cna fd 3 ery harble Sepang Sorgen moter woe kt sample prestars ‘dts erty of theremin onaw, The legen oes tht nal to hep he baby. Ms ete ent argon sat ins reo bse n te Eup et ewan ty he arene te King Ks ho ‘made Sargon is cop bearer when he ae of as before [rometingim os ose f acorns youn man Sap woud ea many vauable esos ugh tne Serve tng ‘ears ate when Sargon ha end he many is ot Ster, be tale nn ued mann ech one {ee them ander anol He comme congue {erry after trtory. tlie (an Mar Ashe Barsof Sys Lebanon and Artur) With of cropotaas under hen Sagan souls {hecty of Aa warploeng peopl ated portions of poner remade sown dur te pests of manna > ‘ower ral that lowed ar folnfuenes raged ata fine fr oer yore, Dna a te teh Bower network any ebellons were pore used SStonrothatponerhingy hone: her 2s He even cate a fom of postage system aed was [Sgeniry stn of gon saw mere ie go ° does not sound impressive today, in ancient Mesopotamia it constituted a massive force, ‘ene commonly believed to have been the fst professional standing army in history. Before Sargon the typical Sumerian cy would Ihave armies comprised of mila woops: egula paid armies just didn't exist. Instead, every ale ‘oried male was seen 38a potential solder and could be called to arms ils king demande i ‘Apart from the palace guatd(comprsing less than 1000 men these cities cid not have professional sokers to summon when war breke ou. fan army did need tobe assembled, an average Sumerian city could assemble a force of approximately 71000 men, When you factor in troops needed for transportation, garisoning postons and those who inevitably deserted, the actual fore 2 Sumerian ‘ty could cal upon in times of war was roughly 53000, of which maybe anly 20 per cent were trained professionals. This method actually weeked wel fo so lang because it meant no Sumerian city vas significantly more powesful than another, and ‘domination of ane neighbour over another was Tare. On several oceasions Sumerian cities would team upto create a larger force to take down an. ‘enemy, twas all about numbers. Sargon, however, srutnised ths system and, ork out that if he wanted not only to conquer bot to hold onto is new lands, he would need to create a trained, professional standing army. one that no ctysate could hope to best. With such a lange empire to maintain, a huge standing army of cover 5000 wasnt pst a desire, was necessary ‘mode aswel the ranks of his profesional army its ikely Sargon poured the amis of his ‘conqueted ces into his awn, Maieaining an army ofthis size also required a high degree of miitary ‘organisation, administration and logistics. Sargon ‘was skein these areas and also delegated this ‘work to many of his trusted advisors and leader Iisalso likely that Sargon diverted some of the privileges enjoyed by the Sumerian temples towards this cause, ensuring that workers and materials were transferred away from the temples fd instead into hi armies. This method paid tividends, a the resulting aris ensured peace was mainained and provided a boon to the regional eccnomies f his cities However it wast jst the size and traning of the Akkadian armies that made them superior: ‘was alo their techniques and the weapons they ‘were armed with, One of the most significant Innovations was the use of the composite bow: Its dificult opin down exactly when the bow began to be used, butt was likely during the reign of Sargons grandson, the great NaramSin Similar to“THE COMPOSITE BOW C CIAL, WITH ARMIE OON BECAME IN THE REGION STILL RELYING ON IT 1,500 YEARS LATER” ‘his grandfather, Naam Sin was an accomplished ‘onqueter,and in ane ofthe status celebrating hs victory he is armed with a composite bow, ‘which isthe fist recrded appearance of the deadly weapon in history ‘The reason the bow was so important and impressive was due to the devastation it could infe. Whule the ordinary bow could kill at litances from 46 to 91 metres was not able to ‘penetrate armour fom this range, The compost bo, however, was made from wood, horn and animal sinew and boasted two to thee times the ‘normal woeden bavr. Not only sho from travel double the cxdnary baw, but they could also penetrate lather armout It is possible the power ‘of the composte bow was so great that it could ‘even penetrate bronze armour, which was being developed at the tne While te normal bow required a great degree ‘of sil to Kil with the compost bow could be ‘deadly even inthe hands ofan untrained archer. To put it simply, Akkadlans armed with compesite bows against an army equipped with normal nes ‘would have been akin to bringing guns toa knife fight. The composite bow soon became crucial vith armies in the region stil relying oni 1500 yeas later. [Not only di Akad have the biggest numbers and the besttrained soldiers, but now with the bow it was blessed with superior weapons. The Akkadian war machine was well ied and deadly its armies highly trained and professional. a huge advantage when pitted against the pooly armed. ‘and untained skirmishers that made up the ball of other nations Sargon relent 3 ust fr power and conta was backed up by his impressive administration and stategle skills, His nation’ innovation in establishing an army that was comprised of slelled, tained men rater than a lia was Fbugelyiniuential.not only forhis own reign but for countless conquerors who would follow for rillenia after him AKKADIANS AT WAR@ GREATEST WARRIORS THE ASSYRIAN WAR MACHINE DISCOVER THE GREATEST ARMY OF THE IRON AGE MIDDLE EAST AND HOW IT ALMOST CAPTURED JERUSALEM he Assyrian Empire originated on the upper Tigris River between, the cites of mrad, Nineveh and ‘Ashurin what is now knewn a the northwest of rag. The geo strategic position oft mainland was somewhat precarious, ‘because the atea lacked wood and usable tone for construction purposes as well as ion oe forthe ‘production of weapons and steppes to breed horses "The topography provided no natural barriers for ‘invaders, meaning if Assia wanted to survive Imad to conquer ts neghtouts. In the th century BCE it expanded its territory extensively and emerged as the dominant power ofthe Middle Eas. 100 years later, Tiglath-Pleser IIL (945-727 BCE) seized the Assyrian crown and ‘le the royal family. Not only was he an excellent administrative and mlitary reformer buta gifted general who conquered most ofthe Middle Eas. “The Assan army was the major instrument facilitating this expansion Tig Pleser reformed, the army, providing t witha strong backbone ‘of professional, fulltime soars suppeted by contingents rom conquered realms. Commanding standing army, the Assyrians were able to wage ‘warall yearlong and to fed a force of 150,000 to 200,000 solders. ope Tis army was the frst tobe malnly equipped vith ton weapons and armour. {ton metallurgy had probably been invented by the Hittites around 1300 ‘BCE and had spendin the follwing centuries. ‘Compared with bronze, iron was a superior material because cold forging created stronger and more reliable arms. ‘A few centuries ltr, the discovery of tempering made ion the best material for arms production. “The widespread availabilty of ron ore decreased production costs, making it even more attractive Even minor powers were able to muster and equip formidable armies with affordable weapons Its to wonder that wars then became mach more frequent and the Assyrians were the fist o fully ‘exploit the possiblities ofthis new Iron Age ‘The ancient Assyrians fielded a complex ‘ombined-arms fighting fore consisting of infantry. chariots, cavalry, sappers and auxiliaries. The king acted as supreme commander and usually led the ‘campaigns. The heavy infantrymen provided the bull of the army, supported by archers singers and shield bearers. The archers were considered ‘35 particularly dangerous because their iron ‘arrowheads easly penetrated enemy armour, while the invention of the quiver increased ther shot frequency immensely. Cavalry and war chariots formed elite forces. CChaiots were manned bya dive an archer and a shield bearer. Ifthe terrain was suitable they ‘were deployed as shock troops against the enemy's infantry ranks. When mounted archers were introduced in the th century BCE the cavalry became increasingly important ‘The dificult terain ofthe Levant reduced the ficiency of these chariots, paving the way fr the Cavalry as the new heart ofthe Assyrian offence Inthe 7h century BCE, the cavalry had developed Iino a heavily armed and protected combat ronp. The horses represented a high strategic value ‘which is why the Assyrians invested aot of effort and resources into breeding, feeding and taining. Inopen battles. the heavy infantry = joined by archers slingers and shield bearers ~took the centre ofthe Assyrian lie. with cavalry and chariot forces being deployed atthe flanks. The ‘atl formation was more than 2,000 metres Jong and almost 100 metres deep. Te archers and singers usually opened the batle with long: range shots Afterwards, the chariots andl cavalry rushed forvard the chariots were supposed to crash through the enemy's lines, while the cavalry was to exploit the breaches and ral up the enemy. ‘Afterwards the infantry would del the final bow.“THE A RIANS WERE ABLE TO WAGE WAR ALL YEAR LONG AND TO FIELD A FORCE OF 150,000 TO 200,000 SOLDIERS” These armies aso excelled inthe at of sege warfare A type siege began with a compete Jockdown ofthe targeted city then the generals ‘examined the defence systems and searched for ‘weak spots - usually the ct gates. The besieges frst prepared uge earth ramps atthe identified points to overcome the glacis and then put the siege engines to work. Mounted on wheel, these consisted of a battering ram with a iron pike aed sige owe, the tep of which was covered by hides that were kept wet in orerto prevent the tower from catching fie. The tower vas manned by archers bombarding the walls with anows. Psychosocial warfare aso played apart: the Assyrians were infarmous fr their brutality after Capturing a defiant city. This meant that even the sightof an Assyrian army taking poston in fent of cy sufficed to make its inhabitants surtender. To ‘contol the lands he congueed, the Assyrian King ‘Tiglath-Pileser Il, ittoduced mass deportation as 2 regulat policy, theteby removing the enemy's elite the mest ely to instigate a ebelion. Areas that bad been politically deaptated in such a way were easier tore THE HEBREW KINGDOMS In the th eentury CE, the Assyrian Empire became a regional rear power of the Midale East and expanded toward the Levant. King Shalmanese (53-824 BCE) conducted 21 campaign during his reign of 35 years, establishing the Ascyrian dominance fom Babylon tothe cast ofthe Mediteranean. At that time, the small ty states and kingdoms of te Levant experienced a period of polical power and economic wealth ‘Among those Levantine realms were the Hebrew kingdoms of Israel and Juda in the land of today's state of Israel Under the legendary rule of kings David and Solomon in the 10th century BCE a unified kingdom had formed, However, atthe end ofthe THE ASSYRIAN WAR MACHINE century they separated: Israel in the nerth with its capa, Samara todays Sebastiya i the West ‘Bank, was ruled by changing dynasties, whereas Judah i the south was contclled from Jerusalem by the descendants of David ‘Most of the time, both Kingdoms were fighting each other with Irae usually dominating due to a Jager population and better agricultural ecnditions than Judah, But both Kingsoms prospered in the ‘th century, and the terttoral expansion ofthe ‘Assyrians was an existential threat looming over ‘the Levan, A military confrontation remained an ‘inevitability -it was simply 2 case of when, Israel and Judah both probably commanded ‘smal standing aries, however, their methods of recruitment and organisation are obscure It's ily the armies mainly consisted of infantry supported by allinted number of chariots and cavalry uns ‘The infantry were armed with javelin swords and shields and accompanied by achers and singers or smal kingdoms like Israel and Judah twas essential to form miltary albanoes against great, owes they rarely conducted major offensive ‘campaigns by themselves, Most military activities focused onthe preparation for sieges and the construction of fortifications Fist and foremost, securing the water supply was essential b@ GREATEST WARRIORS @ 220 Springs often orga cts heey well making the contraction of elaborate vate THE SOURCES systems esse Te eles and ideas dig immense anne systems to sect ther acoso @ Springs Vistrs tothe ses of Meio, Haze and Jerusalem On toda’ Ie) have ng marveled at Che efor and the advanced engineering sls hat theance peopl ofthe ces invested those infrastructure projets The ey wal, constcted of worked shar blocks (or mu bricks ding back othe Bronze Age)on aseep artificial mound Gla) were also lanimportant act, nthe ety on Age they had Consisted of nothing more than the utfacing walls 1 pone ec private dvelings Inthe Yh century, however. bre casemate walls prevailed - a kind of rampart that tad two paral walls wi ntrsectons, The pace regis well betwee the cea innet walls accommodated solders or supbes in peaetine. During ge. {he defenders fled thls wit earth to stengten the rampart. Since the th century BCE sass walls wih overs and battens had become common. This innovative defence design was rot cased by seg teciques, Before {he appearance of the Assyrians nthe Levan, atacters had capred cies or stonghols tough er asa th the defenders on ter wal enpyng a tacscalaantage. As ng asa cy or 2 oruess had enough supplies n ste the defenders oul imply wa uel the Mtacers an out of money or patience However, the Assyrians changed ge warfare fundamental hugh the {neduetion of new weapon systems and tacts, Straight walls provided the ea, tae forthe ayia aces whereas ramparts wih advancing towers and battlements preset ks vrei °° {he en neal struggles between he Levine ates ratte coaon down, sige Asya len chace te noms tne by oe he lng 150 yeas wee chractensed by confics etme th ingle he Levent ad tebellons against the Assan hgemon tae dnd hdihsrvied as ASyran ves forthe tine being Bently roe pushed is ck too barlements present ss vueable, by ying to py te eral ge powers of Gpportnty ole te atctrsdown na 32S eachethe namely Asya and Sy sent Te Asya Girt hestteand crushed olin ‘2186 To neue a thestin asta PEE SSRN Ty the sora ced ts ths of ATTACK ON THE LEVANT inhabitants and resettled people from other parts of Facing the Asyran thet evartin ingioms_theempte. he non ct ase! ws oe formed dena alace in 390% Asan "The spther Heng. a ed fukshaimane fiche costo nthe Kies (25058 BCE eo le famous Bate fara anys Tel Cag atthe inthe eal ad wesc eed yes Sheet the Oi River nrtwesern staple say operand even ea tor ofthe tigest bats eve eg atthetne expan. When he Asya ang Stn died Heiedanamyo!70000 men thetatlee, W508 BCE. Hechish mada crcl mistke when Inciting i200 cralymen nd 4000 charts heed in wth the sees bello breaking ‘he ant-Assytian lance had mustered a ‘ut in every camer ofthe Assyrian Empte. As soon formidable force as well. Contemporary sources asthe new Assyrian king, SennacherBo (705-681 tellthe story ofa bloody fight with thousands BCE), consolidated his postion a home. he se his ‘of soiders dead Assyrian accounts present army in motion towards the Levant Salmaneser as the victor, a contentious claim that probably resulted frm Assyrian propaganda, because Shalmaneser as hesitating to move SIEGES OF LACHISH farther south fer yeas It tock him three mere AND JERUSALEM attempts to break the ani-Assyrianaliance and sennacher' campaign against the southern ‘conquer the southern Levant inthe BA0S BCE. In Fenn apy enic os the meet wellSSYRIAN WAR MACHINE, i WARRIORS PLATA So Pern lamar bey amon The shield rs P Z Party r a Although sometimes simpl ar. ee « Pe eens Ses ere the archers. Thecomposte bows nted military events of the Ir cure another victory. Senmachenbs anmals chim, [ens ly can bi nals of tbe “Tlcked him [Hezekiah] up within Jerusalem, hi os Assyrian king andthe pant there are royalty, ikea bid in a emer eka aye oni throne According othe his declan He ke ha . rv an ange in the camp ofthe Assan come for him and that his forces would not stand which killed most of their army in one night - an ¢ ARE Stance nan open tate Head his cis and nation ofa deadly lagen te camp Assyrian congo readied fr potted seges- above all sures lifer a Sty Hezekiah pada thecaptalot his tingdom, Jes He extended high tare in odo save cy. Bests pol reer Ce) the city wall and secured the water supply b iver and Judah’ elite fighting troops Sennacherib ‘onstrcting 2 550-metrelong tunnel that diverted aimed he, “ook out 200100 pecple (,) hors the water fam Jeruslemis only spring. he rules, donkeys, and camels, cattle and sheep, toa huge pool inside the cty wall ithout number and courted them as spol” Sennacherb pushed forwards along the her theory suggests that Sennacherb had FD Mediterranean coast ane swepe sway a leave immediately because a rebeion had broken Cad resistance An inereasing numberof cies cut in Babylonia. His withdrawal saved Jerusalem Saas iteametoa fight Eventually forthe time being, fudah, however, ened ennacherb tumed towards hud aed ore deal i eens ytd cy of Lachish, n come ations revealed 850 8 LINGERS nian having pil x i See at to create this pathway for ther seg ache its peak in the Riga aaa, s,undteds of atrowheads and sling folowing decades with the conquest of Thebes, he nt and traces ofa homfic ie in the ity bear wetness capital of Egypt. However interval power struggles tothe blocay battle and destruction The Battle of led tots demise. At te end of the th century, Preece rt ce ee ge unarmed eee Lachsh has tedinarelieTin the syria fell tothe rising power of Babson, Se laiieieuneanen palace of Senn h erat. itformed an alae with Eaype Cems / Despite intensive preparations, Lacish and During the Bale of Carchemich Gn nedem-éoy (Ani te 45 ater Judean st shed, Final Syria) in 605 BCE, the Babylonian crown prince SOUL = nacherb moved towards das capt, ebuc yrian Emp Ce ubeuali Teruslem, where he eneiced the ety according to final bow f the fllowing yeas, the Babylonian ‘Asoyran standard seg practice. Apparent was ruler conquered the ene Levant and estab superponer in the Middle East poorest@ GREATEST WARRIORS SPARTA: WARRIOR. STATE PAIN, CRUELTY AND BRUTAL TRAINING - LIFE FOR A BOY IN SPARTA WAS HARSH. EXPLORE THE WAY OF THE WARRIOR THROUGH THE EYES OF A SOLDIER PUSHED TO HIS LIMITS ip come back with your shiek, or on it? “Those were words that would resonate for any warior, but for Aristodemus, leven the memory of his ether’ voice reciting the Spartan thetoric made him {eel deeply ashamed His hand gripped the shaft ‘of is spt knuckles whiter and palm slicker than those of his comrades, his focus narrowed to 2 pinpoint even though the visor of his ul helm. This battle was important: etibution against the \woule-be invading amy of Xerxes, forthe sacrifice that the watior king Leonidas and his chosen 300, ‘Spartans made a Thermopylae the year before. ‘The tory of his birth was a minor legend even inhis own time when the ephors~ Sparta elder statesmen - took him from his mother to Mount Taygeos, ristodemus was small and jaundiced. He was placed inthe gorge for starvation, the weather or wild animals to take him - but the Spartan ‘babe had no intention of going the same way a5 so many other newborns. In that cursed place he clung ta ephorSphodras fingers so tightly that dhe was unable to shake tis tiny eb from his rasp Beaten and seeing the Spartan pup in a new light, Sphodrias had taken Arstodermis back to his ‘mother to be reared at home. Inthe ight of what Aristodemus was about todo, ‘Sphocrias might well have bashed him agains. the ‘round unt his hand was released. But the elders were around to judge im now, as Aristodemus troke rank and surged forward. One of his fellow hoplites tried to gab him but there was ithe purchase on his polished bronze cuiass. Besides, ‘uislodemus vas fet of foot even among his peers He sprinted toward the advancing Persians ‘ver 20 years of punitive dally talning and cruel warir tals pulsing through his mind, He must have been three years old when be was lft alone for hous inthe pitch black of his home, Daviling for his mother tolght a lamp orto keep him company, to no avail Then his mother would ‘come home and temper his body by emptying an amphora full of tale wine over his head unt is ‘yes stung Heid been halstarved his whole life ‘ut it was around this time thatthe gnawing in his stomach was unbearable. And then ike any ‘other Spartan boy, he was taken away atthe age of seven to become a Spartan paidion and olive in the barracks lest his easy living with his mother selten him, The next 12 yeas of his fe were spent in the Increasingly tough regime of the agoge. Mandatory toall male Spartan ctizens except the fistbom sons ofthe royal houses it was here Aristodemus as taught stat, combat andl communication among other disciplines. Above al loyalty to Sparta was drummed into him to ensure when the time ‘came he wouldnt hestate to put the state ist@ GREATEST WARRIORS Life in the agoge atleast made sense of his ‘early youth, even if the Spartan wariorfaterity vas brutal The entte agea (ive pack, of class) ‘of Spartan youths Aristodemus was enrolled ito were once stripped to the waist and flayed simultaneously just to try their endurance. Their families watched, encouraging ther sons to act like the Spartan warriors they aspired tobe, © silently take the pain. After four strokes, Dion who was partculaly sled at the fight dance pyreche and had the hallmarks of a future lade) cried ‘atin anguish. His parents hissed at him from the sidelines and he was disgraced. Meanie Aristodemus was ill standing silently after 23 excruciating lashes, As the lst padion standing he had proved is mettle and he was ited onto the broad shoulders of his trainer while his mother ‘beamed proudly at him. Te tick scars that licked across is back were his tophies and a testament to his honour, ‘reckless battle rage now took him asthe faces in the Persian font line came into focus Aristodemus col make out doubt, confusion and ‘even a trace of fea in the hal helms of Keres so-alled Immortals. The indomtabe form of Spartan phalanx could beak the confidence of the average soldier but not even the cream of the Persian elite would willingly ep toe-to-toe with a Spartan hoplte consumed with wanton Doodust and a thst fr revenge. {Ashe sed the final ew dusty yas, the hard bittersweet memories of his teenage years flooded nbicden into his ming. At the age of Aristodems made the transition fom paiion to a meirakon. or youth, and his hie became tougher 2 every level. He was stripped of individuality, his head was shaved and he often went unclthed 3 Spartan had no need forthe tappings of weaker nations; being a Spartan soldier was dignified enough. He slept among his peers in a crowded dormitory ona bed of hard reeds endured chilly winters and bistering summers and often returned ° oa WHY DID SPARTA CONCENTRATE ON WARRIORS? ———_@—_—— emainresson why Spat formed stare ‘ete ppuaton the oars ensved nthe Bh {haan was ich nd fre compared ht ‘he Spartans othe tak fom them at orced {hese new sans tool he ele for spart, The ‘numerous tha the Spartans, ete oubened agaour na every ebeed aan he Ist The Spartans needed cata them the Imes ec way they Kove ees arta {overnmen that osted ot the wen nd freed tery eto srving the mir. tee hat ald. sparta eh constant et ofa {hey ourumbered the Spartans by a5 muchas ten oa ° bleeding and beaten from his exhausting daily ‘marta outine. He didn complain or so much as whimper: he considered himself lucky that a bloody mouth and cracked nbs was the extent of his injures. The umm spears and swords they trained with might hive been wooden but they were no mere toys. One of his fellow gel, Proce let his guard skp fr just faction tof a second, enough for his sparring partner to exploit the opening and deliver abiow to Precis temple so furious that be die on the spot There was no mourning -Proces was ‘viously not cutout to bea Spartan solder “HE WAS PLACED IN THE GORGE FOR STARVATION, THE WEATHER OR WILD . ANIMALS TO TAKE HIM” MILESTONES OF A WARRIOR Tec leer Tothe barracks ims rs ae ae. aero. ‘ee? ‘eero Sono werepatiote Eye fora Sparan boy ATtewndsevenyexsctage ——Touspatanooysverein Ore spartan boy trea far art ey wr See th ag for ah they mol bg he fre Trnigto fet hey wre eo ‘th yore betame 3 an Thy wre on em Init oneted fare By thee stage te Spar SSienthe cance ofsparaard mean yeu) se theriramrsandbrougttefequemybeingietsnein age Thny became pation eeeereauaged compte” ahingacae more gees ‘hespatansceswhodeded Sarkar uname pra Ufo andaredther mitry garateacine mune and Hiremtene was amped and tht tchi woul be Senguashedinviespatans Cee ens pat of ‘diene x walsemurenartl —-helugnrbaeoot saa fraien 2 poe own woud gon upmuchstorger bys tua ne wad be Seoransrecopisedtevake trate mst bond th an eer ‘Stheaptetae st lure Tian ey wee gwen own ate pdonmes en comba. mune wre" hoehom he Toate let oe ‘vedtonluremnore ‘ul dere nadnceSPARTAN SKILLS ‘Three dangerous disciplines all Spartan warriors learned = _,_, SPEAR ‘Thespea.o ory asitwasknown.wasa Spartansoldersprimary weapon twas round227metreslong held with onehand, ‘lle shield washeld inthe oer adalat spearheadatthebusinessendand spike onthe but. ttookconsdeabetrainingto we thisweaponetfecivey at thelength and >aavy woodtheshaftwastured frommade ‘unwieldy inthehandsof ayenectherthan igh fighter WRESTLING todayy somemixed marta fighters ankrtion ¢romthe Greek fr llmighstengthand power} isacombination of ‘wrslingand boxingtheancent Greeks invented other Olympis thas ery feral the only major fulsbeng eye gougingand bing, Kicks, holds chokes, ‘towsand malin fing manipulation oredapainfulpatofaPankaton Practitioner repertoire Rscombtffectivenessisrenownedandisstil practised Dittculty @@@@ Dangertactor @ Prestige @O Usefulness SPARTA: WARRIOR STATE SWORD LV ‘TheSprtarsxiphoswasacoserange weapon und 30-40 cantietesiniengh shore than the Hise i felt x) rei ft Gea ry ndash Na uns was deadly ina Spartan ware i = mee ofthe Spartan phalan they weefarmoe eee Poteet eaeceeten thier effectivethantheweaponsoftheeneny,.penetaing | Aa aoe eae araieened sheidwalsandiniingdeasaingvonds cv | Pee eaten theferwurthestenstileinitsyou,twoulet | [ih ease ae sl besurpisingisome were killed oserouly inured ara aes ‘nl trainingwrth the doy xiphosorthe ager Eins eaeeeeierenre sees fe at rites asec Diticulty @@ Dangeriactor 99D eee oa Fecrreeteee eee eect any Pree ene ae ie ee eed cane Pee eee taken eri eee ee a ted perenne 4 teenage ite (4 Passing onknowledse 4 secretservice 4 cot te vote A retement of sort aes fees gez030. aee30 gveo Derg ve yas tends When Sparano becamesn Alsome pt at econing Spartan boys weteony realy 'satanbecame weak Sprossutioed Saranbor: fen (aka) hewoud serait afllmaber ofthe Sparan’ —_—_llwedth ul prlger ot Trey razon ay ald erefedammpedstntte frstyerteprgte vam her ym bu bre th 30th Eihoodwntnthor socety Severe tom thr coer SScrtwoddmathertat ous at the trad bore Me tertwenten Tey were eaten fetnes oe remorse psciem ——ongtoamenruie arid warigbetatwoyenrs mite now al town omy [Beenmoe men Sater Oder fertmuemiaycnses athe unrated yous Fetes vhatwasesewly rtkipedeSpartre nthe Spatansdders up toe ae ten ieeinthe nay afrtore. Spartansoer War omand thepatansectet aren fa matiee Sa, they cada ur SO wean at “hey ol sta fou ey ths age ey hoe ben sort therdaiewaudhove been now vteand be ated nfo fo erm fortaue sent Fone ah Fleas. Brecon@ GREATEST WARRIORS a © THREE GREAT VICTORIES And now Aristodernus whispered abriefprayer to Apollo and Ares ashe breached the Persian lines ‘The fist Immotal he met didnt come dose to ling upto the tile of histank Auistodemus used {he momentum gained from his maniacal charge to plough bis spear staight through his shield and pete his throat. He dnt even attempt to retrieve his weapon fom the Persia's body the close range was ideally suited to his xphos, a deceptively short sword that was deadly in the hands ofa Spartan worth his salt. The next Persian to fal had somehow tured hs lank tothe rmadklened Spartan ‘Buzzing with adrenaline and a catharsis of ‘emotion, Arstodemus re-enacted the memory ‘of his rst kl This was nota seer from an Invading army, but ahelot slave gathering ft in 8 vineyard, Spartans would encourage their youths to steal to supplement thei poor det to make chem stealthy and cunning If they were caught they ‘were usualy beaten or whipped: the punishment as nt fr stealing but for being caught. By the time he was approaching ‘manhood, this rial had taken adatker path Signs ofresstance were ripping through the helt save community s0 the ephots used this portunity to kl two bids with one ‘stone. To ip any chance of revolt in the bud and tohane the blooming talent far velence thelr youths had begun to exhibit, the ephors sve Aistodemus and a handful BJ of xhers some meagre rations, a _iphos ad the simple order to go ‘tothe Greek countrys, stale and ther ila heat slave it tok Aristodemus a day to choose his target and then walt ‘unl the big man was alone and burdened with grapes ‘The attack was lightning quick and came from unexpected quarters: Arisiodemus ambushed the helt the way hed been taught his phos deaving deep into the ‘manis groin three times. severing the femoral artery and barely giving him a chance to acknowledge his attacker, who fled before the helot collapsed, [seemed the Persians were almost as unused to the savagely efficent way the Spartans could wie“HE HANGED HIM: LF RATHER THAN FAC. THE SHAME ARISTODEMUS EXPERIENCED ON HIS RETURN TO SPARTA” their weapons asthe helt. This tmmorta Hooked ‘dumbstruck a Arstodemus blade ashed three tumes in the sunlight, before his legs gave way asa torrent of blood gushed down ont the bated "The Persian frontline was dane absorbing, ‘Aristodemus suicidal charge, and now it was time forthe lines to clove an repel this wayward Spartan. Inthe ensuing mele acu he inflted on Persians head blinded ane of is oppanents ‘An eve for an eye, Now that felt more ike exemption. Thermopylae had never been far fem ‘Aristodemus' mind this past year, but the memory cof his disgrace now came bac to him with the same vigour of his batl fury Having survived two days atthe narrow pass ofthe Hot Gates, Aristodemus eye became infected, effectively binding him. To King Leonidas, he was now a ‘weak ink and a liability to the effectiveness of his ‘war machine. He was denied the honour of fighting for what would be the fina fateful day and was sent back to Sparta along with another unfortunate sole, Buryts, who suffered the same affcton Halfway home and realising what they would face upon retuning ave and without the honour of victory, Burytus decided to return to the Hot Gates and meet his ae. Aristoderusfllowee the ones of his king however. and sufered a worse fate than his Kinsmen at Theamopyae. He was subbed, branded Aristademus the coward free Spartans could strike him in the stret with impunity though few dared put that aw to the tes) while no man could offer him shelter. woul have been the lowest eb for any Spartan and yet Aistoderus coal stil fight for Sparta -e could still redeem himself Maybe would be here, at the Battle of Plataes, with this final at of hero ‘abandon? Or i the black mark wast stuck rom his name, then his death woul atleast end the pain of his dsbonout Aritodemus was one of only two survivors from the famous battle of Thermopylae The other, ‘who arrived too late atthe final battle, hanged himself rather than face the shame Aristodemus ‘experienced on his return to Sparta, This made SPARTA: WARRIOR STATE FACT OR FICTION: IS THIS SPARTA? Ean eal fader icone ened cee eeereraerer aay Lote ee aca See eed pases ite eost RoR LYN TM ere) Sparen women abo ad a lous vanng outing Perper ene per Reet errors eer ney pecpearirreseeri Ppotoetenen nner ea area Ceo aa ener eee partes Peete ee id Pe cst) peasy Se ces eos Arstodem the only veteran of Thermopylae to fight im the Battle of Pataea and goes some way tw explaining why contemporary Greek historians picked out this particular soldi, The story of Aistodemus isthe embodiment cof the highs and lows ofthe Spartan way. From an eal age they were frged into superhuman fighting machines through a merelss training regime and the dental of some ofthe most basi of ‘human needs - whether that was a squate meal ot the love and attention oftheir parents, Boys were broken down and taught to live by ‘helt wits to rely only on other Spartan soldier especialy ther Tovers'- the dubicus title giver to their ait guardians. Te ancient citystate of Sparca has eamed a legendary status today because it was pathologically wiling to trade a normal life forts own sons in order to create an army the ancient wld would tremble before, Arisodemus threw his fe aay at Pataea and bis pees afforded him no special honour as a result But Sparta recognised the fury and stength with which he had fought agains the relentless Persian onstaught.a ferocity with which he cut down several Persians befor fling himself. Soin the eyes of his people, in the ethos of the brutal ‘warrior state of Sparta he had finally redeemed hime Death was Aristodemus salvation@ GREATEST WARRIORS ° ¢ ANATOMY OF A HOPLITE as = Se nd post Homeric Greece, Jered some ofthe otake the ld woul forma ay Ps PosesLETHAL ANCIENT WEAPONS, LETHAL ANCIENT WEAPONS A SELECTION OF SOME OF THE MOST BRUTAL INSTRUMENTS OF WAR EVER WIELDED ON ANCIENT BATTLEFIELDS GLADIUS ‘Used by: Roman legionary ——_@——— ‘A shot stabbing weapon that ‘measured between a dagger and sword in length the gladius was, ‘unleashed ance the legionaries had ‘thrown their plum. Wielded in ‘unison with the scutum shield, was deadly in lose quarters ‘The gladus could outmanoeuvre Jonge weapons in te heat of bate Its double-edged blade meant it was ‘deal to cut and thrust inte enemies, ‘Weakness: Iwas best used as a tabbing rather than a slashing weapon and the plaius shor reach could bea hincrance in battle HALADIE Used by: ——&)— ‘on the ancient battled the haladie stands out as, a particulaly damaging ‘weapon Is curved double ddagger cou scythe through adversaries quicly and. more ‘often than no fatally Strengths: Spikes protected the users dha fom blows ad the blade could be swung rapidly, rang down multiple eneray soldiers in one move ‘Weakness: "The hace wasnt your standard weapon, only specially trained warriors had the sil to brandish it effectively ima fight. CROSSBOW ‘Used by: Ancient Chinese ‘The crossbow was devastating against infantry, ‘who could net get clase to the ranks of crossbowmen The heavy bit thundered into enemy troops and could be fired through armour from horseback Strengths: (Gosshowmen were arranged information that ensured that they could provide a lethal spread of fire that meant groups of saldlers could be floored ‘Weakness: ‘The crossbow was slow to reload - a shortcoming that was cruelly exposed by English and Welsh Jongbovmen at Agincourt DORY Used by: Greek hoplites ————_&—__—— ‘The dory wasalong spear that was the weapon of choice forthe ancient Greek oplit. twas used inthe tight and heavily armoured phalanx that ‘moved forwards as an unstoppable juggernaut ‘The 25:matrelong javelin iron tp allowed the ‘opie to impale onrushing enemy troops from a sale distance ‘Weakness: the phalans formation could be broken then shorter swords could cut down the long and sometimes cumbersome dory. KHOPESH (KHEPESH) ‘Used by: Ancient Egyptians ‘Asicileshaped upgrade on the battleave,the Strengths: -nopeshs bronze blade meant could slce enemies is meant twas adept a ppg shields away, down in one bow. ts design vould ater influence Weakness: future Greek and Hite weapons. As it was byonze and net ion, the Khopesh was ‘unable to really trouble heavily armoured foes@ GREATEST WARRIORS ROME ON THE MARCH DISCOVER HOW THE ORGANISATION, WEAPONS AND TRAINING TECHNIQUES OF ROME’S LEGIONS CONQUERED THE WORLD 0) de Roman Empire dominated siobal bates for centuries, invading huge swathes of Burope and making significant intoads into both Afica and Asia Minor Pax Romana (Roman peace) lasted from approximately 27 BCE to 180, CCE when the majority of Europe was under long- term Roman administration, During this time the barbarian hordes were quelled andthe empire enjoyed cele ranguility - Roman citizens had ‘thee formidable army to thank for this Expetly trained and impeccably organised, Roman soldiers were among the bestarmed solders the woe had ever Seen, The Roman war machine outed Is barbarian opponents by using expert battle tactics and perfectly engineered weapons and armout ‘Whether they were fighting onthe sands of yptat the height of summer or the okt cy wastes ofnothem Europe in winter, the legions hha the tools and dedication forthe job The Inerarchy and structure ofthe army was rigidly “WHETHER THEY WERE FIGHTING ON THE SANDS. ordered, from the legte generals atthe top all the way down to the munifexlgionaies atthe botom. ‘The Romans also pioneered the fist siege weapons and, unlike other ciilsations ofthe 3g, soldiers were given fulltime pay, In fact, elder was one ofthe finest careers inthe empire Alegionary was paid 225 denani for one year's service and even earned a pension and sometimes 2 portion of land after they retired, which was usualy after 25 years. ‘On the battlefield soldiers worked together as one fighting ent calling upon several deadly combat techniques to unleash on the enemy with devastating effect. However perhaps the most remarkable aspect ofthe army were ifs transport and communication systems. Managing the logistics and administration of such a huge amy imancient times was a tricky business so X was, phenomenal achievement that Roman generals kept their military machine so wel cid for sucha Tong time. OF EGYPT AT THE HEIGHT OF SUMMER OR THE COLD, ICY WASTES OF NORTHERN EUROPE IN WINTER, THE LEGIONS HAD THE TOOLS AND DEDICATION FOR THE JOB”fs p _ ROME ON THE MARCH@ GREATEST WARRIORS COMBAT TRAINING DISCIPLINE Vioodensverdsandshiedsvereuscd mmm) faccldierdidttperormbistasks TRAINING inranmgenicteetesoone ll ‘esas ee HOW THE ROMAN ARMY WAS ‘would eset punisimenss These PUT THROUGH ITS PACES AS Hoe aa teteeee i | count meters tin IT PREPARED FOR BATTLE ‘Tobe selected, a rocruit leplonary would have tobe at east L8 metres (ft 10 inches al be physically fi and have good eyesight He would usually be allowed to bein his military training atthe age F8 although this could be decreased when the empire was at war. fe swearing an oath of allegiance called a Sacramentun tothe empet he would begin is traning. Auge emphasis was laced on marching and legions would travel 20 Roman mies (296 klometes) a day with 2 full Toad of equipment on their backs, There would also be tepeate practice of formations and stratesies to usein battles. Weapons training was dally ‘exercise as was the constuction of ramparts and fortifications incase ofa surprise barbaran ‘ambush ona Roman camp. “LEGIONS WOULD TRAVEL 20 MILES WITH A FULL LOAD ON THEIR BACKS” COMBAT TECHNIQUE THE HAND-TO-HAND EXPERTISE OF A ROMAN LEGIONARYAUXILIARY STRUCTURE ‘THE INFLUX OF MERCENARY FIGHTERS ‘As the empire expanded, it required more ‘manpower to defend its borders so the army was forced to ie fighters from the occupied lands ‘known as auxiares These former barbarians were tained inthe ways ofthe legion and rewarded with ‘Roman ctizenship if they served for 25 years ‘The influ of soldiers fom faraway lands changed the makeup ofthe army. An example would be the archers tecrusted fram cccupied Jands in Asia Minor who used thelr bows to deadly PILUM ‘hislonespear srasthrwn fom Adstancestthe artofabatle ‘ounsetlethe enemas, ARMOUR LEGIONARY ‘Coming face to face with a ‘Roman soldier would make any barbarian shake in his boots, and here's why GLADIUS: ‘TheRoman soldier would use thisshort sor forging at dose quarters ROUND OR RECTANGULAR SHIELDS? ‘Theretangularscutum wasthelconic Roman sie butleionaies throughout ‘eempirealsocariedcrculashieli, ‘whi copied Greek ple designs, fect. Auxiliaries alko helped usher in anew era of chain mail and rounded shields rather than Iria segmentata and scuturn "The tlle’ role vas to support the main legion in their own specialised cohort. They were ld tid of what a standard lgionay recelved and were stationed away from their native lands to ‘ensue they didnot switch sides. This nonctizen ‘corps aided the army by making is fates more ‘diverse with nev cavalry and archer units HELMET ‘The Romanshadavaretyof ‘heme pesincuding the ‘coolsand montfortnn The ‘oneshownbere sacs TUNIC ‘Tomatchlong tances and tl ght fffecve.theRoman soldiers tniweaslight ‘warm andere SANDALS -Knownas liga, these sSndslswere standard fssueforthe amy ROME ON THE MARCH ° of HIERARCHY & STRUCTURE ORGANISATION WAS OF THE UTMOST IMPORTANCE ‘TO THE WORLD'S FIRST EVER PROFESSIONAL FIGHTING FORCE a ep tome was oundeain ro 8 Conaning ma ‘hres tom th pane cs oh er ‘Emy ep the amare dts al seems Se peal athe st rte by gee an statesman Gas Mat, neat ed yea, ‘dant dard aerevery cmp. Men were row ire tom al acs ay and oe tbo oops wth he new scream anew pe of ime Ter we tn ede peri on testers cE ner gt ned oi nt teeotars began osoper Armaued ary Uns Detane poplar an pronded shot new peat tre Story te vay, ge weapons ch 5 Dre bata were aed nsome ote tse@ GREATEST WARRIORS FORMATION & TACTICS ‘The Roman battle line was groundbreaking {nits design and highly dynamic | professional and conscripted force, the Roman military introduced many new and innovative features othe art of warlate. Prior wo the empie, the phalanx was the dominant tactic on ancient Dattlfieds, but the Romans sucessfully made this ‘once formidable formation chscete n just a matter of decades BATTLE OF MONS GRAUPIUS Rise of the testudo ‘This battle was fought in the Highlands and could wel be the tetudo’ finest Fou, Face ith the fierce local Caledonian tines, the sine structure ofthe Roman 900 ranks acicallyouteassed see (e ooo ter spears toward the Romans, the lgionaies went 000 66060 00° Bee .)) ee i‘ "SY 4 | SWORDSMENY } oR See i v it eae ce ee CHARIOTS ee A a CHARIOTS petearcieaall oag0a gogga angga sania 60008 Goi 080 militia stood no chance 88 G8ee8 Gb ORB ‘When group was spit rom the main force andhadbeen enced bbyenemy woop anc formation wouldbe deployed. This would cnlybeusedindesprtionandas asortof lst stand butitould olfoffenemies inorder togainvalabltime fora retreat orexape Strengths: sul for leginares who had been detached fom the mainbodyof TESTUDO ‘Thetestudo otis couldbe useful ‘nboth openbattefldsandinsieges. Usingthernearbdengthscutum shies advsionoflegionaiscould ‘bealmostimpenctrablet projectiles astheyedgedclovertoenemyfocesor © (efences The ide was developed fom teary. ‘theGreek and Macedonian phalanx formation Weaknesses: ‘Strengths: lowed advancesint enemy tery while Let vane, protected fom projectiles ‘olatedandeasly Weaknesses: Could not launch auickattak very easy. suroundedROME ON THE MARCH ‘hoe the lads Soins wou frm triangle wththetpfacingtheenemy, andthen charge Thee wastodsrupt enemy inesandmakeuseotthegladius Inclosequartescombat. Strengths: Took the enemy y surprise, Weaknesses Risky strategy fnot “undertaken prope. A Dee hg See, aes il BATTLE OF ILIPA ‘Countering war elephants cane oer vit, jand 19000 mare CAVALRY men, Spi used his skinmisher (vet) troops to url avelins atthe enemy camp before daven. The (Carthaginian scrambled t ‘ther posts and were met with the Roman army on thet doorstep, In disarray they sent out their elephant divisions, but the wide gaps {nthe Roman ranks meant see aate aan A A 4 eee if j j INFANTRY, INFANTRY, INFANTRY if i] Def hey wee et gogg0008 OG000000 G0000000 vveewesscavstey — QQGGGGHO BBGoGGO8 BGaggoGG = NY ‘SKIRMISH ANTI-CAVALRY aa, cnemcertetetate into tightly packed clusters. What gave pe ea centages ucree fa eee ‘naan oqmaordcaiee ‘ec one aenreican i See eerie “ise ‘Siete ea whe ce eee ieee ‘ewes § soglveycarapaet ra cae Samra 33 eee erie fo ‘Weaknesses: Ranks vulnerable 2 ‘Strengths: Effective tactic against a greatly feared weapon. teacameranac = ‘Wealmestes the hore rfusedtopal.@ GREATEST WARRIORS WAR ENGINES & SIEGES Ifa settlement stood in the way ofthe Roman juggernaut, the true power of the ‘empire's siege machines would be unleashed As the Roman war machine swarmed across The siege would besin with the construction of rope, it wou! occasionally come ino contact series of forts and guard towers around the cy. ‘with heavily forified enemy frts and towns. By "This would prevent any enemy reinforcemerts destroying these centres, the Romans could deal a reaching the cty and cut ff the water and food sizeable blow tothe enemy frces and plunder the supply tothe defenders I the settlement stil cy of ts resources and riches resisted, the full force ofa siege would begin, MINING faced sme particu tough resistance, thelegionres would semetimes digundertherampars Usingthecther slegeenginesas dlsracton howesof soldiers could infitateinside thecty, defeating the defenders from within, meer final Punic Wat prireeny Se) eee Pert ‘THE BESIEGED CITY ‘Once vitry was complete his cule ‘week months or even yar the Romans would pillage the ty fr everything of worth Te only survivors wouldbe women and ctdenferuseaslves inthe empire. During the Seg of Syracuse the Romans were under strictinsructons ocaperethe Greek genius Archimedesalive, whose sege weapons shad wreahed havc onthe Reman advance. ‘Unfortunately themessage wasnt heeded and cneotthe grestestthnkersintheancient weed ‘wasklledbyaRoman gladROME ON THE MARCH SCORPION ONAGER BALLISTA ‘Torsionariery wastaught gecingcloset the walls wasntan ‘Ratherthan soley tagstingthe totheRomansby theGreeks, ‘optin attacks ould bemade fom walls balstae were used against infantry Shootinggiantmetalbots SS ‘ver 300 metres thebalista could strike fearimotheheartcthe enemy Thissiegeengine asthe bigger fa smote destuctive trothercttne SE slr scp cenablingthelegions to adstanceusing onagers. These create soepons Extremely ‘catapults he ocks against the accurate, hissigg engine ‘bstements tom wasoneotthesmaler ZAR range singin Roman deviesbutthis mechanics They Aidt stop tron bots rom wereakousedto sowingpanicandconfuson target wallsand ‘withinenemy ranks ‘evenarches ares EONS Soe Seer on ee a eee —e—e——r—e— BATTERING RAMS ‘Tipped witbanronbammer stapedkearam, Roman trteringrams could cuichly reducers tombe The seldirswielding thera vwerepotecedby wooden, roofingasthey targeted thewenkestsectonsof ‘hetatements However rams could occasonaly be inefcctaal when faced with strongly fortified walMEDIEVAL MARAUDERS Ss yh SCOURGE OF EUROPE ore etry pone eee as er eed Coe eran ens Set ec cti) 42 KNIGHTSTEMPLAR eet ee yer) eee ee ee _geat helm and pickup yourswordas we chart reese on 52 MIGHTOF THE MONGOLS Leambowadesitatenomodmanagedto ee eee ee ey ee ry ports 60 SIX MONGOL SACKINGS ny eters are eet eee sat cee Peer ert ets a ene es 62 DEATHOF THESAMURAI ere cents Pree cr) Cee BUSTIN Ser ne oy ead oranenemy stronghold sabotaged. thre ‘wasonly everonegroupforthejob-theninj Peete! | ry or“ATTILA MARCHED INTO GAUL WITH A MASSIVE FORCE, WHICH IS BELIEVED TO HAVE NUMBERED ANYWHERE FROM 200,000 TO Fe 700,000 MEN”THE SCOURGE OF EUROPE THE SCOURGE OF EUROPE BY THE 4TH CENTURY, THE HUNNIC HORDE TURNED ITS ATTENTION TO THE WESTERN ROMAN EMPIRE, INTENT ON CONQUEST AND PLUNDER Ay 396, Rome was in a sorry state a shadow ofits former glory. The Fasten and Wester empires funk! hosts of barbarians appearing on their bowers, wth Hans quite sucdenly piling out of the exstem Steppes of Asi ad pushing westwards ‘ofthe Black Sea, This movement disrupted many ofthe barbarian peoples along the way, suc as the ‘VisgotsOstrogoths, Alans and Vandals who were settled in Baste Europe driving them towards the Romans borders Ironically however, the Huns would fist cross swords with the Romans as mercenaries, employed. by the very people who were running fom them: ‘the Goths, These forces soon overran the border efences ofthe empie tothe extent that host armies roved unchecked across the plans of astern Europe ike the ashes of Mount Btn 1m 385, the Huns launched the fist of many assaults on the Fasten Reman Empire At this time they were not a unified force but rather a host of war bands and petty chieftains out for personal glory and plunder. This would change ‘when a man named Attia and his bother Bleda ‘Seized command in 424, The Huns proceeded to cut bloody swatbe through Haste Europe and ‘He Mediterranean, So great was the slaughter that ‘the dead were sald ta be countless and accounts speak of Ata astie his horse laughing 3 the struction wrought in his name ‘With the east suably pacified Arta tumed his gaze towards the Western Empire, the other major power in Burope. The most accepted catalyst Ae, forthe impending invasion came ina strange sulse Honora. sister to Emperor Valentinian I had been lecked away in sechision after a toenid Jove affair had seen her partner executed, For this punishment she was determined to make trouble for her brother so in 450 she smuggled 2 message and herring to tia asking that he become her champion. Ata took this invitation as a matiage proposal and requested thatthe dowry be half the Western Empte ‘This was probably Just ploy to giv his invasion anair of egtimacy and upon discovering wit his sister had done, Emperor Valentinian sent messages to Atta explaining the mistake He stated that ‘the mariage - and subsantal dowry ~ were not ‘on the negotiating table. Upon hearing this. Attila ‘marched into Gaul with a massive force which is believed to have numbered anywhere from 200,000 to 700.000 men, While these numbers ‘seem fanciful lange the numberof men the Huns ‘brought to bear would have been massive for Sth century Europe. The men who marched with atta ‘were not just Huns; the army boasted a mix of allied tubes including Ostrogeths and Franks. The early tactics ofthe Huns, ke the Mongols ‘who would come hundreds of years after were a revelation to European warfare. Horsemen would unleash fights of arrows followed by cavalry charges. running rings around the heavy infantry favoured by the Romans, However, the Hunn war _machine would evolve when i eached Roman teritory. The pains of Burope were not as large asthe Steppes and simply could not provide& GREATEST WARRIORS ‘enough grazing ground forall the Hunnic orses ‘This meant the Huns were forced to make a shit towards a more conventional field army a they ‘marched westwards, Ati’ explain the Eat had solid his reputation for croc, Before advancing on Gaul in “443 he had turned hie attention towards the cty of Nalssut on the River Danube. The Huns descended and devastate the city and surrounding are, but not before massacring the entire population Te death and destruction was on such a massive scale that Roman ambassadors, who were passing through several years later to meet with Ati found the riverbanks were stil file with human ‘bones. The stench of death and decay was so ‘overpowering that no one would enter the cy Atta formidable force burned its way across Gaul laying waste to many towns, Srasboure. Metz ‘Cologne, Amiens and Reims al fll to the advancing armies, These unfortunate cities were looted, tbumed and their populations slain ~ the Huns were ne interested in setlement, showing that they were rot ike oer nomadic invaders However, they demonstrated great apuitude in siege warfare, possbly learned from conflicts with China i ‘or chservedl while employed as ‘mercenaries inthe Roman ary. ‘Their use of battering ams and roling siege towers shocked the Westt its core here was a barartan amy that could not only trample Rome's legions ina pitched battle but alsa crack open even the strongest fortified cities Destruction on a masive scale swept across “STANDING AGAINST THE ONSLAUGHT WAS A GENERAL AND STATESMAN NAMED FLAVIUS AETIUS, WHO WOULD LATER BE KNOWN AS THE ‘LAST OF THE ROMANS” Europe, with es like Pris being spared oly because oftheir small and seemingly wortiess size ‘Standing agnnst the onslaught that descended on Gaal was a smiitary general and statesman named Flavius Aatius, who would later be knavn as the last of the ‘Romans. dominating influence ‘over Valentinian Il, Aetixs had dane all he could to ald the ‘Roman worl together after the ‘numerous setbacks suffered ‘over the past few years. He was perhaps uniquely ‘qualified to lead the counterattack ashe had previously been sent asa hostage to live among the Huns. With deep knowiedge of Hunnic life an ability to speak their language and even experience hiring Hunnic mercenaries in military campaigns, ‘Aetius possessed strong tactical knowledge of the inne army. ‘The Roman general had been anticipating an savasion onthe Wes from at less 443,50 when the Huns began ther assault almost a decade later, he was ready fort. Both Gaul and Naly THE INVASION OF GAUL ceting very tite resistance at firs, atila was fee to sack the cites of Gaul at will ree eee Toy Scie errr Barer arene impressed with is poeta ere comet) eens the countryside en aes ences erentFLAGELLUM DEI RED roe A RULER ATTILA HARD AND PRAGMATIC, LEADING THE HUNS FROM THEIR NOMADIC PAST TO FORGE THE HUNNIC EMPIRE INTO AN ALL-CONQUERING FORCE THAT SEEMED UNSTOPPABLE”SECRETS OF THE STEPPES ae THE ORIGINS OF THE HUNS é a STILL REMAIN A MYSTERY “ATTILA § PYRE } {ADE OF SADDLES, RESOLVING TO TAKE HIS OWN LIFE IN THE FLAMES RATHER THAN SUFFER THE IGNOMINY OF DEFEAT OR SURRENDER” were scoured for men fi fr service, but these russes could not swell the ranks of the Roman army tothe dested number Rather than face Attila with a sma force, Aetus turned 1 the cus bararian peoples populating the empire 10 possessed both strong military forces and an squall tong hated of th Aetits even reached out to the Visigoths, who haa been in conflict with Ror ever since thet appearance onthe easter border ‘They might not have seemed thes ina pragmatic move thet king, Theoderie land his son Thorsrmund sa thatthe Huns heralded a much bigger threat than Rome and joined the allance. Another group to join the aliance, the Burgundians, harboured a deep resentment ofthe Huns. as in 437 C2, 20.000 af thet people were slaughtered by an alliance of Huns and Romans settled them in teritory wes of G settle in the area around Ore Romans, but thet loyalty was In this way Aetius spawned muiple aliances out cf mutual necessity not trust By June 41, atlas marauding army reached (Orleans ~ about 250 miles west ofthe Rhine - but it was soon forced totum around as Aeius’ coalition finally caught up, With these forces bearing down, Attila decided to it the siege onthe city an fll buck to more favourable train, He chose to meet ‘the Romans on the Catalaunian Pains somewhere between Chalon and Troyes. On the rong een fos of Champagne the two armies drew up bate nes with Aetus deploying fis. sending the Vins to ancher his nigh flank on sume high ground. He then placed himself onthe left lan, withthe Alans under tet leader, Sangban, in the ‘centre, where both he and Theodore could ensure his oat. Tn response, Attila marched to meet the allance Inthe afternoon so that souk the battle drag on, ‘the setting sun would be in the ees of his enemies distraction. He stationed himself jan troops inthe cers of the lneJeaving his flanks secured by his Ostogoth alles ‘The first day saw fierce fighting around the Visigoth poston. as they thew the Huns back fom the hill time and again, Heavily armoured cavalry were key inthis dash enabling the Goths to hold the high ground, Disaster wok strike however. as “Theodor fell inthe battle, Accounts of his death bike all accounts ofthe bate confused. he ‘was either struck bya spear or trampled to death when be ell rom his horse leading a charge. In the cere ofthe battle the #uns fared better, routing the Alans and the Roman centre line Losses on ether Se mounted up so high that the bated ran red with blood, recounts thatthe “fight grew flece strous unrelenting. keno ancient time has ever recorded In an attempt bend the slaaghte, the Gothic cavalry charged Ata dangerously close to killing the Hunnic leader and foreing him to retire from tle The Hune retreated fo their eamp and forifed it with wagons subjecting any who came near to velleys of atts. ‘After withdrawing, Asa set about building funeral pyre made of saddles resolving to take his on life inthe flames tater than sue the ignominy of defeat or surrender. However, is de hr tat the retreat, ed, After a tense enormous loses. Although this was a setback for Arta, his military might was fr from broken ven s9, the Huns had been bloodied and Atlas aura of invincblity lay shattered, revealing im to be but a mere mortal after Despite hiving his enemy on the back fot ‘Aetius could not deal the hammer blow tothe uns, the paradox being that forthe continued survival of Roman Gat tila needed to stay ive. Aas death a this time would have Frought abouta severe succession crisis that led a res attack upon Gaul wich wasnt something t could withstand, especialy after such a costly bate. The Wester Empire simply didnot have the manpewer to manage the flaw of refugees fleeing from the unnie Empire and counter the Goth advances from southwest France Another reason is that since the Huns -the common enemy ofboth the Romans and Goths hha been defend, Aetae was keen to brake ‘up his cation force a8 soon as possible lest his allies cide to take advantage of Rome's weakened state. Lucky fr Aetivs Triad the newly crowned king ofthe Viigoths, wanted to return to Toulouse o shore up his claim and secure his kingdom. With his pride wounded, Attila withdrew from Gaul and turned bis jon to aly. Aetus had succeeded in diving the Huns from Gaul, bu he was son once mare called to action to save the Wester Empite fom enemies much closer to home. x» Ps THE SCOURGE OF EUROPE CRIPPLED BY INTERNAL POLITICS AND CENTURIES OF WORLD DOMINANCE, ‘THE ROMAN EMPIRE WAS WEAKENED AND UNPREPARED TO SURVIVE THE BARBARIAN MIGRATION& GREATEST WARRIORS THE WARRIORS OF GOD SWORN TO POVERTY, CHASTITY AND HOLY WAR WITH GOD’S ENEMIES, THE FEARSOME WARRIOR MONKS OF THE MONASTIC ORDERS ENSURED CHRISTIAN POWER ENDURED IN THE EAST FOR ALMOST 200 YEARS ———_—¢¢—____— en Pope Urban I took his pace at the head of the Reman church at the end ofthe th centry (Christians and Muslims lived in tentative equanimity; no auocies were ele. Yet this wily pontif sought to boost papal authority, which had suffered a number of setbacks during the previous decades, and devised an ingenious plan. In 1085, when touring ths homeland of France he called fora crusade to reclaim Jerusalem from the infidel. The Muslims Jad ruled the city for more than fourand--halt centuries: Pope Urban now demanded its return. Fortunately for those who answered his call. the ‘Must word was in disarray and the warriors of the Fist Crusade - rather motley crew - stormed Jerusalem in a bloody assault in uly 1099. Those ‘that remained after i fal founded the Frankish tealm of Outremer and the Kingdom of Jerusalem. Christians flooded in and many sites inthe Holy ‘Land became places of pilgrimage fr the devout though travelers took great risks a they passed through hostile lands staked by wild animals and vet oder branes ‘The year II8.for example, saw 300 pilgrims massacred at Easter near the shores ofthe River Jordan, while n the same year the Christians, ‘edging their boundaries further ino Muslin terry, suffered a crushing defeat at Sarmarda ‘The Christian ay of 700 knights and 3000 Infantry was san or enslaved in what became known asthe Bat of the ied of Blood. Tt was against this backdtop thatthe Knights ‘Templar and the Knights Hosptaller emerged as military forces, pledging thir swords forthe Protection of pilgrims. They blended monastic discipline with a commitment to fight for their go, With their bodies protected by iron and their souls, clothed in the breastplate of faith - according to their great Cistercian champion - they flowered ito mighty enterprises and became the bedrock forthe ‘Christian Wetts tenuous held on the Levant “THE MUSLIMS HAD RULED THE CITY OF JERUSALEM FOR MORE THAN FOUR-AND- A-HALF CENTURIES. POPE URBAN NOW DEMANDED ITS RETURN”za

MILITARY MIGHT OF THE . } \ COMPOSITE Le WRAPPING got watrpoc ‘SMALL BUT MIGHTY atl) without ssetifcingpowerDISCIPLINE Te skills, training and weaponry of the Mongols ‘Would have counted fr litle wer it nt for their remarkable discpline- This has often been considered the result of system of draconian punishments, which certainly played is part The ‘rice fr failure in the Mongol army could be high. ‘Genghis Khan had set the standard when he stated simply that Ifyou ae obedient to my ‘mandates behoveth that if should command the sons to slay the father, you should all obey Punishment for disobedience could include fogging or even deat for particu serious cffences, The Mong 2bout preventing oo ‘won, and any man summarily executed. This was not out of any aiszaste for lot bate There would for looting later Discipline was even meted out to entire units. tf sr0up of men from an afban (ten sods) ed froma ble they all faced execution. Although severe, this sot of code helped to ensure units acted together, key to suctess on the battled “THE MONGOLS WERE ESPECIALLY SERIOUS ABOUT PREVENTING LOOTING BEFORE A BATTLE HAD E IN WON, AND ANY MAN CAUGHT IN THE ACT WOULD BE EXECUTED” 8MILITARY MIGHT OF THE MONGOLS, TACTICS OF TERROR Instilling fear in the enemy was not merely the by-product of Mongol tactics - it was a keystone of their entire strategy Psychological warfare was a key tactic employed by the Mongol. Is easy to characterise their treatment of captured civilians and enemy soldiers asmere babarlty (and it was undeniably bata, but there was actualy a definite purpose behind it By creating a terfying image of themselves, ‘the Mongois made i more lkely that any cty they approached might surender without putting up resistance. also made it more likely that an area ‘would remain submissive after Mongo forces ad Jeft= this was hugely important, as the invading force didnot have enough men to leave garrisons. For tis reason, civians in a captured ety that had cffeed resistance would be systematically slhughtered or taken into slavery A smal proportion ‘ofthe population woul be allowed to go fee however in order to spread the werd af the fercity ‘ofthe Mongols and the futility of resistance When the ety of Bukhara was taken during the Mongol ‘conquest of Khwarezm, several thousand ciillans were freed, but only after witnessing the execution (6 30000 oftheir elow cttaens. Beg Inbattle the Mongols would sometimes make tse of tactic known as kara n whic prisoners would be herded before the main army 2 they advanoed into bate More than a mere exercise in psychological warfare. the prisoners would act asa human shield taking the brunt of the enemy's defensive fre. The use of explostves and burning arin artilery barrages was ako as ‘much intended to spread fear and chaos in enemy ranks ast was todo any genuine damage Because of the fearsome image the Mongols carefully crafted, many ces and even whole toes submitted without resistance, The Mongols ‘would avays accep this lady - twas far easier than having to canquer a foe, and treating those ‘who submitted with the same harshness a those ‘who resisted would undermine the effects oftheir psychological warfare campaign. yen so the Mongols’ teror acts sometimes ‘worked against them, especially in Europe where their already terrifying reputation was enhanced ‘with all manner of fanciful embelishmens. The Mongols were even professed by some tobe the esoendants of Gog and Magog. a pair of man cating wants who had teronsed the world in Facing up f such inhuman opposition convinced ‘many that no mercy coll be expected fom the Mongols, ven if nstant submission was offered, resulting in some ferocicus fights to te deat, “CIVILIANS IN A CAPTURED CITY THAT TAKEN INTO SLAVERY” STANC WOULD BE i :& GREATEST WARRIORS SIX MONGOL SACKINGS ee Ce | Sopteran nema Sei MERV at Death toll: 70,000 <4 Barely a year after he had laid wast to Samarkand, Genghis Khan was on the marc again. There had been no ltup inthe Mongol ‘expansion, which had now spread into Rusia. Merv was the capital ‘ofthe Sek Sultanate and one ofthe largest cities in the world In the 1th century. It was also one of the most Impressive, with ‘canals, markets and gardens alongside libraries and bathhouses ‘Genghis Khan cared lite for this splendour and in preparation foran assault he destroyed a nearby dam, thereby cutting off the ms | city's Water Supply. Merv sgarison fought bravely against the Mongols over six days but eventually aid ddvin their ame after they | were promised they would be spared. Genghis Khan, true to form, went back on his word | and ordered the massacre of | all the inhabitants while he ‘watched from atop a golden throne. The once great city became a ghost town and. | ever ecovered. SAMARKAND eth tl Apo. 100000 —_@—__—__ ‘The sacking of Samarkand was a key moment in one of Genghis Khan's fst ‘major conquests and was a signal ofthe warlords intent. The city was an Important trade hub forthe Khvvarezmid Empire adits destruction would be an {economic hammer blow. Samarkand was strongly defended, so the attackers had to combine skill with tenacity Covered by projectiles launched from trebuchets and siege bows, the infantry advanced using prisoner fom pas skirmishes as shields. The city’s garison fought stouly. even attempting a counterattack on the third day ofthe siege. This bold move was tobe thelr undoing as the Mongols ‘defeated the defenders in hand-orhané-combat, luring them in with a faked retreat. After five days many had surrendered, but 2000 soldiers held out in the citadel. This rearguard bravery angered Genghis Khan, who renounced the eatler terms of surrender and executed every last man. “The in Dynasty had long been a rival ofthe Mongol Empire and wat had raged {for more than two decades by the time of the sacking of Kaifeng. The capital's defeat would be a deathblow for the dynasty. The attackers were led by a new Khan ‘in Ogdde!, who had forge a temporary alliance wth the Song - the ns rivals. ‘The siege began slowly, with the defenders using ie and gunpowder bombs that ‘exploded with custers of shrapnel, The Mongols were aided by the arival of 20,000 ‘Song reinforcements, and even though the assault never broke the gates, starvation and disease begar to take thelr toll on the city. Forced to eat thelr own horses and. prisoners, disease soon ravaged the people of Kaifeng, and the sige was stalled toallow a plague to wreak havoc. The white lag was eventually waved after the Jin emperor committed suicide having first abdicated the throne in order to avoid ‘becoming the last in emperor, Northern China now belonged to the Mongols.SIX MONGOL SACKINGS yas ten fered before "sege but ia eased the LAHORE ae Death tninown SOS = By the easy 1240s, the Delhi Sultanate had become the next power to be at conflict with the Mongols. The northern Indian sultanate was in the ‘mist ofa succession crisis and its power base was weakened. The Mongols ‘snelled blood, and having already traded withthe city, knew that some of ‘the inhabitants would welcome thelr ule Miltary leader Malik Kara Kush, however, had other deas and commanded the Lahore defences bravely and skilfully as the siege began. Kush was in die need of ai, but a relief army fom Delhi came to nothing after a communication breakdown. The sultan ‘managed to escape under the cover of night but the city Was taken the next ay. Furious steetto-steet fighting ensued after the walls crumbled, but the relentless Mongol assaul finally proved too much even for Kush. Yet despite its defeat Lahore continued to bea thom in the side ofthe Mongols, and it was invaded again a century ater. BAGHDAD 1258 Death toll: More than 200,000 In the 13th century Baghdad was a centre of arts and culture where scholars and engineers fom around the world came to study. It was {he capital ofthe Abbasi Caliphate, an Islamic dynasty and a long-time adversary ofthe Mongols. In 1258, Mongke, one of Genghis Kans ‘sons, launched a siege onthe city that would Tas ten days. The appetite forthe population of Baghdad to defend its city was lessened due to friction between the Shia and Sunni Muslims. The bloody battle ‘culminated in the death ofthe dynasty’ leader, the caliph, who was rolled up ina carpet and stamped to death. The fall f Baghdad marked the end of $00 years of Sunni Musi rule and the Islamic Golden ‘Age. The defeat shook the Muslim world as mosques were leveled to the gound and important historical and religous texts destroyed XIANGYANG AND ee ee FANCHI nes Death toll: More than 10,000 +o ‘The fal ofthese two Song fortres cities demonstrated the col efficiency of ‘the Mongol war machine. Their imposing battlements and wide moats posed an almost impregnable obstacle even forthe Mongols so they ct off the cities’ supply route at a nearby river confluence. Following this, siege weapons surrounded the cites. The Song defenders had prepared for this and padded the battlements so missles would simply bounce off. The Mongols countered by introducing longer range trebuchets constructed by allied Persian engineers tothe ballfield The new technology worked, but even though the wall had been levelled, Song sokiers matched the Mongo infantry as furious fighting broke out Only once the breach had been widened were the attackers able to overwhelm the city. Eventually, aftr six bloody years of fighting, the sleges came toan end, heralding the defeat ofa tenrtory that had repelled Mongol assaults for thre decades. Te cites’ reward for essing the Jnvaders for so long was for al its remaining residents to have their throats sit in cold blood, The destruction ofRaghdd extinguished ‘beacon of rise nthe Mia Pa& eNO) b) HOW JAPAN’S WARRIOR CLASS WAS DEFEATEDs the Sun crept over the mountains, ‘only 40 samura rebels fits ‘warmth touch them - the ret of their group had been killed over the previous months in a series of bates Saign Takami the leader ofthe rogue group (of samurai and formally a highly respecte fed ‘marshal in the Imperial army, hod been vunded in his lag and stomach during the fighting and so Dbeseeched his fiend, eppu Shinsuke, carry him toa quiet spot.Once there he committed seppalea a form of sue by disembowelment practised by the samural that was cansidered an honourable ‘way to die With thelr leader dead anda force of around 30000 imperil troops commanded by (General Yamagata and his technologically advanced ‘weaponry clse by, there seemed lite hope forthe ‘warts that for centuries had played a prominent role in Japanese society, Rather than suffer the shame of surrender, Beppu Shinsuke gathered the ‘remaining srr and led therm - brandishing their swords fiercely -on a suicidal charge against the Imperial forces, The Gatling guns baked in the ealy morning ai and cut the doomed men ‘charging sagt at them to plees. The a of the samural had thereby ended ina brual yet ‘emphatically memorable fashion. For much ofthe previous 1000 years it ‘would have been unthinkable thatthe samural ‘would cease to exis. as they had played such an |mportant olin Japanese society and seemed ‘ingrained in the fabric ofthe country. However, the °° DEATH OF THE SAMURAI “IN A WORLD IN WHICH IMMENSE FIREPOWER FROM GATLING GUNS EXISTED... WERE THE SAMURAI REALLY SUCH A VALUABLE COMMODITY ANYMORE?” ‘word in which the samurai lived as changing ‘Advances in technelegy aligned wit Japan ending its isolationist ways and opening rade routes and with tan exchange of knowiedge and culture signaling the beginning of the end fora proud amor caste that did not want forsee why it should ~ change ts ways. In a wold in which immense firepower from Gatling guns existed Pumping out an almost continuous team of ‘murderous bullets and ships that could fie artery ‘na town froma safe distance were the samurai realy such a valuable commodity anymore? Although samurai developed a complex code cof honour, rituals and ethics Bushido) that ‘meant being a samurai was a whe way of le, ‘hey orginally came into existence and then rominence through thei fighting il. In 646 {he Tata reforms in Japan ed to the county being dominated by a handful of aig landovmers and created a feudal system smal to that of medieval Europe. These landowners needed thelr property tw be protected from those who would take their crops a lands. In this need for protection lay the ‘gins ofthe samura asthe men hired to defend ‘the wealthy slowly began to develop a code. After succession of weak emperors, the Heian Dynasty began ta lose control of the country and the aro began to move into the power vacuum, created. By 1100 they beld significant military and political power over the land This ushered in a golden period forthe samural and throughout the next centuries, unt the end ‘ofthe Bao period (1603-1858) this wariar cass vas atthe hear of Japanese life as rival clans bated each ther for control ofthe counsry and dominance. The Edo period saw greater peace and sali, which meant many samurai were not ‘eeced or combat and so became teachers and ‘members of government. Despite te decline in use fof the samuray, they were stil revered in society and were the only class allowed to cary swords, ‘wich was a mark ofthe rank This period of ‘peace may have reduced the key role of sama In Japanese socety, butt was nothing compared to what was to come. The word was experiencing politcal and socal revlutions and agains this tide ‘of change a bow and arrow ora sword soon proved an impotent weapon, For Japan this change began in 1853 when ‘Commodore Matthew Perry ofthe United States ° THREE LEGENDARY SAMURAI MIYAMOTO MUSASHI itis beeved that Mash oust ve 60 duels without os ands creed with eat he two Sword fh technique Ntary. where bath Standage sword and asa one ae used, He began formal sword ing very young and oe of the Books he rote dcr tht he oust fst hel ‘aged Miah wns sled writer arpa ana is {ext The Book of ve ings, covering mail ats and Aenjasus stead wots dy. ¢ MINAMOTO TAMETOMO Sura were jst deadly swordsmen - mary were also gy sled wth ow a atom, an amar ‘sas one the best proponents ofthis Supposedly he was born wa let am aches loge than is iat, meaning he cul generate greater power on hi hae by daving th Dowsing farther base The seat Down contd seppuRu in 70 ater he was ptured dung bate apd th tendons inhi tam were severed ths rendering him ules 5a ache. SAIGO TAKAMORI [Athos he famosa the et ans thelmperal amy, Takano actualy ha a part n ‘stabs he new goverment 1857 NS rons Sippurted the empeer nthe Mei restoration an ews mpl adior tothe new government He Sacre done wth wat he spa he cous Wistert, ature to ade Kores ae the misng of samural portance, soe vertu le doomed reo aganst the imperial forces oa& GREATEST WARRIORS ° ° BUSHIDO — THE ‘WARRIOR CODE LOYALTY Samu devaoped a ep, Sire they were emptyed by tetany Samat were ameasy loatver mates ave INTEGRITY nef the mast mportant parte dig what he Sara ate COURAGE Samurai were expected show ouage altima nd cont Seopa to aod capture. they Were poston on he ates ‘ier they cul ep th Sie they wereabo expected to tae the on MERCY Samara iad he power of Me nd thin ther ands hey fot theta pean had ofended er ner oven fhe aa hay dhe tof em Watch Prt ofthe ware RESPECT Palos and courtesy were tg pat of smite they were expatedo stom bahto sw stra ser at or masts an supers. Faure to reeset eee ‘fren eal nes HONOUR tals. Any es of hncur ‘ten rere og an ey ood es betwen il tone Inmany eee contin Seppe wath nl Honurble erent HONESTY The Contin pony af the Yaar ctl ta sey as theonly oy ofthe ware ° “AS WORD SPREAD OF THE REBELLION, SAMURAI AND PEASANTS FROM ACROSS JAPAN FLOCKED TO JOIN THE CAUSE” entered Edo Bay (Tokyo Bay) to seek trade tink Japan had previously adopted an isolationist, position, but sore ofthe country’s politcal elite had begun to realise that their country was lagging behind other nations in terms of technology —Japan had not industrialised - and modernisation was hey n der to compete with other world powers. ‘At this point Japan was stil, n practice. ruled by an emperor, bu the eal power resided with the shogun (miltary laden), Understanding that the country needed drastic change, two daimyes (Qowerul territorial lords formed an alliance against the ruling shogun and aimed 10 give the emperor genuine power. The ruling shogun, Toleugawa Yoshinobu. resigned rom his pation Dut had no intention of giving up real power. anct ‘when Emperor Me issued an iraperil decree dlssolving his house, he sent his samurai army to the imperial ty of Kyoto wh the aim of posing the emperor "As sword fom the two opposing factions clashed and cinked in battle the fate ofthe country hung in the balance The Battle of Tobe ‘Pushimi on 27 January 271868 ended in defeat forthe shogun and it the touch paper forthe Boshin Wa, which lasted untl May 1869 "The \war followed the same path as the batle and ‘the empercr, with mare medern weaponry and ‘tactics, prevailed, With victory secured, the young emperor - allege influenced by his advisors began the process of reshaping Japan, Soca reforms such 3¢ universal elementary education for chikten were ierociced, 38 was investment in heavy machinery to breathe new if nto the manufacturing industry. There was also a focus en Westerssation, with an edit issued in 1871 encouraging the adoption of Westernstyle clothing and food, Arguably the biggest change tat affected the samural was the forming of a modern conscript army, which meant that thelr role asthe primary fighting men in the counery was disappearing and tat they were no fonger the only strata of society allowed to bear weapons. These new weapons guns and ils ~required much les skill © ‘operate than those of the sarmurai and meant tha a peasant with a gun could now conceivably fest samara in combat. ithe implementation ofa conscript army Indicated that the days of the samurai were slipping away, then the next decree by the emperor in 1876 lft no one in any dou: samura were banned ftom wearing swords. Their postion. 38a spacial cas had ended, Bven though their’ Position of prestige had been in steady decline, for many samura this was the final insu. The Japanese leaders fel they needed to modernise to avoid being left behind, and the samurai were simply one ofthe casualties ofthis process,a = a ws = c 1 O° g a we:a) @ GREATEST WARRIORS “BEING UNABLE TO FIGHT, TAKAMORI DID WHAT HONOUR DICTATED, AS DID THE REMAINING SAMURAI, WHO CHARGED INTO THE BULLETS” ‘The government believed tha in ther current form they belonged toa diferent era and had no relevance in the new Japan they were forging “There were some samurai that adapted to this ‘modernisation process and, forthe good ofthe country, abandoned thei old beliefs and tried to put themselves atthe foeont ofthis new Japan, The government instigated a programme to rehabilitate sama, helped them find employment and tied to place them atthe head of enterprises, as they were more educated than the majority (ofthe population, However, a group of samurai cided thatthe country was changing too fast and losing ts culture and traditions Led by Saigo "Takamon they decided to take a stand, "Takameri was a great bear ofa man who stood neatly ss fest all witha stout and sturdy frame Born the son of alow-ankaing samurai, he had ‘previously fallen into dlsgrace following the death ‘of his lord and had been exiled ta remote island, ‘but he was later eadmited toa daimyois army and ‘eganed his honour He had played a prominent role in the setting up ofthe new Medi government and in 1871 he was even set in charge of the ‘atetaker government during the absence of many senor statesinen. Bven though he opposed the ‘Westernisation ofthe country, twas actually when his proposal to invade Korea was rejected that he resigned from the government and returned, to Kagoshima, whete he set up a local ralltary school He soon gathered supporters among disenchanted samurai and those harbouring I mentions against the central government. ‘Takamonts footnote in history looked destined to bea minor ane as he lived out his days honouring the old samurai tradition and teaching However, in 1877 a group of samara rebels raided and occupied government ammurition and weapon depots and proclaimed him as theit leader. Reluctamly, he woul lead the last samurai ‘charge in history. {As word spread of te rbelion, samurat and peasants fom across Japan locke to join the ‘cause, and soon Takamert was in change of 40000 men ~ good figure but no match forthe ‘government’ frce of 300.000 men trained in modern warfare and equipped with appropiate ‘weaponry. Te rebel forces matched on the well foruted Kumamota Castle and, with their samutal and peasant fore armed with guns, rounded. the castle For two bloc nights the army thew itself atthe walls ina ferocious ater to scale them bu the attacks were epeled time and agin by gunfire, andthe samurai bad no coordinated plan for how to breach the fortifications. When a government reli orce amived and engaged with the rebels, several sharp ‘lashes ensued before both sides reteated, The reblion went on to ast fr six months and, hile bath sides gained vitories, the government army could seplenish any ls fore much easier than the rebels, who wore gradually ground down by superior technological firepower, such as warships 1X estimated that the impertal forces lst more than 6000 troops and had 10.000 wounded while the much smaller samura amy sufeed 7000 killed and 11000 wounded Fellowing a series of engagements, the depleted rebel force sneaked into Kagoshima and tok possession of a castle mountain in Shiroyma. took the government troops several days to foate ther, but when they did there was'no doi, ‘what the eventual outcome would be Takamort cxganised a sake party for his closest friends an Impressive display of blondy-mindedness as he ‘must have knewn what was coming was tobe bis lastnight ave as at 300am imperial frces stormed the mountain castle ‘iy the te they were repelled. nly 40 of the rebels were stl ale. and Takamor! was badly ‘injured. Being rendered unable to ight, Takami id what honour dictate, as did the remaining, samural, who charged into the bullets ofthe ‘wali imperial army. ‘The age ofthe samurai may have been extinguished that day, butt ied displaying all ofthe cera tenants that had made this warrior ‘ass so legendary - honour courage are loyalty, teresa eeDEATH OF THE SAMURAI ANATOMY OF A SAMURAI [aan 389 SOCIAL STRUCTURE ‘OF FEUDAL JAPAN ‘wasn Septed oe tem CRAFTSMEN, VILLAGERS, 3 TE x mas ode fom ser ant neta Samra ere ered co an es Somes ono aes ‘emo SANDALS& GREATEST WARRIORS $ SHADOW WARRIORS THE SECRET WORLD OF THE NINJA apan's legendary ninja are shrouded in myth and their exploits steeped in ‘apanesefltlore blurring the ines bbeween fact and fiction, However, the reablfe expt ofthe ninja are far more fascinating than the legends that have grown around them sine their golden age during the 5th and 16th centuries ‘The ninja. or shinobi emerged in the mid5th century Although the skills most associated with them - spying inflation and assassination ~ had ’ben practised before the emergence of nina it ‘wasnt unt the mid1400s that a lass of specially ‘rained warriors appeared. The nina have typically been seen a the antithesis ofthe benourable samurai, but the relationship isin fact much more complicate. Ninja were offen hired mercenaries, but examples can be found of samura also acting asnina, ‘Specially ained spies and assassins began. to appear during the 1th century acting as ‘mercenaries fr hite by warlords to spy on rid, sabotage and murder their vals The term shins ‘came to describe these mercenaries, who originated fom the warrior caste - they were not merely peasant farmers they wee at last ashigar oot soles) and in some cases even samura. At fst THE ELITE NINJA WERE THE HIGHLY TRAINED MASTERS OF ESPIONAGE, INFILTRATION, SABOTAGE AND ASSASSINATION fathers passed the trade onto their children, but 3s. the profession grew guis and clans were create. Ninja were called upon to carryout the most dangerous missions, and often thelr survival was ot guaranteed Tel abides saw them acta spies, scouts inflluators, assassins and Arsonists. The chief ole ofthe ninja was to gather intelligence, ether by inflating an enemy ‘castle or camp o through reconnaissance. A ‘contemporary istructinal poem advised nin to,’Always draw what you have learned while scouting and then report ito the strategist directly in person” Another recommended ‘If guiding and planning te way while moving poston. the essential information you must bring are the ‘mountains, the rivers, and the distance from the ‘enemy: On couriless occasions the information gathered by nina helped turn the ie of battles. Sabotage was another important rle forthe rhinja, wo often inflated enemy castes to set them on fren 541 elite Iga nina infitated Kasag) Castle and set fre othe baildngs inthe ‘outer bay. This sort of raid became the speciality ‘ofthe nina, with similar atacks at Sawayama in 158 and Mabara in 1561 Nina have become synonymous with assassination. and warlords often employed nina& GREATEST WARRIORS to kl thei sivas. The ninja were so skiful and stealthy tat castle designets began to implement anteninja defences, including pressure-senstive Moorboads and hcden weapons Many castles, ike Himeji wer also designed to be mazes to those rot familiar with their corors and passages “These countermeasures were not aways successful, however, and dozens of ssassnatin attempts using various methods - fom throat ‘ating to dipping poison ito steeping vies! mouths - were made, During the vicious Onin War - which ravaged Japan between 1467 and 1477 and destablised the ‘country, plunging into the chaotic ea known. asthe Sengoku period - te shinob emerged as a professional cass of warriors. The rival daimyas (ord) who emerged during this time used ninja 3s another weapon in thei arsenal, employing them as spies, scouts kiso Gurprise attackers) and agitators to disrupt ther enemies, While they were often treated with suspicion and mistrusted ‘even by their own allies the nina sills were grudgingly respected. By the 1600s, the lines ‘between the nina and sarmuai class had become ‘more blurred, with prominent samural like Hattori Hanzo also being skied nina For neatly 2000 years, two family clans provided nina for the warring shoguns and daumyo, These clans the Iga and the Koga, took {thelr names fom thet regions, which neighboured ‘one another. The villages ofthis mountainous area became the breeding ground fr Japan ‘most effective professional ninja. Free fom feudal lords, these ninja were able to devote ther ives to traning in ninjutsu the at of steal ‘The ga nina were often retainers of the Ashikag shogunate, unt t was overthrown by Oda Nobunaga in 1573. tn 158, Nobunaga ‘consolidated his power by destroying Ashikagas supporters, invading Iga and razing many of the region’ vilages So fst was the attack thatthe ga ‘were unable to ute ther rujutsu sil tn thelr defence and were averwhelmed when they were forced to fight conventionally The Iga nina that survived fled Uough the ‘mountains to serve Tokugawa leyasu, One ofthe _areatest ga nina, Hatton Hanao, became aclse friend and bodyguard of leyasu, protecting him and helping him escape Nobunaga For ths, Hanzo was rewarded with lind and power as leas gained THE ROLES OF A NINJA WHILE THE PRIMARY TASK OF THE MULTIFACETED NINJA WAS TO BE A COVERT OPERATIVE, THEY WERE ALSO HIGHLY SKILLED TACTICIANS AND CONVENTIONAL WARRIORS ——_/ Ss SPIES SOLDIERS pe | pee enemy capes. ‘eenemy they woud titate cen nd sed ao ip oo ‘sou hy ee Sone ee ‘Geaeconson song Te enemy by capturing ‘ammony towers, siwere sed beng probed sieges ost SABOTEURS ASSASSINS io ny sin Scien ‘cr oot tremor orauckaneel chats Suga etre Thee Zambos an oper panes castes of be {Slane Artie lge ot Sowajora 1556. na ‘vated te enemy (sian sia ange senate Nobunaeis case ba isin apnea freon ‘eng Seven attendants ° ‘enaugh power to became shogun in 1603.The emnanis ofthe Igi served 3s guard and spies for the Toltugawa shogunate into the 18th century ‘The ninja of the smaller Koga clan acted independently as mercenaries during the Mth contin with Kegs nin often serving rival ‘warlords Hosever. in the ISth century they were called upen by ther bea daimyo the Rk, to defen their lad. Following the Onin Wa, the Rokaku began to tebe against the Ashlkaga shogunate seizing terttory and ignoring the shogun’ orders. In 1487, Ashikaga Yoshihisa, {the ninth shogun ofthe Ashikaga shogunate Jee an army to besiege Roklau castles. twas ‘uring this conflict that the ga nina serving the shogunate and Koga ninja clashed, One by one Rokkaku casts fll and ther lords fle ordering ‘their Koga to fight tothe death, The Koga ninja were masters of guerilla warfare and launched an insurgency, confounding the shogun a every turn ‘They exploited ther expert knowedge ofthe local ography, hiding in the mountains and launching ‘aids cm Yoshihisa forces The ning attacked the shogun’ camps causing chaos and confusion with fies and smoke seeens After holding of the shoguns oops for afew ‘years, Yoshihsa's death in 1489 finally ended the ‘ccupation ofthe Koga tertitory. The skill an bravery ofthe Koga ninjas queria war made chem famous, and they guined a formidable reputation as. both conventional and unconventional warios During the 1560s, Tokugawa Ieyasu hired Kowa nina, led by Tomo Sukesada, to ral Imagawa clan ‘outposts. Sikes and his Kéga ninja inflatedSHADOW WARRIORS Dy) “eam yS& TRAININ re a &% ° NINJA WERE TRAINED FROM AN EARLY AGE TO MASTER THE SKILLS OF AN EXPERT SHINOBI ens the nn were THE 18 DISCIPLINES somnatetrenen — LUSetomingant Deere onc 10" oa— & GREATEST WARRIORS 4 ——_—_—_—-+ SEVEN FAMOUS NINJAS » HATTORI HANZO 15405-1506Imagawa Castle an set ire to its towers, causing ‘panic and killing mach o the garrison. They again played a piveal ole during the Battle of Sekigahat, were they belped defend Fushimi (Castle and hold up Ishida Mitsunars attack Tokugawa feyasi’ victory atthe battle enabled him, to create the Tokugawa shogunate which would rule unt 1968 From 1600 onwards the Koga and ia ninja worked together as the shoguris elite guar, defending his principe seat of power at Edo Castle "The Tekugawa shogunate presided over several yeas of peace in Japan, but in 1637 the nina were called upon one lat time. "The Shimabara Rebellion saw Christian rebels Jed by Amakusa Shiro rise up afte their taxes ‘were raised. AS the shoguris armies closed in on ‘the rebels they fll ck tothe castle at Hara and dug in for along siege With ther expertise in siege warfare, the Koga ninja returned tothe fl ‘Accounts reall that during the siege they were ‘sent to scout the Christian rebels defences. They reconnoitred the plan ofthe castle the distance between bastions the height ofthe wall and the dopth ofthe moat. On thelr return they created a ‘etal pn ofthe defences forthe shogun. The niga were then tasked with raiding the enemy lies. capturing provisions and laring the ‘enemy’ stength, During the final assault on Hara, Koga ninja acted a liaisons and runners betneen ‘the attacking forces. The castle was quickly ‘overrun, and the Koga nina had played an essential role in the suppression of Christianity in Japan. The religion wouldnt resurface until the 19th century. While nina fem la and Koga ae some ofthe most revered, there were other active groups, One band, led by Fima Kotar, served the Hej clan but when thet lord was defeated they became bandits Ishikawa Goemon i another ninja who tured to bandit He became a legendary Robin Bood ike figure by stealing from the wealthy daimyo, He tuaned under Momochi Sandayu, an fga master of rinjuts, before he became anukenin, or tunaway nina For 15 years Goemon stale fom the rich feudal overiotds and gave othe poo Asalegendary figure there are conflicting is death The most common tells that in 1594, folowing the murder of his wife and capture of his son, he attempted oinfirate “Toyotomi Hideyoshi caste and assasinate him However, the guards were alerted to his presence wer he accidentally knocked abel off table and he was promptiy captured, Goemon was then executed by being boiled alive in an iron cauldron ‘ith is young son. Even today, Goemon remains a folklore legend in Japan Not all ninja were men, The female onna’ bougesha were warriors belonging tothe Japanese nobly, and there were aso female nin, or kunoichi, Women were well sited to the Clandestine role of the ninja and were uniquely ble o inflate enemy strongholds inthe guise of servants, dancers, cncubines and geisha, The Iruncichi also sometimes acted as assassins ‘The mos famous female ninja was Mochizok CChiyome who was descended from KBga nina and the wife ofa samurai lord When her husband ‘vas killed in batt, she came unde the protection cof her nt husbands uncle, Talked Shingen, the lder ofthe Takeda clan, Shingen asked ‘Mochizuki to form a network of kunci to spy fn rival clans and daimyo. Mochizuki recruited a band of female orphans reugees and prostitutes, ‘who she tained in the clandestine ats of the ‘inj. Mochizukts kunoicht gathered information and acted as messengers often traveling as miko (orestesses) to avoid suspicion, Posing as gesha, rositutes and servants, the kunechi could gain ‘access othe most heavily guarded strongholds Like their make counterparts, they were also tained assassins. The network grew tobe several hundred ‘trong before Shingen's death in 1573, after which ‘Mochizuki vanishes from the historical record, Following the end ofthe Shimabara Rebellicn in 1638 Japan entered a long period of peace during the Edo period. Ths was the last sat bate fought bythe ninja before they slowly faded into cbscurty, Fighting became confined ta small skirmishes and shortived rebellions. During the ith century, the ‘inj traditional oe of spying and inteligence gathering is thought to have been taken over by the COniaban. who reported to the shogun Tokugawa Yoshimune, providing information on the feudal Jons he ruled. The traditions of the ninja continue bu oly a shrinking andl can now claim to be tive shinobi«& ‘=> GREATEST WARRIORS SenKYOKETSU-SHOGE Mie dub ge bade atacted 1933 5nete inna roe or han was evelped roma pest nfo wars ange weapon ond ‘ous ao eed to cn wal ‘TESSEN Te tessn or war fan mat KAKUTE these srl vous Spied on ings woud ftenbe tipped SAI Typcay ued pe sa and te were lant espns sed to beat ‘ppaners wth sie gure to hook to ‘ething wars embl ofak CCHIGIRIKL Sina to» tropen eight atached os wenn shat SHADOW WARRIORS A NINJA’S KIT BAG NINJUTSU ARMAMENT WAS DESIGNED TO ENABLE NINJA TO INFILTRATE, ASSASSINATE AND ESCAPE, AND THEY WERE MASTERS OF MANY WEAPONS AND TOOLS. ® BO-SHURIKEN A snp sp 2d ire epponets cose ones, SHURIKEN The nin mos famoue ‘ett aie wate BO-HIVA cigating om Kore. the bof te row was ory nd sara nd ia began eng boys ‘tom em KATANA To kta ynonymoue hth sural Bota ed ‘he deol fresh artsanmase ‘word Ung theta aon fhe ‘marta nj fad omer LO MATAWA Mertens spect equprent. ns Berne ok war eed sel wal, Li nrmicepetsncinn Sao See Eaten L2tentrepe coud be nado LBMIEI at aun oan eng sno {na sex 4 smxonzue ve perfec weapon for ani, asi asa Fersneangit sees wee weapons ‘wernt soe, 5 TEKOHAGI a may he ins weapons the ea ‘develope om 3 fro Wom on Baan ty ware seth sn oponents wea pi 1G ASO SLEATS rte ‘sede sles tem sale the TTI BOM sn nc sonra the power un ‘ontnued to eave twougout he Th “nar ceares he wererequre taster yt (he at of he bow) and bean by rang ale tres on fot ana harebac OssBEST & BOLDEST 88 WARRIOR’BRAVEST BATTLERS CL MACHINES OF WAR, HISTORY. IS FULL OF COURAGEOUS WARRIORS WHO LOOKED FOUGHT ON TO THE ENDCASSIUS SCAEVA 90-c48 BC Eighth Cohort, Sixth Legion, Roman Reput @ ‘When Jullus Caesar was fighting the cv war with Gnaeus Pompelus Maggs (Pompey the Great for conto ofthe Reman Republic, thelr battles tok them allover the empire and eventually to Greece and the town of Dyrracium. ‘There, Caesar hada ring of smal forts bik to encircle Pompey even though (Caesars men were outnumbered and stretched thin, One ofthe forts was _manned by a single cohort ofthe Sixth Legion (known as Ferrata, or the Tron Legion) consisting of about 480 men, One ofthe commanders ofthe Eighth (Cort was the centurion Cassis Seaea, Pompey attempted to break out of Caesar's encirclement and attacked the undermanned postions. Scars cohort held off the attacks af four of Pompey’ legions. or almost 20000 men, fr several hours. t the end ofthe day's fighting the cohoc stl held the fort even though almost every man was wounded (13,000 enemy arrows were late collected fiom the battle sit) Scaeva, who fought in the doorway othe fot, had lost an eye and was ‘wounded in is shoulder and tig His sled was scared by 120 oles ftom {enemy mises and was brought to Caesar as proof of his deeds ance the fighting was over. Caesar promptly rewarded Scaeva with avast cash prize and Promoted him tothe prestigious Fist Color ofthe Lesion Gullus Caes rennet commis BRAVEST BATTLERS ener emceeee Spocrantinetae ina notte Be Sorc aare ae LINES CYNAEGIRUS, SON OF EUPHORION In September 490 BCE, an army of 6.000 Persian sods landed northeast of ‘Athens atthe Bay of Marathon. They intended to restore the tyrant Hippias 10 power and overthrow the citys fledgling democracy Athens summoned every ‘man to fight against the invader ~ 10,000 ctizen hopes. also sen to Sparta and other cities for hep In the end, however, any the small city of Plataea ‘replied, sending every man it cou - 000 inal, Together these 1,000 men faced an overwhelming Persian horde Persan tactics were fo shoot an ineffable number of arrows at ther enemies break them and then pursue them as they fled. Te Grecks better armed and armoured than the Persians decided that they woald run at the Persians and. Céose with them as quickly as possible in abd to deprive them ofthe time they requied to unleash their shower of arts. The ploy worked: the Persians ‘ould not withstand the charge of the Athenians and broke themselves, fleeing back to ther ships. The Athenians pursued and fist among them was (Cynaegrus. He reached the Persian ships frst and seized the prow of one to prevent it disembarking, He had his hand cut of by a Persian axe and dled on the beach. His outstanding bravery was commemorated ina pubic painting in ‘Athens and lauded for centuries afterwardsfatoby they MICHEL NEY 69-1815 ‘Kingdom of France and: @ Ney enlisted asa hussar in 177. rapidly rising hough the ranks despite is nomarstocrae birth. He was commissioned as an officer in 1782 and led his Cavalry formations from the front in several battles He was wounded various times and capeured although later exchanged for a man of much higher rank In 1804 he became a marsha, the Napoonic distinction for those of the highest rank. In 1807 Ney rescued Napoleon from defeat at Eyau as always Jeading his cavalry with reckless courage. With the future emperor impressed ‘by Ney ability, be was given a command postin Spain. Unfortunately for Ney, he was also given the honour of Iading Ill Corps during the doomed invasion ‘of Russia in 812. During the snow-covered debacle that this mammeh ‘campaign became, Ney personally commanded the rea guard ofthe French retreat and held up the pursuing Russians on several ecasions to allow more French troops to escape. He was known as the last Frenchman on Russian sol Ney cartinued to command in the campaign of 113 and 184, suffering, several wounds. Joining with Napolecn when the ater landed in Francein 1615 following his fight fiom Elba, Ney became Napolecn’ righthand man, ‘charged with leading the army tasked with capturing Quate Bras (which he failed to do) and commanding the left wing a Waterloo. Ney’ massed cavalry ‘charges at Waterloo fallad to win the bate for Napoleon, yet despite having, five horses shot out from under him be fought othe end. Inthe aftermath of Napoleon's inal defeat, Ney found himself on the wrong side. He was executed by fring squad for treason by the restored monarchy on 7 December 1815, He refused to wea a blind and gave the order to fire himsel fench Empire JOHN HAWKWOOD English mercenary @ John Hawlowood became one ofthe most legendary (or most notorious) soles of fortune inthe 1th century. A secand son, Hawkwood began his ‘lary carer a6 alonghovman inthe English Army at Crécy in 1346, and dhe fought again at Poitiers in 1256, He was knighted at some po but iss not clear when a by whom, After Poitiers, Hawkweod joined a company of ‘mercenaries, the White Company. With these he campaigned in Champagne Burgundy and Avignon before moving into Italy and fighting in a series of biter wars. He was elected commander ofthe company if 1363 an he ‘commanded the army of Pisa in the Pisan-Floretine War of 1364-65, He then fought forthe Milanese Vicor family agaist the Papal forces in 172. Hawowood showed tactical awarenses and a use of terrain unusual forthe day, ouflanking enemies of superior numbers. He mounted a great raid on “Tuscany, which led to war between Florence and the pope in which he fought against Florence. Hawkinood exceeded his own expectations, capturing Cita i Castelo. Unpaid by the pope, Hawkwond later switched ses and began to fight fr bilan and Florence He ended his career a a legendary saldiet defending Florence leading an army to victory atthe Battle of Castagnaro in 1387 at the age of 64 oon asa ote nln is ‘uaning commander ihetrvet beneear waa tbe image ‘tented. GEROLAMO ‘NINO’ BIXIO Kingdom of Sardinia and Kingdon @ Born in Genoa, ‘Nino’ Bix joined the Sardinian navy as a boy Returning to lly in his mid-20s be immediately joined the Givine alia Young Maly) _movement and then signed up with Gaal Red shirts during the Fist War of alan Independence in 1848, Abough the Kalians were defeated by Austria and France, Bixio(prometed to captain) managed o capture an entire French battalion. This earned him gold medal for valour. He was then appointed one ofthe commanders of Garibaldi Caciator Dell Alp (Hunters ofthe Alps, predecessor ofthe ete alan Alpine units) in the Second War of Haan Independence in 1859. At the Bite of Varese he won the Military Cress of Savoy ‘against the Austrians Bio invaded Sil with Garbala! in 1860, proving invaluable athe Bi ‘of Calatafim and in conquering Sily with remarkable speed. Returing to lay, Bi took pat inthe Battle of Volturno, There, Bio was nally pushed ‘back by Bavarian and Swiss tops but aed and forced the enemy to rete. In daing so he broke his leg He fought again in the Third War of allan Independence in 186 at the Bartle of Custoza, covering the Italian reat after their defeat and refusing the Austrian cals to surrender He was also present forthe capture of Rome in 1870 and the completion of te unifiston of aly. ofttaly eang his battalion BRAVEST BATTLERS PHILIP KEARNY United States Arm @ Say tae Comte se eae ee iy th a np Nee We ce mes Gyn Speer 6 See a ts ee ee ree ae inde th sate cf Chay Oa crue ested ries a scree hiro coananien 1 ope Re See cat poet oe ate aeADRIAN CARTON DE WIART 10/1963 ish army @ (of Belglan and ish hestage,adsian de War left Oxford University to ftn the amy in time fr the Second Boer War in 1898, He enlisted under a false name and age. signing up as trooper Cartan’ 25 ~he was not yet 20. Wounded and ‘sent home he stayed in the army and recovered enough to rejoin and retun ‘South Africa He continued on inthe army in the new century and climbed ‘the ranks to captain ‘The outbreak of Word War I saw him seconded to the Camel Corps in British Somaliland, where he attacked an enemy fort at Shimber Bert, There he was shot tice in the face, losing his left ee, He was duly awarded the Distinguished Service Order In early 1915 he embarked for France fighting a the Somme, Aras, Cambrat and Paschendale He was injured seven times (incuding losing his left hand and being shot through the skull hip ankle lg and ear - remarkably he Continued to command despite each wound). He was awarded the Viewia (toss for actions at La Boselle in July 16, where he took command of three battalions in addition to his own their officers had been wounded) He pressed home te attack of al batalions and constantly exposed himself to enemy ie ashe calmly ensured that everything was done according to his orders. He continued to serve, this time in Poland, where he stayed the German ‘nvasion of 939 thrust him back into service asa colonel). Next he save action in Norway and Yugnslavia, Madea prisoner of war at age 6, de Wiart escaped at the fifth attempt but was recaptured, He was ltr involved in aly’ negotiations to withdraw fom the wat. JEAN DANJOU 1828-1863, French Foreign Legion @ Jean Danjou graduated fom Frances most prestigious military academy Gaint (Cy) in 1348, Within afew years he transferred tothe French Foreign Legion, Joining in 1852 and campaigning in Algeria, where he fost his hand in a musket ‘explosion. He made himself wooden prosthetic and cantinued to serve, ‘campaigning at the Siege of Sevastopol during the Crimean Wa, Promoted te captain be next served inthe ranco-Austrian War and in Morocco before Joining the French expecition to Mexico in 1862 as quartermaster In Apa 1863, Danjou decided to accompany an important convoy with two ‘officers and 62 legionnaies, The convoy set of early on 30 Apel but after marching 24klometes it was attacked by a force of 2.000 Mexican solders at bout Zam. Danjos small command formed square and replsed the enemy ‘charges. Danju then moved toa neaby in, the Hacienda Camatén, as it was better defensive postion. A demand fr surrender was refused, and Daniou made the men under is command swear they would not yield, Each man ‘vowed that they would fight on. They were tue to their cath, The numerically superioe enemy continued to launch attack after atack. Danjou was shot and killed but his men fought an. By 6mm he lst five men were down to thet lat cartridge. However, instead of dishonouring ther fallen ‘commander they charged the enemy with bayonets. Aved by their show of ‘bravery, the Mexicans cease fre and allowed the ve men ta frm an honour ‘guard around Captain Danjous body. in eat wnt Scenes Sen Soma‘Nese nina Css CHARLES UPHAM 1908-1994 New Zealand Military Forces (Charles Upham volunteered with the New Zealand Expeditionary Fore in ‘September 1939 soon ate the outbreak of Wer War I He had already been sergeant in New Zealans Teritorial Army but signed on asa private and ‘was tectant ogo through officer training, which was offered to him several times Fe finally di so in Egypt before his unit was sent to Greece. Withering from Greece to Crete in March [94 Lieutenant Upham ‘oversaw the safe extraction of ied units and was awarded his fst Victoria (Cross in recognition of hs fearless actions, Armed only wth aistol and some srenades, Upham had led his platoon forward unsupported at Maleme and personally took out various machine gun nests. He was wounded several times but remained on the ine to oversee the withdrawal despite also suffering from dysentery throughout His citation describes his dash, courage and complete disregard for danger which served to inspite the troops arcund him. Evacuting to Egypt, Upham dedicated his Vitoria Cross tos men, He was then involved in the Fest Batle of El Alamein where he was awarded a Bar ois Vicia Cros far Jeading an assault where he personally took out enemy postions and a tank, ‘once agai lading bravely despite suffering two new wounds Worried about awarding a second Victoria Coss tothe same man, commanders were assured Upham had earned it several times over BRAVEST BATTLERS ALBERT JACKA 189341032 ‘Australian Imperial Force a Born n the state of Vicerl, Albert lack enlisted a¢ private inthe Australian Imperal Force in September 1914. Arving in Egypt in erly 1915, be joined the ‘Austlian and New Zealand Division and fought in the disastrous Callpol ‘campaign, where he was awarded the Victoria Cross He was the le guard atone eng of the line known as Courtney’ Post, ‘when the Turkish forces assaulted it on 19 May. Jacka fred warning shots unt he could be reinforced by more men from his nit He then clmibed out into ‘nosman' land alone and attacked the Turks fom the Flank. He shet five ofthe {enemy and bayoneted two more, forcing the remainder to fee back to their ‘ove lines Jack then beld the trench alone for the est ofthe night. As the first Australian Vietora Cross of Word War. ack instantly became a national, celebrity. He was promoted to corpora then sergeant ane continued to serve Jaca moved with the division tothe Wester Front in 1916, seing action neat Pairs, where he was awarded the Miltary Coss. He receved a Bat to his Miltary Cros in 1917 for an ation neat Bullecourt where be led a reconnaissance patty into no mars and to inspect the enemy defences and then returned to ly out the tapes forthe Aled attack inthe moxming {hates ham teeny cont Siro onde@ GREATEST WARRIORS SIMON FRASER, Sat 15TH LORD LOVAT 19111995 United Ki leeeses Vania ‘Simon Fraser joined the Oxford University cavalry squadron and then the ‘Tersitorial Lovat Scouts in 1930, Continuing on into the Scots Guards in 1932 Ihe became Lod Lavat and then head of the Fraser Clan By 1929 he had resigned his commission, but wath war imminent he became a capain in the Lovat Scouts In 1940 he volunteered to join the new commando units that ‘were being formed. In Mareh 1941, Lord Lovat participated in an assault on the Norwegian archipelago of Lofoten, and later he was placed in command of 150 men for Anattack on Hardelo, France, in April 1941 Forth later aid he receved the Miltary Cross. In Angust 1942, Lord Lovat again commanded No 4 Commando during ‘manoeuvres in Dieppe. While the main rid was a disaster, Lord Lovat pat the mission was an immense succes, destroying si guns and extracting most cof is men, triumph fr which he was awarded the Distinguished Service (Order. et such ineidens of bravery were not isolated he led is men calmly throughour the war With the coming of1944 he was given a promotion to brigade and ‘command ofthe new ist Special Service Brigade, which landed at Sword Beach ‘n D-Day, Lord Lovat waded ashore with his men aceampanied by baghipes. revealing his disdain forthe rulebook (an ordnance frbilding bagpipes had ‘been isu Their destination was the bridge over the Caen Canal knawn as Pegasus Bridge Lord Lavat led is men tothe objective, reaching it just behind schedule, He was wounded soon afer on 12 une but returned fo service to ‘rain new volunteers, STANLEY HOLLIS 1924972 British Army, Green Howards @ Hollis enlisted in the Tetra, Green Howards Regiment, in 1939, prior othe ‘outbreak of Word War I He went to France and was evacuated at Dunkirk, ‘being promoted to sergeant soon afte, He then fought with the Eighth Army ‘in Arica at El Alamein and continued on to the invasion of Skil in 193. His able service saw him recommended forthe Distinguished Service Medal. By that time he was the company sergeant mai. ‘When the Green Howards landed cn Gold Beach on D-Day, Hollis took part in several brave actions for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross. After landing under heavy hte, Hollis noticed two pilbates. He rushed them both alone, spraying his Sten gun in hoseipe fashion, Holi recalled that this must have panicked the Germans he took multiple prisoners, 26 from the ‘second pillbox alone. Throughout the day he appeated wherever the fighting was heaviest, showing gallantry and leadership and saving the Ives of many ‘of his men throughout the day Hollis was wounded during his exploits ‘but continued to ead his platoon. its lestenant having been killed. He was ‘evacuated back to England after D-Day to recover for his wounds, stanley Hols Vier ross was the 8 | suyone svar oli ho fact on Cold Bech on D-DayAUDIE MURPHY 192541971 United States Army After the Iapanese attack on Peal Hato in December 1941, Aude Murpbay faked his age the was only 16) inode to enlist Hein smal in stature he was rejected fom every branch but was eventually able t ‘States Army, (Late, when he starred in the mavie of his expt, To Hell and ‘Back, General Esenhower expressed doubt that an actor so small could h done the things the solder was meant to have done he was then told thatthe ‘actor was Murphy himself) First seeing action during the invasion of Sicily in 1943, Murphy ater paticipated inthe actions around Anzio, ering his first bravery award (he Bronze Sty for taking out tank aloe with rifle grenades. Landing in southern France in 1944, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross fr ‘advancing alone against an enemy hed house with a machine gun killing six and taking I prisoners He continued to perform gallant actions and in January 1945 was awarded the Medal of Honor when he mounted an abandoned MlO tank destrayer alone and took on an advancing enemy fore for ove an hou, killing oF wounding more than 50 of them despite beng injured himself. He only fl back when be ‘an out of ammunitien ‘tat cht Alc Rowels abe enh Pogn ‘Sonne and the at Eat ata he Tigon ahonneur BRAVEST BATTLERS ‘uti Mey was éhetied ac ALEX ROWE 1966- French Foreign Legion ee (, Refused admission tothe British Army on medical grounds when aged Rowe joined the French Foreign Legion when he tured 20 in 1986, Despite the eye condition that kept him out of the British Army, Rowe trained 38a riper. He served in Chad ard as part of UN forces in Sarajevo in the 19908, In Sarajevo he received his first cation for braver, shepherding a mother and her chit o safety under sniper fr. Rowe then saw action elsewhere in Bosnia and in Kosova. He was sent othe Wry Coast in 2003 as part of United Nations free deployed during the county's vil war before serving 0 toursin Ajghanstan (in 2008 and 2009) Rowe has received five cation fr bravery in his 23 years of service in the Legion (a unique honour) the last coming in 2000 for an aiborne insertion in 2008 where the force was ambushed inthe middle ofthe night and Adjutant Chef Rowe coordinated a counterattack andthe evacuation af wounded ami the confusion of nightie combat. Much of Rowe's career is shrouded in mystery due tothe Legion policy cof secrecy bat hei stil serving His unprecedented award in 2010 offered a fascinating insight ino this humble soldier's remarkable expos,& GREATEST WARRIORS HISTORY’S SHARPEST SWORDSMEN : ode Cant ite MIYAMOTO MUSASHI Mahi vas vcorusinover60 25 compare coe 1584-1645 forbeiihseandpne oh ae Japanese —_&—___ Few swordsmen in history are revered as much as the samurai of ancien Japan, and to this day Musashi is regarded asthe finest samurai to eve ve. ‘Musashts childhood is shrouded in mystery, but by the time the boy was seven ‘years old he was being rased by his uncle ina Buddhist temple. It as ether here ‘that he learned his swords skills ot with is father, bur one thing we do know is ‘that Musashi killed his fist man aged Just 13, winning hs fist due of many. ‘ACI6 he lft the monastery and found himself caught up inthe legendary Batle ‘of Sekigahara Unfortunately for Musashi he was on the lsing side, leaving him as amasteress samura, or rnin, ‘Musashi wandered the lnd, pursuing a personal quest to perfect his own _swortfighting technique, He invented the nto ich, a style of fencing with two ‘swords, He faced opponent after opponent in del after duel (many tothe death) and defeated them all and his legendary status gree Its sid that Musashi fought {in more that 60 sword fights all of which he won. Whether this s trae or not, the ‘oni legend lives on, and today he is regarded as a kensa, o sword saint WILLIAM MARSHAL 46-1219, English a ‘William Marshal ia very ordinary name fora man whose life was anything but. n fat, his story is so remarkable that he was the only non-oyal ofthe Middle Ages to have a biography writen about him. ‘Born the younger son to a minor house, he was sent to France aged just 12 to train for seven year in the at of being a knight. He began fightin in tournaments, where his sil eamed him a living as well as celebrity status s one of the finest knights on the CGreuit. This caught the attention ofthe royal family and William was appointed to the royal household The knight’ swordfighting prowess and leadership became legendary, RUWiA and e served five English kings: Henry the Young King Henry Richard | John and Mea) Hex UIIG the ls oc wits avery and egend are mero nhting cing wall BRM a vesegea castle aged 50, leading royal army into battle at 70 and capturing over 500 an \ iii ove the reais of his cer Upo his death he was Lvested othe Ore of a the knights Templar, his place as one of history's greatest swordsmen secured.esbeleved that his master HISTORY’S SHARPEST SWORDSMEN FIORE DEI LIBERI 1350-1409 Italian 2 Qe (One ofthe most significant figures of European martial arts history, Fore dei Lbesi was a master of fencing and credited asthe father of talian swordsmanship. He began ‘uaining in martial arts ata young age and showed an immediate alent. He writes that be trained under many distinguished masters and many other false ones, te ater of ‘whom he was frced to due for honour duals he ofcourse won), ‘with his training complete, Fiore traveled al ver aly teaching fencing and taining along roster of Condottiet (military leaders There are many famous duels in history in ‘which Fiore can be attributed to having trained atleast one contender. He also served as court fencing master to Nicolo Ill Est, Marguls of Ferrara, Modena and Parma. Inthe 15th century he composed The Flower of Bart a fencing teatse that was used by many other fencing masters to form their own combat treatises. Its one ofthe ‘oldest surviving fencing manuals and certainly one of the most extensive proving to be “ah foe ear "epteens Fore SASAKI KOJIRO 158541612 Japanese ———&—_—_ ‘list that features Miyamoto Musashi is incomplete without his greatest And most shiled rival. Sasaki Koji, ‘The details about Koji eal life, ike many swordsmen are uncleat, and we are not even completly sure who his swordsmaster was. However, ‘we do know that he fought with a nodachi (along katana) and developed his sills toa level that exceeded that of his masters He then lett found this cw kenjutsa school known as the Gantry, or “ange rock style. His school quickly became famous, nd his reputation as a skilled master grew. ‘Onone occasion he bested three opponents atthe same time. His favourite technique was the turning shallow cut, a move that was so quick and Precise it could reportedly - cut down a bird in mid fight ‘One of his most famous (and ultimately his fina) dues ‘was against his arch rival ‘Miyamoto Musashi The clash ‘was aranged to take place ‘ona remote island key to stop Koji students taking revenge if he was to lose, Details ofthe actual duel dif from source to source, but itis generally agreed that ‘Musashi fashioned a sword ‘out af ane ofthe wooden | ‘oars of his boat. He then used this o strike Koon the skull killing him. Whether ‘this is the tue tale hotly contested, but the duel between these two legendary arto is one ofthe mast Some soa believe Kolis was actu ‘monumental in history at ia ‘murdered by usb and hs seaacas Inugely infiuential in developing the spor we know today COUNT ROLAND Unknown-778 Frankish ———_ ‘The tale of Roland has become legendary, but how much of itis based on actual historical fac sup for debate. We know from historical sources that Ine was a military governor in the Breton March and was killed by rebels ‘Basques in Iberia. His death and legend) was immortalised in the medieval literary cycle The Matter of France In the myths, Roland is the nephew of Charlemagne and hasan epic last stand and brutal fight othe death. Inthe battle, Roland is too proud to use Ihisom to summon aid, and thus the brave Franks ae greatly outnumbered by their foes. Eventually they are overcome and defeated, with Roland ‘uagicaly losing his life asa true Christian hero. ‘Overtime the Roland myth developed and Roland himself transformed, {nto a man vio stood over two metres tall and carried a magical sword, Roland gradually became a symbol fo independence from the nobilty, and ‘many cites in the Middle Ages displayed statues ofthe rave wartior, with some cities even named after him. Although we cannot know for sue jst ‘how heroic and skied Roland really was, his legend certainly helped to, nspte people for centuries after his deathWOMEN MEET 12 WOMEN WHO FOUND THEIR WAY ONTO who are THE BATTLEFIELD AND PROVED THAT THEY BELONGED THERE ed ny ke the Russian Night ‘common: a fighting spi 88WARRIOR WOMEN Fu HAO K + ae at had raged or eee onze, bone and stone items that were buried with het ‘Some of remiss avenues ae ‘nied with thre of suther stiet royal ntemisn totes ARTEMISIA I OF CARIA Sth century BCE Persian Empire @ ‘When King Lygdamis of Caria died, be lft behind an heir in his grandson, bu the young boy needed a regent twas tobe Lygdamis" daughter, “Artemisia. No matter what the view of women ‘manclent Greece, he king had let his cy in ‘ood hands - after al she had been named after ‘Artemis the goddess of the hunt _Bverywhere Artemisia is mentioned by ancient Authors she is hale for her bravery and cunning, nd her virtues are more than apparent in one ‘ot het most famous expos. When the Persians invaded Greece in the late Sth century BCE, Caria ‘was pat ofthe Persian Empire and the queens ‘people were called up to fight. There was no reason for Artemisia to go with them, but she did ‘At the Battle of Artemisium, the queen stood alongside her soldiers and proved herself a8 a ‘commander and tactician - butt came ata cos twas 10,000 drachmas, to be precise, for her ‘capture or murder. I's unlikely thatthe Greeks ever captured he, but afer Xeres' witndraval from Greece she dlsappears from the pages of history. Nonetheless, her reputation aa ferce fighter and tactician remain to this day.e GREATEST WARRIORS ‘tom hlday ter tady Tiea commemorating Terbeery PRINCESS PINGYANG Tang dynasty. China e People hated the Sui Dynasty with its unnecessary wars and building projects that worked around 6 milion people to death. Li Yuan was one of Emperor Yang's greatest generals, but he was popular -to0 popular tobe kept around, The ruler ‘ordered his execution and Li Yuan swfly rse up. Hi daughter Pingyang, wife of the head of the palace guard, had been forced to flee the capita Sie headed to her fathers side and there recruited ‘men int a fighting force: the Army ofthe Lad ‘Through bribery and battle she came to cammand 70,000 rebels and continuously defeated Yang's armies. After joining up with her father and husband, she was unstoppable. Within a yer, the ‘capital was under ther contol and the emperor as forced to fle only tobe killed by his own ‘men. Li Yuan took the throne as Emperor Gao and the Tang dynasty was bor, thanks in no Small part tthe actions of his daughter ‘But Pingyang wouldnt revel hee victory for Jong, Just afew years later, aged about 23, she fell ‘and died, Her father wouldn't forget everything she had done though, and the princess and ‘marshall was given a full military funeral. TRIEU THI TRINH F > ‘She was agi with a reputation, and she was absolutely fine with that. Bom in a smal Vietnamese village and then cephanedl when jst a toddler, Triéu ‘Thi Trinh, or Lay Trew, wast one to sand for intolerance, When she sae how the Chinese forces ‘occupying her home were treating the local, she took ation, Fleeing tothe mountains, Lady eu formed her ‘wn rebel army, training around 1000 soldiers. By the time she was 21 they had fought more than 20 battles. She was eventually defeated by the Chinese ‘outer bother had tied to convince her to stop Tong before. Her response had been simple" will not resign myself othe tof women who bow thelr | ‘heads and become concubines I wish to ride the ‘tempest, tame the waves kil the sharks. Ihave no sie to ake abuse J B) Pigyangs tos netpes Ter atber tured) found he Tangy) Boudin avenge my rowed deadly BOUDICC, een! tribe ‘With Roman legions sping across the Enis (Channel and battling their way through Britannia, they probably didnt expect a woman to stand in thet way Bt then Boucicea wasnt the type to take an invasion Wing down, ‘The Cate cen tribe oft fund itself at war with its neighbours but they united atthe threat cof the common enemy they found inthe Romans, (nthe fron ines was the recently widowed ‘Queen Boudicea, and she hada score o sete, Her daughters had been capture by the foreign soldiers and raped, while ather members of her family were snatched to become slaves. The Romans int realise that Boucica would give absoluely everything to achieve revenge In 60(61 CE Bouieca a her allies stormed CCamulodunum (Colchesten Loninium (Landon) and Verulamium (St Albans), iughtering civilians and scdiers and burning buldings as they went In ‘a wanton ac of disrespect, they broke tombstones land rtlated statues in Roman cemeteries Inialy paralysed by this sudden uprising the Romans eventually composed thensselves and formed a 10000 strong frce to stop the rebels. ‘lashing a the Battle of Watling Steet in 6 CE, ‘the Cais gave the Romans aight but eventually ssucumbed. Aktiough she was on the font ine inher war chariot with ber daughters, Boudicea, wast killed in the fighting instead she took poison rather than be taken ave by the enemy.KHAWLAH BINT AL-AZWAR 7th century Rashidun Caliphate ‘Ata battle near Ajadayn, there was a knight who Caught the eye ofa group of sce. Dressed in black, the fighter broke through the Roman units and scattered them, blood dripping fram their spear. It ‘was assumed that i was Khalid fbn al Wai, a brave nd fierce soir bu when the knight appeared next te the group it was clear that it wast him. So who ‘was this mysterious warir who had just helped to defeat the enery? Te was Khawlah bint al-Azwr, a woman whose brother had been captured by the Romans. She had groan up mastering the ar of swordsmanship and this had been her epportunty to pt all that raining to good use She was invited to stay with the anray and ligt ‘Another skimish near Ajnadayn saw Khaw and ther women taken as prisoners, but she wasnt going ta die weak ad defenceless. Together with the other Prisonets she atacked the guards using tet pokes and pegs, with the group killing 30 total. Escaping back onto the battlefield they would contribute t ‘the enemy's body count of 3000 and Khawialis ame would go down in history ‘Tae made up 3 ong abot Teves thy ieee. BF intower and each That ‘ming babes Sete race era 1/1 and Agent the rate" WARRIOR WOMEN en arene acct LADY AGNES RANDOLPH, COUNTESS OF MORAY 1BI21369, Scotland ———_—_——_ ‘The Countess of Moray was not a woman to be trifed with When the English tured pat Dunbar Castle ready to take ity frce in January 1338 they probably wererit expecting fo be met by anobleweman who had pledged to protect i As the English threw rocks atthe wall, Lady Agnes Randolph had her maids sent out to dust and clean the marks on the stone with white handkerchiefs When a battering ram was used, she ordered large boulders tobe dropped on the soles heads, When they threatened til her ‘aptured brother, she pointed out that would make Der the next Earl of Moray. Eventually the English save up and went homee GREATEST WARRIORS oan wa ese by Pope asin i908 and eanonised Sy Pope Bene XV 820 MAI BHAGO Punjab region ~ ‘The year was 1705 and Sikhs and Mughals were locked in a bitter battle for supremacy. Morale was low among the Sikhs and 40 of them abandoned the fight, leaving ther guru and trudging their way back home. But Mai hago ‘was waiting and she wasnt having any of ‘She railed atthe deserters and then lifted thelr spits before heading back ‘tothe battle with them. All 40 men ied, but Mai Bhago survived. As the one survivor, se was invited to join Guru Gobind Singh asa bodyguard JOAN OF ARC France e ‘A national hero, Joan of Ae is synonymous with French patos thanks (0 her contribution inthe Hundred Years War that raged between England and France inthe 1th apd 15h centuries. Born a peasant seemed unlikely that she would ever make something of ‘herself bu that all changed when God intervened, Joan caimed that God had singed her out lead France to victor, andl despite her distinct ack of battle ‘experience she managed to persuade Chal of Valos to let head an army tothe city of Oréans which at the time was under siege bythe English, With Joan at its heod leading assaults, the French force overcame the fe to win tack the city The English reteated across the Loire River, and Joan went on to take back other French towns. But he hick wasnt ast ‘As she defended Campiégne in M30 she was thrown from her horse ast, ‘outside the ity As the gites closed the Anglo Burgundians saw thet chance And took her captive. They kev how much ofa threat ths young peasant gi ‘was to them, and after a tial accusing her of witchcraft heresy and dressing ke aman, sve was sentenced to death. Aged just 19 she was burned at the sake, but the final victory would be bers afterall when her story was etl GREATEST WARRIORS 6 BLOOD & COIN odo THE LIFE AND DEATH OF A LANDSKNECHT MERCENARY IN THE MOST DEVASTATING CONFLICT OF THE 17TH CENTURY he Thirty Years Waris often remembered as oe of Europe's Jongest and bloodiest conflicts, with its dstrtve origins rooted n the religious fietion between Catholic and Protestant factions within the Holy Roman Empire. ‘The treaty of Augsburg in 1555 sted many ofthe exstng disagreements between the wo factions butt did litle to resolve the fundamental issues of imperial authority andthe rights of sndividual states, When Ferdinand Ua 2ealous Catholic Hapsburg, became king of Bohemia Hungary, and then was eventually elected emperor, Catholicism began to be strictly imposed throughout the empire. By 1618, many Protestant states angry atthe imposition, openly revolted. For 30 yeas terror and destruction plagued Buropean countries, especialy inthe German. states, where the lon’ share ofthe fighting ‘occurred. This wanton slaughter saw about 8 milion Europeans lose thet ives with some German kingdoms losing upt0 50 percent of ‘thei populations. As well a the exceptional loss fife, the conflict is known forthe lage number (of mercenary troops employed by both the Protestant and Cathoic Leagues. Although by this. point thet golden years were waning, the German Landsknecht ere stil fearsome fighting farce, ‘Created to combat and impersonate the Swiss mercenaries who started to dominate 1h- and ledh-century battlefields, the Landsknecht carved out their own fearsome reputation from Interational service n the armies of monarchs, suchas those of Carls V and Henry VIL ‘The main weapon ofthe Landsknecht. ike many mercenary companies atthe time. was the pike, Usually aboot six metres lng, when used en masse the pike presented a hedge of razorsharp metal that would decimate infantry ae cavalry alike. The minimal training required to make a pike deadly ina reeruits hands was referred over the use of ether weapons such a bastard swords halberd and arquebuses, The later was used with pike formations in inereasing numbers during the ate 16th and 1th centuries. in what would become known as pike and she: Being flexible in this formation, which saw unit sie reduced and foumation changes all through the ist century, allowed Landsknecht groups to operate effectively uring the Thity Years War and beyond, In the 1990s, German researchers uncovered a partially compete cary writen by a Landsknecht mercenary duting the war Akhough the diary isnot actualy signed by the author researchers hhave worked out thatthe book belonged to @ rman named Peter Hagendort. is account paints vivid picture ofa solder ile in a 7th-century amy, with hunger, poverty and de traveling companions ‘Spanning the yeats 1624-48, one ofthe diary’ most astonishing aspects isthe extraoudinary distance Hagendort travelled in 24 yeats almost 15,000 miles, mostly on foot His journey would take him across Germany, ver the Alps to Maly, to the Baltic coast, then on to Franc, Pomerania and finally back to Germany again. ‘The diary also shows the fukty of a mercenary’ allegiances, with Hagendor changing sides thre times during the conflict. Wri he served under Gttred Pappenheim for ‘most ofthe war, he began inthe service of the Venetians Here. be initally fought against Pappenheam, but afer the regiment disbanded and Hagendt was eft in poverty, the Landsknecht found hunself on Pappenbeimis payrll rom 1627, He would serve for six years before his company was caught in the Swedish siege ofStraubing and slaughtered almost ‘man. Instead of surrendering, Hagendort - now a sergeant - was recruited into the ranks of the Red Regiment. This sudden change does not appear to have alarmed Hagendort wh goes on 0 tell how he sold one of his horses to pay> i NRT bY Eg SOMATA oss BRINGING SARTORIAL SWAGGER TO BATTLE >“BEING TAKEN OUT OF ACTION, WHILE REMOVING THE THREAT TO HIS LIFE, MEANT THAT A MERCENARY COULD NOT TAKE PART IN THE SACKING OF THE CITY AND THEREFORE NOT RECEIVE HIS PAY” fora thice day drinking bender with his cousin, However this faction change also didnot ast long. sn 1634 after a sound defeat he was back on the imperialist side ‘The Thinty Years Wat almost more than any ‘ther conflict. was fought with a background firmly fixed in religious infoerances, Peter Hagendort strangely never mentions his or his tegiments aifiations although as. a mercenary group this ‘might not have been necessary. As the years progres, Hagendorf becomes increasingly brtal nd desentised othe violence and sarfering happening around him, Despite war being a mercenary profession, Hagendorts dares give scant informatio on the bates he was involved in His company only aw two major set poces in the war. One particularly ‘brutal attack occured onthe ty of Magdeburg on 20 May 1631 Contemporary accounts focus on the horror and wanton shughter that occured there, ‘when thousands of angry, hungry and unpaid soles broke into the ly. The carnage was so ‘reat that magdeburgsation’ became a byword for total destruction for many yeas to come One resident ofthe ct, an eyewitness tothe king, ‘wrote thatthe, . shouting crying and howling could be bead from faraway In contas, Hagendorts entry, rom the slder's perspective leaves out the bloodshed and misery He does express sorow forthe fll of Magdebur, as twas, nis eyes a beautiful cty and was Tocated within his fathefan, Germany. According to Trynte Helferie’ translation of Hagenderts dary in The Thirty Yers' War A Documentary story 2009, Hackett) he describes his par in the sacking, T came into town with storming band without scathe. Ba inthe rown atthe Newtown, Gate Iwas shot two times in te body, a this was my lot.” Unable to participate in the looting frenzy, Hager was ed back to the camp where the was given medica attention, “for one as. shot in the stomach, and forthe other through both axels thatthe bullet lad inthe shit. So the feldscher amy surgeon) bound my hands on the ‘back so that he could insert the chisel orcep) Being taken out of acton. while cbviously removing the threat to his bf. meant that a mercenary could not take pat inthe sacking of the city and therefore did not receive his pay. Lackly, Hangendot?s wife was on hand to enter ‘the city and grab some loe. After fearing fr her safety as buildings started being demolished. she brought back, and clothes Hapendort was aso presenta the Bate of ‘Breitenfel, which oocurred just afew roonths after the siege His account ofthe battle a crushing victory by the briiant general Gustavus Adolphus, Js rather muted ast the importance of the clash Ihe was avare of the wider tactial and politcal changes, he does not make any not of them. The bate did convince many Protestant German sates tw back Sweden, but as Hagendorf was neutzal the ‘sgnificance seems to have passed him by. ‘Money was evidently on the forefront a every ‘mercenary’ mind, even in times of personal ‘danger. During the Thirty Years Wa. wages, Uke ations, were most of the time late or nonexistent ‘This in tum led o plunder and looting being the most effective way to et pai, Hagendort frequently documents his monetary triumphs and woes, giving san insight int the constant ‘smuggle to make aliving during the chaos Hagendort had several schemes over the years to supplement his mercenary incame In 1625, he ‘worked trade with a hate maker after his guard suf, earning himself easonable pot. This ‘money disappeared by the next year, however, with Hagendot finding himself beeing on the sce of Mian ‘With no ether income, Hagendort joined Pappenteim's regiment, ashe was, completely ‘dow anc cut” Turultuous yeas would follow. ‘with Hagendort secure one moment and then, as a large tankard., two iver beltsBLOOD & COIN FORM RANKS TIGHT DISCIPLINE AND A RIGID COMMAND: STRUCTURE WERE ESSENTIAL TO CONTROLLING THESE HEAD-STRONG WARRIORS> GREATEST WARRIORS ° HORRORS OF WAR WITH MARAUDING ARMIES MENACING THE POPULATIONS OF EUROPE, BOTH SIDES WERE GUILTY OF ATROCITIES ‘jst aray ts tat were flected The van poputon 1 europe esl Geman sled ual ace at the ‘ere response forsale et exert deen eee ‘Shang payment. Acro ate anon a Foe 2 ec tee tae eg ‘tet war ae eg a ove shan thse ar ae get enemies fs an ouelgo. WN S Svinte alloy sparen onde marr ° 13634, totally destitute the next. His servant was robbed of al the possessions he had sent away for safekeeping. However, ther enterprises went ‘well a in 1640 and 1646 when he helped alleviate Taton shortages by baking bread ina homemade ‘oven, for aominal fee of course ‘An army marches on its stomach, and this was especially true during the Thirty Years War Long yeas of conflict had all but destroyed many crop Yields across Germany, and dally rations would almost always come up short. typical daly ation ‘would consist of 730 grams of bread baked with ‘wheat and ye flout usually prepared communally then shared out ‘Corruption was rf in the companies themselves, wth the bulking out of provisions just one ofa growing list of problems. Some capains sought ‘increase ther profits by recording umm’ recruits ‘on their osters. These men, while not existing but ‘on paper, were given equipment and wages by their employer with the most senior ofies al taking ‘cut While this lined the pockets of some, it did lower the combat efectivenes ofthe company. The ged treed down the command stuctue. with quartermastes and officers also on the Jookout to supplement thet wages. They would often cut the lou with inferior grain to dive up thetr profit margins Wie differences in regional ‘weights thrown in, the unfortunate solder on the ground would often find his bead lacking ‘The story was the same with meat ation, with rmaggo.riden o oten mest used to wring some extra coin fom starving toops. tis no wondes, vith the ration situation so unpredictable, that men ‘would turn to robbery to ill ther empty bells agendort no stranger to pillaging, stole andl tbumed vast swathes of French crops near Colma Indood in the Hagendorf dares, much of his wiring s gen over to the fod and drink he enjoyed on campaign. His descrpons of feasts or 3 dstinet lack of food seem to take precedent over allmiltry engagements and most other aspect of Ife. Almost every year he ees the need to record hen he received "good quarters This came to ‘ean when an inn would serve chicken duck or vel instead of tired cl bee, the main meat ration, Pechaps as part of his dangerous hestye, Hagendort expressed a great love for beer, wine and any other alcohol that he could get his hands on However, drinking would only ever provide him vith a brief respite for his problems, and usually itmade an already tough fe unbearable 19 1025, he was disbanded from a Venetian mercenary company, Aniving atthe town of Schaffhausen, he begged enough money for some warm shoes a necesty considering he had just crossed the Alps Instead, he found an inn whee, the wine was so good that I org the shoes In the 24 years we know Hagerdort was campaighing. his constant movement made impossible to sete down with his family who ‘chose stead to follow him on his travels Raising chien in that envionment. when even adults ‘were susceptible tounge, cold and ines, would have been a supreme challenge. ‘Tragically, over the course of 24 year, he suffered the deaths of seven of his culdren and bis first wife. These children, marked with a simple cross in his diary usualy dirt even lve afew ‘months belore becoming il and passing away After peace was dedlated in 1648, Hagendef was ‘euited wit his only surviving som and, wit the fighting finished, he sates that he “brought my son ‘out of yp ‘The heavy use of mercenaries in the Thirty ‘Years War was understandably not popular with Jocal populations Using underpaid men that made thei wages by loting could mean that an army stayed inthe field for years, The promise of plunder would! keep many braving terible conditions on and of the batlefield. Io century ‘writer described them ag, Blasphering, whoring, gambling, murdering burning robbing and widow ‘making its thee common handiwork and sreatest amusement This adhoc system may go some way to explaining some of the brutal methods used by ‘Landsknecht and other mercenaries. These were ‘men who endured sometimes unimaginable hhrdships. Hunger disease, poverty and death on ‘the battlefield would have hung over the heads of ‘many, perhaps driving them to questionable actions purely out ofa desire to survive,BLOOD & COIN WEAPONS OF A LANDSKNECHT MERCENARY ‘The Landsknechts were a feared and specialised mercenary force ‘equipped with a range of devastating weapons ARQUEBUS ioe Peruana ny ‘Ammunition Roundshot haeceeesrine Role Piree heavy armour Ley “Arquebusers sed some ofthe fist matchlock reer meres freams onthe Buopean bated Inaccurate dietotheesmoathbore bares and base ‘Sights, they wereinitly used sparingly but as technology advanced they evolved infomusets ‘sheringinanew typeof arta, (ere uid Lengt:182m(6-8t) Eee eee Role Unsadde enemy cavalry Avreaponthatrevivethe ancient Greek Palanx the pikewasthe dassiteslofthe Tandsknecht Asalong stabbing KATZBALGER ‘wesponitenuldbeusedtobring Serer) cavalry downaswellascreate : compact plesquaethat : ‘Swords andaxemen could eee rte Pies worked welin nee eerie artnership wit the rguebus Eerie rete eee eerie Paice ead LeU ATs coer ize eats preteen eens ene spear rae Peet eerie cnereparee HALBERD Lengths 15-1.8m6-6t0 ole: Disarm enemy pikeren Aspearandaxe hybrid the halberd wasone ofthe Landsknehsmostefeciveyeapons When in Confit withrivalplemen, this weapon which was Sigh shorter thanapile woul knock the blades afandender them useless With hele squte token, swords weredawn for close quarters combat 0NAPOLEON'S ELITE. 1 the moming of 18 June 1815 devotion” When the Young Guard was driven out [Napoleon realised that Wellington _of Pancenat, Napoleon ordered the deployment wasbolding his round and was _of the 2nd Battalion of the 2nd Grenadiers and ready to give battle Delighted tobe the It Battalion of the 2nd Chasseurs ofthe Od siven the opportunity to strike Guard. General Pelt and 1100 French soles were fatal blow, the French empercr sid to General Foy, dered by the emperor to advance with levelled wl aunch my cavalry apd willsend my Ok bayonets. The Prussians, used to seeing the ‘Guazd forward Imperial Guard involved in mass assaults, panicked As always when postoning his forces, and abandaned the village [Napoleon ordered the Imperial Guard to Von Blow, determined to recapture the vlage, remain in reserve Before 4pm, Marshal _sent the divisions of Hl, Ryscel and Tipplskrch ‘Ney who had been tasked wih the capture a total of27 battalions supported by artery fe of La Haye Saimte, mistook movements The two Old Guard battalions, as wells 2000 in Britsh postions for thebeginningot _ solders of the Young Guard resisted until nghtfl aretet Eager to exploit the situation. he At 9pm, the church and the cemetery were finaly ordered a cavalry charge to break Welington’s captured by the Prussian army. General Piet ant centre Despite is orders to stay put the light a handful of soldiers of the Old Guard managed to cavary ofthe Old Guard fellowed the charge withdraw befor oming other retreating soldiers Captain de Brac lancer ofthe Guar ter ‘The heroic defence ofFancenoit gave Napoleon explained this controversial move “Four horse enough ime to cary om the fight against the regiments ofthe Guarda division under Neys armies of Welington. At around 70pm be cede didnot split forthe whole day and stayed launched infantry unt of the Imperial Guard close to the Nivel rad. They didnot move until against Wellington’ centre. The During Battalion the assault Four regiments were postioned on a was eft near the Call farm to protect the single ne, near the main road, the lances on the Fteneh headquarters, while the Ist Grenadiers right and to ther left the chasteurs, the dragoons was positioned not fr fom the Maison du Ro and the grenades. The brigade of dagoons and farm as alas reserve While advancing, Napoleon ‘renadlers, wating fran order, suddenly believed order another three batalon ofthe ist and 2nd they had been ordered ta charge, we followed!” At Chasseurs and a battalion of the 2nd Grenadiers 5pm, Napoleon sent the heavy cavalry ofthe Guard to remain in reserve, Therefore, no battalion ofthe and squadrons led by Lefebvre-Desnoueties to Old Guard participated in the famous assauk support the eff. The Fench cavalry crashed into _Itseems six battalions of the Midalle Guard Bris infantry squares, casing litle damage, (4000 men), supported by two batteries of 'By 6pm. Napoleon hdl good reason tobe Imperial Guard horse artillery, went forward worried. The French had ben fighting the Battle wile playing the Marche des bonnet pil he of Watetioo for more than six hours against the march of the bearskn hats). The Guards advance rmies of Welington, Blows IV Corpshad arived threatened the aed centre but was ultimately 23 430pm near Plancenat, not fa from the reat of stopped. Indeed, the French, utrumbered and the French postions. The Duhesme Division ofthe exposed, faltered and broke For the fist time the Young Guard (3000 men) had been dispatched to elle of Napoleons army had fled. Cries af a face the Prussians Garde recut (The Guatd retreats! filed the a ‘As Colonel Pontécoulant explained, the strugele During the following debac,batalions ofthe was doomed from the beginning, The Young, (ld Guaral were able to witraw in good order Guard was composed of “tes solders who before forming a square to fight the ultimate ‘were supposed to swell he ranks ofthe Imperial combats ofthe day After IS yea of distinguished Guand but had nothing in common with t except existence this group of elt oldies had ceased 10 forthe name, and had neither its courage or exist The Imperial Guard was dea. 03France pen Bona wate oration for his own protection. The former Guard ofthe Directory (garde du itectote became the coe of the new Consular Guard (garde des consul). ‘The grenades ofthe Guards ofthe Directory ‘had jst played an important part in the coup of 18 Brumaie having rescued Napaleon when be ‘was being physialy threatened by the Council (of Five Hundred, Ar the beginning of 1800, the (Consular Guard was made of two battalions of foot srenadies, a company of ight infantry, ‘two squadions of horse grenades a company of chasseurs light cavalry regiment) and a detachment of atiery 2089 men in to Joachim Mutat, Napoleorsbrotherindaw, became the frst commancer ofthe Guard 2 October 1799 106 April 1800) before being succeeded by his ‘friend Jean Lannes. ‘The unit received its baptism by fie at the Battle ‘of Marengo (4 June 1800) against Austria The ‘official French account ofthe bate portrayed the Guard asa key unit “They were positioned inthe ride ofthe battlefield, a rock in this gigantic fie Nobody was ablto hurt them cavalry, infantry artillery, everynody was taking shots at thi batalio, i vain” The Austrians, however, ffered a rather diferent picture ofthe Guard's ‘actions at Marengo-*The Guard was broken, outed Its solder were almos all killed or taken ands ‘cannons wete captured The Austrian account was exaggerated, but the Consular Guard i lose 50 percent of is men on the battlefield while the Horse Guard, composed of245 grenades and 185 ‘chassers, lst 30 per cent ofits soldiers. Three ren of the Guard were noticed for their bravery: Leroy Laneeleu and Milt Each had caprured a flag and a handful of enemy soldiers Backin Pais, Napoleon. realising that giving, ‘he Fadership ofthe Guard to another man was a ‘threat to his authority, seized ts command, Jean ‘Lanes vas displeased by this decision but was clismissed and dispatched to Portugal act as. ambassador In August 1802 Napoleon changed ‘the canton to make the conslate permanent Essentially he had become a king without a crow, ‘New units were incorporated ito the Consular (GuardThe infantry was enforced by a regiment cf foot grenadiers and a repiment of foot chasseurs Gall veterans) The envalry saw the aval ofa regiment of horse grenaciers a regiment of horse chasseurs- including the famous Mamelukes- a squadron of horse artillery, the Legion of Elite Gendarmerie a battalion of Sailors ofthe Guard and four companies of tain dartlerie, There wasNAPOLEON'S ELITE. THE IMPERIAL GUARD WAS NOT ONLY COMPRISED OF THE FAMOUS OLD GUARD BUT INCLUDED OTHER UNITS THAT FOUGHT VALIANTLY FOR THEIR EMPEROR, 05,> GREATEST WARRIORS also a guard hosp. In total, the Consular Guard ‘was made up of 9798 men (On 10 May 1804 a proclamation transformed the Consular Gard into te imperial Guard: "The ‘guard has been notified thatthe Senate proclaimed today Napoleon Bonaparte emperor ofthe French and made his power hereditary, Vive lempereti! Unlimited devotion an fidelity to Napoleon, fst femperor of the French Today the guard takes the tile of imperial Guard.” “The emperor was determined to weleame only the best men in this formation. separate decroe sated that Saldes of all branches can jen the (Consulat Guar, The admission is a reward for your ‘bravery and conduct” To be admitted soldiers had a numberof requirements ‘Admission tothe Guard was usually preceded by recommendation from the colonel ofthe esiment to which the candidate belonged In 1806 the above-mentioned regiments became the Olé Guards soldiers were not necessarily aged, but the emperor had decded oferm new regiments with les strict requirements, A few soldiers ofthe formed Consular Guard hod plenty ‘of experience. The fst man listed in the egiment's register was born in 175 and served until Fanuary 1814 The oldest was born in 1738 but was awarded pension the same year the Guard was formed Te compoattion ofthe Guard changed as new ‘units vere created, such asthe Empress Dragoons nd the Polish Lancers, Progressvey, the Midale (Guard merged wit the Old Guard. Five battalions 106 of veltes were alo bul around young volunteers ~ all from wealthy families - wishing to become offices Salary and equipment were pad for by the family In 1806, Napoleon also created a new comps of cavalry solirs rected from among, noble families The payment of 1900 francs anda pension were the only conditions to jin. The army, reacting to this eminicence of the Bourbon army, forced Napoleon to dismiss this unit Solder ofthe Old Guard were bes than infanryeepiments. The salary was much higher: grenacker earned L1? francs per day wile a regular sokerreceved 030. corporal was pad 167 francs i the OK Guard and 045 francs in the line The ffcers were also much better treated Moreover the Old Guard occasionally received bonuses and rewards, Guard barracks were far ‘more comfortable andthe [peril Guard was always fist to choose where to stay when at war. “The hospital ofthe Guard was particulary good and was managed by the best doctrs, and likewise uniforms were talored by the mos talented men, Line infantry soldiers were supposed to keep their uniforms for to years, while guardsmen ad neve clothes as soon as signs of wear were detected. Solder ofthe Old Guard had even more rrivleges an 1805 decree gave grenadiers and on commissioned ofices a ranking advantage. A grenades ora chasseur ofthe Odd Guard was supposed tobe the equal ofa sergeant in other units Offices ofthe OX Guard als had similar acivantages. An imperial decree of 13 July 1804 treated sate, “Everywhere where the toops of Imperial Guard serve with the line, they are awarded postions of honcur. When together, officers and non-commissioned officers ofthe Imperial Guard of similar ranks are automaticaly rmede commanders. When a detichment ofthe Guard meets a Corps ora detachment ofthe line, ‘they must be salted. unt they are gone” ‘As can be expected, these advantages were not to everybodys late An oles serving for Marshal Ney wet in his memoirs, “The Imperial Guard has st good. Ir was unpleasant tobe aound is soldiers, Everything was done for tbem” Jealousy can be found in almost all line infantry soldiers esters and ‘memos. This feling is understandable, especially considering the Imperial Guard lost some ofits ‘qualities overtime, At fis reserved forthe best of the best, it eventually came to resemble anormal army corps and swelled 0100000 men ater the Russian debacle of 612 ON THE BATTLEFIELD Napoleon was unvilingto use the Ol Guard on the bated and kept it in eserve to strike atthe decisive moment. Despite ts repataton, the Old (Guard did no see much action Howeve, during ‘the 1805 campaign against Austra, the alors of ‘the Guatd saved a division of infantry at Krems. In the same campalgn the Guard cavaly fought with distinction atthe Bate of Anse @ December 1805) Grenadier Jean-Roch Coignet saw the action: "The emperor sent us forward to pressaGREATEST WARRIORS ” ° “THE GUARD DIES, IT DOES NOT SURRENDER!” THE LEGENDARY CRY, REPORTEDLY SCREAMED BY A GENERAL OF THE OLD GUARD AT THE BATTLE OF WATERLOO, EXEMPLIFIES THE OLD GUARD'S DETERMINATION or 200 yrs sts nats ne ben ‘Stating at Crt Pare Cre (77 1D, ‘Sart wteton met hve eps tothe tah ‘tion ose Te fis hdd sng rer "Sum on ean 1770 evs ent smescl he revlon Acobeln {Eos he bce the cormonder of igs the Caan as esa mae aon, mdr noite cra pi Rs hripdan edd ° the movement, We were there, 25.000 bearskin hats The Guard and the grenadies of Oudinot ‘We were walking calmly with the drums and the ‘music, Napoleon warted! ta honour the empercrs ‘commanding enemy armies by letting musicians ‘walk with us at the centre ofeach battalion ‘Arriving atthe top ofthe hil we were surrounded by remnants of Corps who had been fighting since ‘the morning “The Russian imperial guard wasn foot. The ‘emperor mace us stop and sent the Mamelukes And the Horse Chasseurs. These Mameluke were formidable horsemen with their curve sabres. ‘They could cut ahead off with one blow. One of them came back three times o give enemy flags tothe empere. “The tied ume, the emperor wanted hm to stay but heeft again and did not come back He stayed on the battled, The chasseurs were not less worthy than the Mamelukes but they ‘were outnumbered. The Russian imperial guard was made of ‘determined men (ur cavalry had to be brought back ‘The emperor sent the black horses, the horse srenadiers. ae was reared bythe emperor, who made hin acount ‘erws seosy wounded the at of Waterloo ‘ectang aout, arbronne read 3 the {he galt ofeer Ma screamed "ere (St Inc cantrone denied bth seus tat he wa Sine shape asap uch tng fc conte ye ‘Brash cle ho captre im Oe wieses aim ‘at arate Guar general Caude Cen ce! {A7721851 vn ed» hasser dso and was ile “They passed us as thunder and charged the enemy For 15 minutes it as an unbelievable ‘chaos andi fl ike a century. We could not see ‘anything in the smoke and the dst. We fated to see ur comrades killed. The Olt Guard and the _renadiers were thereto ive the lst blow. But smoke and dust soon disappeared. The Russian impenal guard was nowhere tobe seen. Our horsemen came back triumphantly and placed themselves behind the emperor” “The cavalry of the Guard was again noticed _at the Battle of Eylau on 7 February 1807. At the same battle, the infantry of the Old Guard fought valiantly right under the nose ofthe emperor. The frst epiment of the grenadiers pushed back a ‘Russian assault tha was threatening the general headquarters and Napoleon himself General Dovsenne, seeing one of his officers ordering a volley, screamed, ‘Ralse your weapon! The Od Guard only uses bayonets” This counterasault was so successful that it neatly destoyed the Russian column completly, Jn 1808, elements ofthe Guard fought against the Madrid rot. Most ofthe Imperial Guard followed the next year when Napoleon led an expedition in the Iberian Peninsula. There, the Guard ‘experienced is fist defeat when tee squadrons ‘of horse chasseurs ane Mamelukes were ambushed by the British. General Lefebvre Desnovetes, who lea the chasseurs, was captured bythe enemy. "Napoleon was soon forced to abandon Spain to fight Austria During the campaign af 1809, the Old (Guard lost soveral men wile protecting the French any after he Bate of Eling. A month ates, the borse chasseurs and the Polish chevaulégers wn ew laurels against the Austrians. At the Battle of ‘Wagram. the Polish grabbed enemy ulans lances to attack further. Polling this legendary action, ‘they were transformed int ighthorselancers, (On 24 June 1812 the French army invaded Russia. The Old Guard flowed the emperor but ‘vas not committed unt the Bate of Borodin (7 September 1812, The bate began at 6am ancl lasted the whole day. The Young Guard was sent Into the fay at 3pm when victory was stil inthe balance Several officers asked Napoleon to send the Old Guaes Sir, you need to invale the Guar” screamed General Rapp while he was boing taken ‘ut tobe weated by a doctor.“ will most defintely ot do nat want to have i blown up. 1am sure to win the bate without involving t answered "Napoleon. By the end of the day, Napolecn had wor a tactical victory but had fled to destoy the Russian army, is refusal to commit the Old Guard saved the Russians from annihilation. few days ltr, the Grande Armée took Moscow, but the destruction ofthe city proved disastrous forthe French, For the fst time in its history, the Old Guard pillaged surviving buildings with other regiments. 29 September communiqué summarised the shame brought onthe elte formation: “Acts of disorder and loting were committed yesterday and today by the Od Guard. The empercessadened to see “THEY PASSED US AS THUNDER AND CHARGED THE ENEMY. FOR 15 MINUTES IT WAS AN UNBELIEVABLE CHAOS, AND IT FELT LIKE A CENTURY”that ete soldiers charged with his safe behave a thei be who 2 mall circumstances such actions. Some broke the doors ofthe pets here sured artes ater a willingly disobeyed and mistreated guards and Slicers ofthe but also ard not only stl food large amount of boot. Their ac discipline was noticed by the tof the army and teggered widespread hostility. Alter campaign, an officer wre ar minister ‘complain, “The Guard ha reputation ani unarumously hate The retzeat follwing the d as disastrous for the French army, but th Imperial Guard was te only branch to keep som cohesion However ned inth ction of Mascon ats of several men At the Bate of Krasnot on ovhich cost the French Grenadiers began the day with officers bt end 5 November I812 D0 men) the 3 older and eit wath just 36 beginning of the campaign 180 c dirs ofthe Imperial Guard hat Niemen River. Months at llalwe to The Imperial Guard was rebut from scratch bat finding men was "The letter cof a soldier serving in a ine infantry regiment shows thatthe best soldier eee ert it was rumoured that the guardsmen were headed! pin. During the campaign of 1813, the Ol was ony used during the Battle of Hana 1813). Alter the Bate of Leics, nch had retreated towards Fa re stopped by the Bavarian army Marshal von Wiede The Bavarian general wanted to block Napoleon’ reveat This time, Napoleon «id not estate to commit is best men. He sent ‘the Imperal Guard, both Young and Old to clear ‘the enemy, The following victory was impertant for Napoleon, he French to retreat and oppose the invasion of France essed by the ales Napoleon did not have time to bring former glory. ere eaaeet itallowed tistnguished themsel 1814. The French emperor w ‘he Battle of Montmiral that horse gua wed ean 0 in eval ta ny al rotked mac ye compared to he same day, be Wea NAPOLEON'S ELITE. Iwother of my Old expected o rena ‘All ofthis was achieved by sending half ar, who did more than what can be men. My foot guar, dragoons, horse worked miracles" Despite inflicting mas unable to stop the from advancing on Paris, On 4 abdicated in fa nthe Treaty of Fe 12 Apr He was sent soles ofthe Old Gua The remaining tepiments were renamed, The Foot Grenadiers became the Fench Gre the Horse Grenadies the Cuassers, the Chasseurs 3 ‘Chasseur, the Dragoons the C. cons of France, the 2nd Che Royal Chevatsegers Lancer Jeon didnt remain in exile for very long. On | March i815 he landed in France, and on 20 March he arrived in Paris and signed an irae to reestablish the Imperial Guard. arp uvlgers the of France. commanders the ete formation was a sha fonmer sell its member their ives in il in Begun, The authors would keto thank Arnaud Spi and Wateloo Immersion (wwwatelotmmes ‘e) forthe help received ao}M

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