alternatehistory.com
289 BC. The manipular tagma.
289 BC
Strategos Orestes with the support of the assembly and Dynatoi company initiated the orestikoi military reformation.
The Orestikoi reforms of 289 BC were a group of military reforms initiated by strategos Orestes, a statesman and general of the Massaliot league. The foremost of the Orestikoi reforms was the inclusion of the poor citizens in the army, men who had no property to be assessed in the census. Because these poor citizens could not afford to purchase their own weapons and armor, Orestes arranged for the state to supply them with land in the new conquered territories and arms. He also offered the disenfranchised masses the opportunity to gain spoils on campaign. Another major change is that the Massaliot league army switched from Hoplite style to an army similar of the Roman manipular legion. The army from now on is organised in tagmata. After the reforms Massaliot league was able to summon four tagmata (two sponsored from the companies). Also new import in the army from the Romans was the abduction of the spathi, a version of the gladius sword. In fact this was already happening, especially in the area of emporion because they where familiar with this type of swords, from the celtiberians tribes of the area. Last but not least a greek version of the pila introduced to the army.
The new tagma unit:
Three thousands infantrymen (twenty maniples of one hundred twenty men and ten maniples of sixty men) together with one thousand five hundred slingers/archers and five hundred cavalry*. A nominal strength of 5000 men.
*The Massaliot tagma cavalry was drawn primarily from the richest class. Each tagma contained a cavalry contingent of five hundred horse. The cavalry contingent was divided into ten tmimata (squadrons) of 50 men each. The squadron members would elect as their officers two dioikites(commanders) mostly from high status noble families, of whom the first to be chosen would act as the squadron's leader and the other as his deputy. The cavalry of a tagma(and presumably confederate cavalry also) was armoured and specialised in the shock charge.
By place
Sicily
Strategos Orestes with the support of the assembly and Dynatoi company initiated the orestikoi military reformation.
The Orestikoi reforms of 289 BC were a group of military reforms initiated by strategos Orestes, a statesman and general of the Massaliot league. The foremost of the Orestikoi reforms was the inclusion of the poor citizens in the army, men who had no property to be assessed in the census. Because these poor citizens could not afford to purchase their own weapons and armor, Orestes arranged for the state to supply them with land in the new conquered territories and arms. He also offered the disenfranchised masses the opportunity to gain spoils on campaign. Another major change is that the Massaliot league army switched from Hoplite style to an army similar of the Roman manipular legion. The army from now on is organised in tagmata. After the reforms Massaliot league was able to summon four tagmata (two sponsored from the companies). Also new import in the army from the Romans was the abduction of the spathi, a version of the gladius sword. In fact this was already happening, especially in the area of emporion because they where familiar with this type of swords, from the celtiberians tribes of the area. Last but not least a greek version of the pila introduced to the army.
The new tagma unit:
Three thousands infantrymen (twenty maniples of one hundred twenty men and ten maniples of sixty men) together with one thousand five hundred slingers/archers and five hundred cavalry*. A nominal strength of 5000 men.
*The Massaliot tagma cavalry was drawn primarily from the richest class. Each tagma contained a cavalry contingent of five hundred horse. The cavalry contingent was divided into ten tmimata (squadrons) of 50 men each. The squadron members would elect as their officers two dioikites(commanders) mostly from high status noble families, of whom the first to be chosen would act as the squadron's leader and the other as his deputy. The cavalry of a tagma(and presumably confederate cavalry also) was armoured and specialised in the shock charge.
- Carthage pirates repelled near emporion.
- Trade in Volcae area is getting dangerous.
By place
Sicily
- The tyrant of Syracuse, Agathocles, dies after restoring the Syracusan democracy on his death bed, by stating that he does not want his sons to succeed him as king. However, the resulting dissension among his family about the succession leads to a renewal of Carthaginian power in Sicily.
- Sersor
- Word Count: 410