Age: Early Greek Empire-Fall of Macedonian Empire
Loyalty: Greece, Macedon
Strengths:
Close knit Phalanx formation
Well-trained
Loyal to city states
Good armour and weapons
Weaknesses
Inflexible Phalanx formation
Not a standing army
Tactics gradually became outdated
No ranged weapons
The hoplite was an armoured infantry unit of the Ancient World. They primarily fought for the Greek city states but also served the later Macedonian Army. They received basic military training, which gave them the advantage of the untrained militia they often came up against. Their armour was not provided by the state so the richer the individual, the better protected they were.
Their most famous battle formation was the phalanx. The hoplites used their large shields to good effect and formed a wall of shields and swords. They could now advance while protected against enemy projectiles. This tactic was particularly effective against the Persian Empire whose bows and slings could not penetrate the hoplite wall.
Both the hoplite and phalanx became regulars in the Ancient Greek and Macedonian armies as they conquered vast parts of Europe and Asia Minor. They finally met their match against the tough and regimented legionaries of the Roman Empire. This army was conscripted and invented tactics such as siege engines and skirmishers to outmanoeuvre the phalanx, rendering the hoplite obsolete.
Most famous battle:
Battle of Marathon
Weapons:
Primary: 6ft-8ft spear
Secondary: Short sword
Armour:
Bronze or linen chest plate
Bronze greaves
Thracian or Corinitian helmet
Wooden shield
