Athenian Army. The Army is commanded by the Athenian Polemarch, Perikles, who is an Elected, Reliable and Strong commander.

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1 Athenian Army My Athenian Army was one of the first I completed and as such has had to suffer fighting through considerable rule changes. It has also undergone several expansion and configuration changes. The Army is effectively built around the concept of Athen s ten tribal taxeis each of 1,000 citizen hoplites and 100 cavalry but with a slight amount of tailoring and some additional lighter foot. The Army is commanded by the Athenian Polemarch, Perikles, who is an Elected, Reliable and Strong commander. The Army is split into 3 Corps: - The first Corps consists of the Athenian hoplites. - The second Corps is the Athenian cavalry. - And the Third Corps consists of lighter infantry, both mercenary and volunteers. All Corps are categorised as line Corps (i.e. not allied).

2 Corps 1 Athenian Hoplites This is directly commanded by Perikles, the Army General, and consists of 7 Divisions. In building this Corps, I have assumed that the Polemarch would brigade his best hoplites together to form a key group. The first two Divisions (shown in this photograph) form that grouping. The first Division contains the Polemarch s Guard of 400 Elite quality hoplites in medium armour and 2 Units of 600 Standard quality hoplites also in medium armour. The second Division consists of 2 Units of 600 Standard quality hoplites in medium armour and they are supported by 200 Standard skirmishers. The remaining 5 Divisions each consist of 2 Units of 600 Militia quality hoplites in medium armour. This gives 10 Taxeis in total, with each being treated as an individual Unit. Each pairing of Taxeis is supported by 200 volunteer skirmishers. This gives the Corps a total of 8,400 hoplites so it is within the target number for the whole theoretical historic Athenian army.

3 Corps 2 Athenian Cavalry This Corps is commanded by the Hipparchoi, Charis, and consists of a single Division. Charis is also an Elected commander and acts as second in command to the Army. He is a Rash but otherwise reasonable subordinate. The Division has 3 Units (as shown in this photograph). The Hipparchoi commands a Unit of 300 Standard quality heavy cavalry armed with javelins. The second Unit is 450 Militia quality heavy cavalry also armed with javelins. They are supported by 300 Volunteer light cavalry, also javelin armed. This puts the Corps strength at just over 1,000 cavalry which is in line with the historic model.

4 Corps 3 Athenian Lighter Foot This Corps is commanded by the Xenologos, Chabrias, and consists of 2 Divisions. Chabrias is an Appointed subordinate, generally competent and the third in command for the Army. The first Division is on the left of the photograph and has 3 Units and is intended to represent the mercenary portion of the Athenian army. The Xenologos has a guard Unit of 150 Elite quality peltasts in medium armour armed with long spears and javelins. The second Unit is of 600 Standard quality peltasts, also wearing medium armour and armed with spear and javelin. The third Unit is of 450 Standard quality unarmoured archers. The Athenians were the only Greek state that I have identified (so far) as using archers in battle. The second Division (on the right in the photograph) has 2 Units and represents local Athenian troops. The first Unit consists of 750 Militia quality unarmoured peltasts armed with javelins. They are supported by 300 volunteer skirmishers.

5 This gives my Athenian Army a total strength of 12,500 men which is probably at the upper limit of what they appeared to muster historically and puts it in the top three, in terms of size, amongst my armies. Of the 60 battles I have fought so far the Athenians have taken part in over twenty of them, often leading a coalition of smaller armies (mainly other Greeks). Their track record is reasonable which I put down to all the troops being Athenian (i.e. no allies) and the massive number of hoplites. With so many there is a good chance that at least one Division will perform above expectations and punch a hole in the enemy line providing the opportunity for victory or be on hand to support a Division that is struggling. Typically battlefield tactics will involve forming a long line of hoplites, with the better ones inserted usually to the right of centre, and the lighter foot to one flank and the cavalry on the other. If working with other armies, the Polemarch likes to support his lighter foot with the cavalry on the same flank. Providing the Hipparchoi does not get carried away with enthusiasm this seems to be quite effective.