Army Lists Contents Early Achaemenid n Later Achaemenid n Parthian Parthian Vassal States Early Sassanid n Middle Sassanid n Version: 1.01 Published: 16 th July 2016
Creating an army with the Mortem et Gloriam Army Lists Use the army lists to create your own customised armies using the Mortem et Gloriam Army Builder. There are few general rules to follow: 1. An army must have at least 2 generals and can have no more than 4. 2. You must take at least the minimum of any troops noted, and may not go beyond the maximum of any. 3. No army may have more than two generals who are Talented or better. 4. Any UGs can be downgraded by one quality grade and/or by one shooting skill representing less strong, tired or understrength troops. If any bases are downgraded all in the TuG must be downgraded. So Average Experienced skirmishers can always be downgraded to Poor Unskilled. 5. Any troops with Melee Expert can be downgraded by removing this characteristic representing less well trained or skilled troops. 6. All mounted skirmishers who are not Skilled can take Cantabrian as a characteristic. 7. Any Drilled Infantry, or any Formed Infantry with Pike or Long Spear, can take Orb/Square as a characteristic. Where allies are allowed they must conform to the following rules: 1. They must be a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 4 UGs. 2. They must take UGs sufficient to get them to at least 50% of the minimums in the list being used. 3. They can thereafter take any troops up to the maximum to create the rest of the Allied contingent. 4. Usually this results in 1 3 UGs being compulsory and you having full flexibility on the rest.
Early Achaemenid n Army Commander 1 Any Instinctive Sub Generals 1-3 Any Instinctive Internal Allied Generals Terrain Type Formation Quality Shooting 550 B.C. to 424 B.C. Plains, Coastal, Mountains Unfortified or Flexible; Poor or Average Protection MELEE SHOOTING Mandatory Optional Min Max UG Size n chariots (only before 484 B.C.) CHARIOTS Formed Loose Superior Experienced Protected Battle Chariot Bow - - 0 4 4 Guard cavalry CAVALRY Drilled Loose Superior Experienced Protected Short Spear Bow - - 0 6 4,6 Cavalry CAVALRY Formed Loose Average Experienced Protected Short Spear Bow - - 6 12 4,6 Saka horse archers CAVALRY Formed Flexible Average Experienced Unprotected - Bow - - 0 6 4,6 Arab camelry CAMELRY Tribal Loose Poor Experienced Unprotected - Bow Combat Shy - 0 4 4 Immortals INFANTRY Drilled Loose Superior Skilled Protected Short Spear Bow Pavise Orb/Square 0 8 6,8 Sparabara INFANTRY Formed Loose Average Experienced Unprotected Short Spear Bow Pavise - 12 36 6,8 Crescent shield archers (only from 465 B.C.) INFANTRY Formed Loose Average Experienced Unprotected - Bow Combat Shy - 0 18 6,9 Crescent shield spearmen (only from 465 B.C.) INFANTRY Formed Loose Average - Protected Short Spear - - - 0 9 6,9 Replace Crescent shield archers and spearmen INFANTRY Formed Loose Average Experienced Protected Short Spear Bow - - 0 24 6,8 Lydian hoplites INFANTRY Tribal Close Average - Protected Long Spear - - Orb/Square 0 9 6,8,9 Subject Greek Hoplites INFANTRY Formed Close Poor - Protected Long Spear - Shove, Shield Cover - Asiatic hillmen INFANTRY Tribal Loose Average Unskilled Protected Short Spear Javelin - - 0 9 6,8,9 Horse archers CAVALRY Skirmisher Average Experienced Unprotected - Bow - Cantabrian 0 9 4,6 Asiatic archers INFANTRY Skirmisher Poor Experienced Unprotected - Bow Combat Shy - 0 18 6,9 Asiatic javelinmen INFANTRY Skirmisher Poor Experienced Unprotected - Javelin Combat Shy - 0 18 6,9 Allies Mede rebel allies - Median (550 B.C.) (Any Instinctive) Saka allies - Early Scythian or Saka (530 B.C.) (Any Instinctive) Medizing Greek allies (479 B.C.) (Any)
Historical The Achaemenid empire was founded by Cyrus the Great who conquered the Median (550 B.C.), Lydian (546 B.C.) and Babylonian (539 B.C.) empires. His son Cambyses II conquered Egypt creating the largest empire the world had yet known. In response to mainland Greeks sending aid to rebellious Greek cities in Asia Minor Darius I sent an expedition that was beaten by the Athenians at Marathon (490 B.C.). Ten years later his son, Xerxes I, launched a full scale invasion of Greece that was defeated at Salamis by sea and Plataea on land. The final defeat of the ns at Mycale encouraged the Greek cities of Asia to revolt, and the ns lost all of their territories in Europe. After Xerxes I was assassinated, he was succeeded by his eldest son Artaxerxes I who ruled until 424 B.C. Hostilities between and the Greeks continued until 450 B.C. From 465 B.C. mandatory Sparabara may be replaced with crescent shield troops.
Later Achaemenid n Army Commander 1 Any Sub Generals 1-3 Any Internal Allied Generals Terrain 423 B.C. to 329 B.C. Plains, Coastal, Mountains Unfortified or Flexible; Poor or Average Min Max UG Type Formation Quality Shooting Protection MELEE SHOOTING Mandatory Optional Size Best cavalry CAVALRY Formed Loose Superior - Protected Short Spear - Melee Expert - 4 12 4,6 Cavalry CAVALRY Formed Loose Average - Protected Short Spear - Melee Expert - 4 18 4,6 Levied cavalry CAVALRY Formed Loose Poor - Protected Short Spear - Melee Expert - 4 18 4,6 Bactrian and Saka cavalry CAVALRY Formed Flexible Average Experienced Unprotected - Bow - - 0 8 4,6 Guard infantry INFANTRY Drilled Close Superior Experienced Protected Short Spear Bow - Orb/Square 0 6 6 Crescent shield spearmen INFANTRY Formed Loose Average - Protected Short Spear - - - 0 18 6,8,9 Mercenary hoplites INFANTRY Drilled Close Average - Protected Long Spear - Shove, Shield Cover Orb/Square 0 24 6,8 Regrade mercenary hoplites as Asiatic hoplites INFANTRY Formed Close Poor - Protected Long Spear - Shove, Shield Cover - 0 18 6,8 Hillmen INFANTRY Tribal Loose Average Unskilled Protected Short Spear Javelin - - 0 8 6,8 Thracians INFANTRY Tribal Loose Average Experienced Protected Short Spear Javelin - - 0 6 6 Mercenary peltasts INFANTRY Skirmisher Average Experienced Unprotected - Javelin - - 0 9 6,9 Paphlagonian or Arachosian cavalry CAVALRY Skirmisher Average Experienced Unprotected - Javelin Combat Shy Cantabrian 0 12 4,6 Archers INFANTRY Skirmisher Poor Experienced Unprotected - Bow Combat Shy - 0 18 6,9 Slingers INFANTRY Skirmisher Poor Experienced Unprotected - Sling Combat Shy - 0 18 6,9 Javelinmen INFANTRY Skirmisher Poor Experienced Unprotected - Javelin Combat Shy - 0 9 6,9 Scythed chariots CHARIOTS Formed Loose Poor - Protected Battle Chariot - Expendable - 0 4 2,3,4
Historical Artaxerxes was succeeded by his son Xerxes II but he was immediately assassinated on the orders of his illegitimate brother, Sogdianus. Sogdianus was captured and killed by his halfbrother Darius II. In 404 B.C. Darius died. The eldest son Artaxerxes II inherited the throne. His younger brother Cyrus rebelled and hired 10,000 Greek mercenaries including Xenophon. The army of Cyrus was stopped at the battle of Cunaxa (401 B.C.). At this time Egypt revolted. Artaxerxes ruled for 45 years. Artaxerxes II became involved in a war with 's erstwhile allies, the Spartans, who, under Agesilaus II, invaded Asia Minor. In 385 B.C. he campaigned against the Cadusians. An attempt to reconquer Egypt in 373 B.C. was completely unsuccessful, but an Egyptian and Spartan effort to conquer Phoenicia was defeated. Between 372 B.C. and 362 B.C. he quashed a series of revolts by satraps in Asia Minor. Artaxerxes III inherited the throne in 358 B.C. He defeated a revolt by Artabazus of Lydia. In 351 B.C. he attempted to recover Egypt but suffered a crushing defeat that led to Phoenicia, Asia Minor and Cyprus declaring independence. An attempt to recover Phoenicia was defeated and Artaxerxes III personally led an army to recapture Sidon. This was followed by an invasion of Egypt and the rebels were defeated at the battle of Pelusium. Also in 343 B.C. a force was sent to recover Cyprus. Artaxerxes III and his son were assasinated and Darius III, previously satrap of Armenia was placed on the throne. In 334 B.C., just after the ns had subdued another revolt in Egypt, Alexander the Great led an invasion of Asia Minor. Alexander defeated the n armies at Granicus (334 B.C.), Issue (333 B.C.) and Gaugamela (331 B.C.). Darius was taken prisoner by Bessus, satrap of Bactria and murdered. Bessus was captured by Alexander, put on trial in a n court and executed.
Parthian Army Commander 1 Any Instinctive Sub Generals 1-3 Any Instinctive Internal Allied Generals Terrain 250 B.C. to 225 A.D. Plains, Mountains Mobile; Poor or Average Type Formation Quality Shooting Protection MELEE SHOOTING Mandatory Optional Min Max UG Size Royal and nobles guard cataphracts CAVALRY Tribal Close Superior - Fully Armoured Long Spear - Shove - 0 12 4,6 Cataphracts CAVALRY Tribal Close Average - Fully Armoured Long Spear - Shove - 6 12 4,6 City militia INFANTRY Formed Close Poor - Protected Long Spear - Shove Orb/Square 0 18 6,8,9 Hillmen INFANTRY Tribal Loose Average Unskilled Protected Short Spear Javelin - - 0 18 6,8,9 Horse archers CAVALRY Skirmisher Average Experienced Unprotected - Bow - Cantabrian 12 90 4,6 Archers INFANTRY Skirmisher Poor Experienced Unprotected - Bow Combat Shy - 0 12 6,9 Slingers INFANTRY Skirmisher Poor Experienced Unprotected - Sling Combat Shy - 0 12 6,9 Javelinmen INFANTRY Skirmisher Poor Experienced Unprotected - Javelin Combat Shy - 0 12 6,9 Allies Commagene allies (From 129 B.C. to 35 B.C.) (Any) Seleucid allies (129 B.C.) (Mediocre Professional) Armenian allies (From 127 B.C.) (Any Instinctive) Hatrene, Adiabene or Edessan subject allies - Parthian Vassal (From 127 B.C.) (Any) Elymaian allies - Parthian Vassal (From 127 B.C.) (Any) Nomadic Arab allies - Pre-Islamic Arab (From 127 B.C.) (Any Instinctive) Labienus Roman allies (From 40 B.C. to 39 B.C.) (Any Professional) Scythian allies - Later Scythian (130 B.C. to 41 A.D.) (Any Instinctive) Historical The Parthians were a Saka tribe, the Parni, who invaded Parthia in the mid-3rd century B.C. Under Mithridates I (171 B.C. to 138 B.C.) the Parthians expanded into Media and Mesopotamia. They then came into conflict with Armenia and then Rome. They soundly defeated Crassus at the battle of Carrhae (53 B.C.). In 40 and 39 B.C. they raided throughout Syria and Asia Minor but were defeated by Ventidius. In the following 250 years the Romans regularly raided deep into Parthian territory, occupying Ctesiphon on multiple occasions but were never able to hold on to them. The dynasty was ended when Ardashir I established the Sassanid empire in 224 A.D.
Army Commander 1 Any Instinctive Sub Generals 1-3 Any Instinctive Internal Allied Generals Terrain Parthian Vassal States Type Formation Quality Shooting 147 B.C. to 225 A.D. Mountains Unfortified or Flexible; Poor or Average Protection MELEE SHOOTING Mandatory Optional Min Max UG Size Royal and nobles guard cataphracts CAVALRY Tribal Close Superior - Fully Armoured Long Spear - Shove - 0 6 4,6 Cataphracts CAVALRY Tribal Close Average - Fully Armoured Long Spear - Shove - 0 12 4,6 Cataphract Camels (only Hatra in 217 A.D.) CAMELRY Tribal Close Average - Fully Armoured Short Spear - - - 0 6 4,6 Foot archers INFANTRY Tribal Loose Average Experienced Unprotected - Bow Combat Shy - 8 48 6,8 Horse archers CAVALRY Skirmisher Average Experienced Unprotected - Bow - Cantabrian 12 48 4,6 Archers INFANTRY Skirmisher Poor Experienced Unprotected - Bow Combat Shy - 0 36 6,9 Slingers INFANTRY Skirmisher Poor Experienced Unprotected - Sling Combat Shy - 0 18 6,9 Javelinmen INFANTRY Skirmisher Poor Experienced Unprotected - Javelin Combat Shy - 0 18 6,9 Historical The Parthian Arsacid rulers were titled the "King of Kings", as a claim to be the heirs to the Achaemenid Empire. They accepted many local kings as vassals where the Achaemenids would have had centrally appointed, albeit largely autonomous, satraps. This includes the states of Media Atropatene, Osroene (Edessa), Araba (Hatra), Characene, Adiabene, Elymais and Persis.
Early Sassanid n Army Commander 1 Any Instinctive Sub Generals 1-3 Any Instinctive Internal Allied Generals Terrain 224 A.D. to 337 A.D. Plains Unfortified or Flexible; Poor or Average Min Max UG Type Formation Quality Shooting Protection MELEE SHOOTING Mandatory Optional Size Royal asvaran CAVALRY Formed Close Superior - Fully Armoured Long Spear - Shove - 0 6 4,6 Asvaran CAVALRY Formed Close Average - Fully Armoured Long Spear - Shove - 6 18 4,6 Horse archers CAVALRY Formed Flexible Average Experienced Unprotected - Bow - - 6 18 4,6 Paighan INFANTRY Tribal Loose Average - Protected Short Spear - - - 0 24 6,8,9 Kamandaran INFANTRY Tribal Loose Average Experienced Unprotected - Bow - - 0 18 6,8,9 Levy foot INFANTRY Formed Close Poor - Protected Long Spear - Shove Orb/Square 0 36 6,8,9 Horse archers CAVALRY Skirmisher Average Experienced Unprotected - Bow - Cantabrian 0 18 4,6 Archers INFANTRY Skirmisher Poor Experienced Unprotected - Bow Combat Shy - 0 18 6,9 Slingers INFANTRY Skirmisher Poor Experienced Unprotected - Sling Combat Shy - 0 18 6,9 Javelinmen INFANTRY Skirmisher Poor Experienced Unprotected - Javelin Combat Shy - 0 18 6,9 Allies Kushan vassal allies (From 262 A.D. to 356 A.D. ) (Any Instinctive) Historical The Sassanid n dynasty was founded by Ardashir I, ruler of Persis, who revolted against and defeated the last Parthian king, Artabanus V. He then consolidated central control despite various local rebellions. In 230 A.D. he raided deep into Roman territory and a Roman counter-offensive two years later ended inconclusively. Ardashir's son Shapur I continued the expansion of the empire, conquering Bactria and the western portion of the Kushan empire. Shapur captured Carrhae and Nisibis but was then defeated in 243 A.D. at Rhesaina. The Rpman emperor Gordian III subsequently advanced down the Euphrates but was defeated at Meshike (244 A.D.). War resumed in 253 A.D. when Shapur defeated the Romans at Barbalissos. Roman counter-attacks ended in disaster when the emperor Valerian was captured. He advanced into Anatolia but was repulsed by the Romans and their Palmyrene ally Odaenathus. The Romans sacked Ctesiphon in 283 B.C. under the emperor Carus. In 296 A.D. the emperor Galerius was defeated Narseh near Callinicium but in 298 A.D Galerius took the offensive and won successive victories and sacked Ctesiphon. The Romans inflicted a severe peace treaty. Unrest spread throughout the empire until supressed by Sharpur II.
Middle Sassanid n Army Commander 1 Any Sub Generals 1-3 Any Internal Allied Generals Terrain 338 A.D. to 488 A.D. Plains Unfortified or Flexible; Poor or Average Min Max UG Type Formation Quality Shooting Protection MELEE SHOOTING Mandatory Optional Size Elephants ELEPHANTS Tribal Loose Average - Protected - - Shove - 0 6 2,3,4 Royal asvaran CAVALRY Formed Close Superior - Fully Armoured Long Spear - Shove - 0 6 4,6 Asvaran CAVALRY Formed Close Average - Fully Armoured Long Spear - Shove - 0 6 4,6 Asvaran CAVALRY Formed Loose Superior Experienced Protected Short Spear Bow - - 6 12 4,6 Asvaran CAVALRY Formed Loose Average Experienced Protected Short Spear Bow - - 6 18 4,6 Paighan INFANTRY Tribal Loose Average - Protected Short Spear - - - 0 24 6,8,9 Kamandaran INFANTRY Tribal Loose Average Experienced Unprotected - Bow - - 0 18 6,8,9 Levy foot INFANTRY Formed Close Poor - Protected Long Spear - Shove Orb/Square 0 36 6,8,9 Horse archers CAVALRY Skirmisher Average Experienced Unprotected - Bow - Cantabrian 0 18 4,6 Archers INFANTRY Skirmisher Poor Experienced Unprotected - Bow Combat Shy - 0 18 6,9 Slingers INFANTRY Skirmisher Poor Experienced Unprotected - Sling Combat Shy - 0 18 6,9 Javelinmen INFANTRY Skirmisher Poor Experienced Unprotected - Javelin Combat Shy - 0 18 6,9 Allies Kushan vassal allies (From 359 A.D. to 370 A.D.) (Any Instinctive) Hunnic allies (From 359 A.D.) (Any Instinctive) Historical Shapur II ruled from 309 A.D. to 379 A.D. In 337 A.D. he broke the peace concluded in 297 A.D. This led to a series of long drawn-out wars (nine major battles were fought) which continued until 363 A.D. when the Emperor Julian was killed and his successor Jovian agreed to an unfavourable peace treaty. During this period he was attacked by central Asian tribes. Towards the end of his reign he subdued the Kushans. From Shapur II's death until Kavadh I's first coronation (488 A.D.), there was a largely peaceful period with the Romans interupted only by two brief wars in 421 A.D. and 440 A.D. Several invasions by the Huns were defeated but they returned in 483 A.D. and defeated the Sassanid emperor Peroz I. Peroz I attempted to drive out the Huns but was defeated and killed.