⚔How the Roman legion fared against a phalanx⚔

[LPVince]

"How do we beat this wall of spears?"
"Donnu maybe go around them?"
"By Jupiter! You're a tactical genius."

[Astraben]

Rome never used the Sarissa Phalanx, they used the Hoplite Phalanx, and changed that system for the maniple system to counter samnite hit and run strategies in the Apenines.

[johndarcangelo]

"The stupidly long spear" King Philip II would smack you.

[JayM]

Flaminius, who won the Battle of Cynoscephalae, stated that the most terrifying thing he had ever seen was the Macedonian phalanx.

[maxwell]

While this is correct, I think it’s a bit confusing to refer to Roman tactics as “the legionary, ” when the system they used to counter the Greek Phalanx was usually called the “maniple” or small groups system, especially because even before and after this system was used Roman soldiers were still referred to as legionaries.

[fallenhero]

I love the artwork of Aurelian, Creative Assembly really nailed his whole Sol Invictus vibe.

[dimitrioskontsiotis]

People don't understand that the Macedonian Phalanx was just one part of a system. The Macedonian Phalanx was so effective because it was led by generals who knew how to employ it properly to maximize its advantages and avoid the enemy from exploiting its vulnerabilities. The most famous example of this general is Alexander the Great.

Alexander the Great used lighter more mobile units like the Hypaspists to protect the vulnerable flanks and rear of the Phalanx. Alexander was very well aware of the weaknesses of the Phalanx. He always stationed the Hypaspists on the flanks of the Phalanx. Their job was to protect the vulnerable flanks and rear of the Phalanx. The Hypaspists could also aid the Phalanx on fighting on rough, rugged ground by being placed at the intervals. If gaps started to open up in the Phalanx on rough, rugged ground, the Hypaspists would not only protect the vulnerable flanks and rear of the Phalanx but they would plug the gaps, preventing the enemy from exploiting the gaps.

Alexander also used Peltasts, skirmishers, and archers. This gave his infantry range and they could be used to harass and soften up the enemy or be used to delay the battle. Alexander the Great used combined arms. The Phalanx was most effective with combined arms which would maximize its effectiveness and make up for its weaknesses.

Alexander the Great's use of combined arms is one thing that made his army so good. All the different types of units complimented each other. The later Greek generals who fought against the Romans failed to use this combined arms approach effectively. They were too reliant on the Phalanx and that exposed the weaknesses of it. The Romans fought against watered down versions of the Phalanx and Greek armies. They never had to fight against a complete Greek army with combined arms and with a general who knew how to use combined arms to great effectiveness.

Also you saying that the 20 foot long Sarissa spears is stupid is wrong and ignorant. It wasn't stupid, it was genius. It was so genius that people in the late Middle Ages brought it back and started using pike formations again. The Macedonian Phalanx was very ahead of its time.

[jostan]

I love the pictures you put with these videos! Lovely artwork

[johnrue]

Love your channel my dude. Always want to know more about the conflict between Rome and Greece!

[senpainoticeme]

More like the Macedonians and various successor states at the time of Roman ascendacy forgot or completely disregard to employ combined arms tactics against the Romans.

The Cavalry and Peltasts and elite Hypaspists especially the first were very crucial in successfully employing hammer and andvil tactics which Alexander used to crush his enemies.

[stevenhilburn]

Considering that in the late empire they went back to the phalanx system. I would say that both have there good and bad and it just depends on what you need.

[PartyNearTheDoorKBR]

The Greeks may fight like shy women, but they do fight the hardest

[Unseengenie]

Can you include the songs in future videos some of these songs are great.

[GrahamPablo]

Love to see you’re growing a bit. Been here since the start

[ForeverAloneOne]

And that answers the question of... "Do longer spears mean you'll mean? most of the time...around 90%"

[hamilkar_barkas]

That stupidly long spear was winning battles and wars for 2 hundred years my friend

[lach_monster]

The Macedonians used a sarissa phalanx using pikes, most phalanx’s were hoplite phalanx’s and same as the Roman’s. the Macedonia phalanx was different to the more common hoplite phalanx

[jarlnils]

Could you please Research propperly? The romans fought originally in a hoblite phalanx. Like the makedonians. But the makedonian king Philipp II took inspiration from the Iphicratean peltasts of Thebes and reformen his phalanx, making it the pike armed macedonian phalanx. The romans copied the manipular tactics of the samnites from the southern apenin mountains.

[Bombsquadcomedyshow]

Throwing pilum and having scorpions didn't hurt

[michaelkeha]

Considering the Roman campaign in Greece was less one of victory and more one of Rome having more blood to lose than the Greek city states so one through sheer attrition and not victory on the field as they were defeated pretty at much every battle by both the old hoplite phalanx and the Macedonian pike phalanx