Units of History - The Macedonian Silver Shields DOCUMENTARY

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A Units of History Documentary on the Silver Shields - Veterans of the Macedonian Army! The first 100 people to go to www.blinkist.com/invicta are going to get unlimited access for 1 week to try it out. You’ll also get 25% off if you want the full membership.
In this animated documentary we follow the story of one of the most elite units of history, the Argyraspides : the Silver Shields. We begin the video by taking a look back at their institutional origins. This can be traced back to the early practice in Macedon of having bodyguard units of Hetairoi protect the king in court and on the battlefield. Eventually these would be expanded to form elite units of horse and foot companions during the reforms of Philip the second of Macedon.
When Alexander the Great took over however he would extend the title of Foot Companion to the entire 6 unit block of Macedonian levy pikemen. The previous elite units which had held that title would now be referred to as the Hypaspitai, or shield bearers. 3,000 of these accompanied his army in the invasion of the Achaemenid Empire. They would take up the right flank in the pitched Battle of Granicus River, the Battle of Issus, and the Battle of Gaugamela. However they were an extremely flexible force that could also be embedded in the cavalry, sent over rough terrain to flank the enemy, and broken into small groups for special missions. In siege battles they also proved exceptional when it came to storming operations like in the Siege of Tyre and the Siege of Halicarnassus.
After many years of fighting, these veteran Hypaspists would find them joining Alexander the Great on his campaigns into India. It would be here that they would finally adopt their famed Silver Shields and become the Argyraspides. We cover their history over the remainder of the campaigns of Alexander the Great and their subsequent involvement in the Wars of the Diadochi. This would involve many massive battles such as Paraitakene and Gabiene where they would continue their unbroken string of victories! Follow us to the end of the video to discover their ultimate fate. You can also learn more about the history of Macedon and the Macedonian army by checking out the rest of our content.
What other Units of History do you want to see us cover next?
Bibliography and Suggested Reading:
“The Three Thousand: Alexander’s Infantry Guard” by Waldemar Heckel
“The origins of the Argyraspids.” by R. A. Lock
“The Silver Shields, Eumenes, and their Historian” by K. Roisman
“The Hypaspists: Macedonia’s professional citizen-soldiers.” by E.M. Anson
“The wars of Alexander’s successors, 323-281 B.C.” by B. Bennet
“The pezhetairoi of Philip II and Alexander the Great,” by A. Erskine
“Life of Eumenes” by Plutarch
“The Campaigns of Alexander” by Arrian
“Philip and Alexander” by Adrian Goldsworthy

Опубликовано:

17 май 2024

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Комментарии : 1,9 тыс.

@InvictaHistory 2 года назад

We delve into the history of the Roman Cataphracts: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-NPdxGwyfy_Q.html

@imperialjapan745 Год назад

P700

@manfromukraine4678 Год назад

Hey, I'm just an ukrainian guy and I understand that our demands are too high for other countries which already have their own problems to deal with. So feel free to stop giving us so many precious resources as they are being wasted by us without achieving much. Thank you and Slave Ukraine! 🇺🇦

@mormegil231 2 года назад

As greek person its always funny hearing using the greek word as a unique "term" for generic equipment. Like Dori literally means spear in greek. So in my ears i hear: They carried a spear called "the spear" and a sword called "the sword".

@user-ln8eh5nq3q 2 года назад

Hahaha indeed

@pmparda 2 года назад

🤣🤣🤣

@georgeemirzas7776 2 года назад

Hahahah...so right...

@reneernesto5748 2 года назад

🤣

@cletusdalglish-schommer1573 2 года назад

Greek is used a lot in English to make things sound special, technical or scientific. I remember when I learned that "encephalograph" literally meant "in-head-picture" and just imagine doctors trying to sound sophisticated in front of patients saying, "what do you think doctor, do we need an in-head-picture?"

@Eliphas_ 2 года назад

Remember one of those Kings and Generals videos where in one battle the Silver Shields just solo carried an entire battle when all other sections failed. I was so impressed by them. I am glad you made a video about them

@prs_81 2 года назад

@Rosario Manorang Manik It's in the Diadochi series.

@haywoodjablomi9393 2 года назад

Tristan Hughes, who narrated that series has his own channel "Battles of the Ancients". He also has a podcast that I can't recommend enough.

@captainsternn7684 2 года назад

Link plz

@t2av159 2 года назад

Highly unlikely

@zones0 2 года назад

@@captainsternn7684 Here you go, I think it's this one: Title: Diadochi Wars: Battles of Paraitakene and Gabiene 317-316 BC ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-tL_ETrgF2cI.html

@ikediz 2 года назад

I've only met a handful of bad ass 60-70 year olds. Usually in the course of my job. One dude was 72 and could have easily whipped my ass at 23. Thinking of a few thousand guys like that with decades of battle experience is insane. Can't imagine what it would have been like having to battle these dudes.

@elasolezito 2 года назад

Check out Napoleon's veteran officers real life photos. You can see the hardship in the old man's face.

@johnstajduhar9617 2 года назад

Phalanx warfare especially suited longtime, older veterans too. Fighting against another wall of pikes was more a contest of willpower, morale and cohesion than pure strength and vitality. It's amazing to hear that by the time of the Diadochi wars, they basically trounced any infantry unit they squared up against.

@ikediz 2 года назад

@@elasolezito will do.

@BoogieBubble 2 года назад

@@johnstajduhar9617 I am not sure that you are 100% correct my friend. I mean they carried heavy equipment , marched , fought for hours each time. No matter the age you have to be fit to do all that. Extremely fit i would dare to say. My sorry ass cannot walk a few kilometers with all that equipement , let alone fight.

@ringo1692 2 года назад

Can't mess with old dudes...😜👍

@punishedluke3406 2 года назад

Whats interesting is that the better trained troops get shorter weapons, because they can actually handle themselves in melee, if you're less trained you get a reasonably safe sarissa

@BOSIE321 2 года назад

Yeah the Sarissa Phalanx was great and all as a fixing force but it seems Alexander used the Silver Shields and the Agrianian light armored troops to deal the real infantry damage, especially in his Indian campaigns and in siege missions. I've even read an account that says Alexander altered his army for the Indian campaign and rearmed the sarissa phalanx with shorter spears due to the terrain. You don't really hear much of these elite units with later Macedonian armies.

@andrewreil3938 2 года назад

18ft poke vs 6 ft poke

@alexanderyu85 2 года назад

Tight formation also helping trooper not to escape, which were found by japanese and the west

@CrucisJon 2 года назад

@@BOSIE321 Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't he made his troops' pikes Longer to deal with the elephants? Shortet spears is a lot more dangerous when fighting elephants

@X.Y.Z.07 2 года назад

@@CrucisJon no, Sarissa was made longer mainly to deal with Hopelite Phalanx formation, which was the common norm in the Greek World back then..

@sadvenom7826 2 года назад

The drawings are sooo fucking cool! I feel like a child again watching a cool cartoon.

@InvictaHistory 2 года назад

We make them available for download on Patreon

@Diogolindir 2 года назад

that Silvershield formation with the arid background looks amazing!

@comradekenobi6908 2 года назад

@@Diogolindir shields gleaming in the sunlight

@Moronvideos1940 2 года назад

Swear words are inappropriate in a public venue .....

@sadvenom7826 2 года назад

@@Moronvideos1940 what swear word did i use?

@deuratusanimatedhistory10 2 года назад

I want to point out that Antigenes was one of the most loyal officers Eumenes had. (It was another commander of Silver Shields, Teutamus, that betrayed Eumenes) Even as early as 318 BC (when Silver Shields barely joined Eumenes) Teutamus' loyalty was wavering as they were receiving offers of bribes and threats from Antigonus and Ptolemy, who were urging them to forsake Eumenes. But Antigenes consistently refused these offers, and even managed to persuade other high officers of the Silver Shields to remain with Eumenes. Then as Eumenes was marching towards East to seek allies there, Seleucus and Peithon were entreating Silver Shields to abandon Eumenes, and even secretly met with the high ranking officers: Antigenes and Teutamus among them. But once again Antigenes stood firmly with Eumenes, and refused these entreaties. Later when Eumenes linked up with the army of the Upper Satrapies, Peucestas sought to command the joined army, but with Antigenes help it was eventually Eumenes that claimed the command of the whole force. Finally in the aftermath of the battle at Gabiene, Teutamus, seemingly going behind Antigenes' back, captured Eumenes and delivered him to Antigonus. It is because of his unwavering loyalty to Eumenes and because he previously defied Antigonus by rejecting his appeals to forsake Eumenes: that Antigenes meets such a harsh end, being burned alive.

@user-tf7wl4iv5t 2 года назад

I disagree. Antigenes was disloyal to everyone he served under. He killed Perdicas and he was behind the mutiny at Triparadisus. He wasn't loyal to Eumenes either - he didn't want to cooperate on many ocasions, and before the battle of Gabiene, he and Teutamas plotted to kill him. Plutarch, Life of Eumenes, 16 1 But meanwhile most of the forces with Eumenes had assembled, and, admiring his sagacity, demanded that he should be sole commander. At this, Antigenes and Teutamus, the leaders of the Silver-shields, were filled with vexation and jealousy, so that they plotted against the life of Eumenes, and, assembling most of the satraps and generals, deliberated when and how they might put him out of the way. 2 They were unanimous in the decision to make every use of him in the ensuing battle, and after the battle to kill him at once. But Eudamus, the master of the elephants, and Phaedimus, secretly brought word to Eumenes of this decision; not that they were moved by any goodwill or kindness, but because they were anxious not to lose the money they had lent him.3 These men Eumenes commended, and then went off to his tent, where he said to his friends that he was living in a great herd of wild beasts. Antigonus had a reputation of mercy, which makes the cruel killing of Antigenes that more horrifying. Peucestas, a traitor, was spared, Eudamus was executed (presumably in a traditional way) and Atigenes was so trecherous and hated by Antigonus that he was burned alive in a pit. If you are interested, I suggest reading Eumenes of Cardia: A Greek Among Macedonians by Edward M. Anson.

@deuratusanimatedhistory10 2 года назад

@@user-tf7wl4iv5t I have it, but Anson is not even entirely convinced about Antigenes being on the plot, despite what Plutarch says. Eward Anson says about “likelihood”. “It was decided that after defeating Antigonus they would eliminate Eumenes (Plut. Eum. 16. 1-3, 6). Even though this plot is not mentioned by Diodorus, and Antigenes, listed as one of the main conspirators by Plutarch (Eum. 16. 1), was previously in the main loyal to Eumenes (Diod. 18. 62. 6; 19. 12. 2, 17. 4, 21. 1), the plot appears to be genuine. [...] There clearly was a plot and the *likelihood* is that Antigenes was one of the participants. ” on page 198 Yeah, Antigenes pursued his own interests, he is attested as one of Perdiccas murderers: thus he betrayed Perdiccas (Perdiccas’ situation I think is comparable to when Eumenes lost the baggage train, Antigenes did not betray Eumenes then). He was also one of the perpetrators of the mutiny at Triparadeisus, but I wouldn't call it a betrayal (that he betrayed Peithon and Arrhidaeus is too much to say). Antigenes seems to have more to gain while Eumenes was alive. Even if Antigenes loyalty was based on his self interest, where else was he disloyal towards Eumenes?

@deuratusanimatedhistory10 2 года назад

@@user-tf7wl4iv5t You say that "Antigenes was disloyal to everyone he served under" but really by "everyone" you just mean Perdiccas. You know, in the same way Plutarch probably exaggerates in saying that most of the officers plotted against Eumenes. Given the previous loyalty of Antigenes to Eumenes, it's not entirely convincing that Antigenes was indeed on the plot to betray Eumenes. Even if Plutarch mentioned him there. It is possible that Plutarch mentions Antigenes name simply because he was one of the commanders of Silver Shields. Antigenes remaining loyal after the battle is inconsistent with Plutarch saying that Antigenes was one of those who plotted to betray Eumenes before the battle.

@user-tf7wl4iv5t 2 года назад

@@deuratusanimatedhistory10 I appreciate your quick response. I am not a native English speaker, and I must admit that my language is a bit rusty, but I believe that Anson stated that Antigenes' involvement is likely in that quote, but I could have misunderstood that. I think there are some real reasons for Antigenes to believe that eliminating Eumenes is in his best interest. Eumenes was geting stronger with each victory - a good example is how he dealt with Peucestas' support after the victory at Coprates. If he defeated Antigonus at Gabiene, he wouldn't have to rely on his semi-independent subordinates and satraps as much. The threat of Antigonus, that forced him to cooperate with them, would vanish, and he would gain prestige that would put him above the other generals and satraps in the eyes of the army. Antigenes might have feared that Eumenes would clear house (as Antigonus did after Gabiene) and eliminate all the men he didn't trust or those powerful enough to question his authority. I have to note that this idea isn't totaly mine, but I can't remember where I have read it. I can't think of another example of Antigenes' trecherous behavior on top of my head, but Eumenes did have to make the Alexander's ghost scheme to force him to cooperate. I would find more examples, but as I write this, it is 1 am and I have to take an important university exam in the morning. If you have some other counterpoint, please respond. Deuratus, it is pleasure discussing these topics with you, I am a long time subscriber of yours.

@neochosen8840 2 года назад

This is the fastest and best handled talk in the comments section I’ve ever seen.

@luelee6168 2 года назад

The Prince is such an underrated book. I have read it twice and have been aching to read it again. I consider it an essential piece of human history, still relevant to this day, that all could learn from. Niccolò Machiavelli doesn't simply teach you to become a cold and calculating statesmen but how to recognize the consequencial patterns of a rising dictatorship. It is a must read for anyone interested in history and political philosophy.

@alswann2702 2 года назад

It was required reading when I was in high school.

@MrLoobu 2 года назад

Its not under rated at all, every first year uni student gets turned onto it lol.

@luelee6168 2 года назад

@@MrLoobu Ah yes, the idiots who deliberately gets themselves into debt to earn a degree they likely won't use and than instantly manipulated by the very politics they pretended to read.

@JamesJJSMilton 2 года назад

The Prince is great, but Ive always felt the Discourses were much more insightful, both towards Machiavelli, but also towards the governance of a good republic.

@FinnishDragon 2 года назад

@@JamesJJSMilton I agree. I strongly feel that the Discourses are very much more underrated than the Prince.

@HipiO7 2 года назад

Imagine if one of the actual Silver Shields were discovered in a tomb in the East somewhere, what an amazing piece of military history it would be.

@ktheterkuceder6825 2 года назад

Imagine a silver shield series done Sharpe protagonist and masterful acting style with Rome series plot and historical authenticity style and alatriste movie style of ancient battles and fighting authenticity as well as excellent historical costumes and every frame looking like a painting. Editing:if I may ad the silver shields relationship needs to offer band of brothers vibe.

@xSoulhunterDKx 2 года назад

Sounds like fun

@QuantumHistorian 2 года назад

Even better, do the whole of the Wars of the Diadochi in a HBO "Rome" / "GoT" style. Each one of the successors is essentially a great house. Lots of strong women and potential for an ethnic cast - just what hollywood likes these days. The history itself lends itself to being cut up in seasons: the pilot is Alexander's death and the conference of his generals, then end Season 1 with Perdiccas' death, Season 2 with Eumenes', Season 3 with Antigonas', etc...

@narxes 2 года назад

Wonderful idea, but I sincerely doubt anything like that will be made. Hope I'm wrong.

@ktheterkuceder6825 2 года назад

@@QuantumHistorian Come to think of it Alexander was indeed a Robert Baratheon. Too bad he had no friend like Ned though.

@ktheterkuceder6825 2 года назад

@@QuantumHistorian Got and Rome were good as far as acting and authenticity in manners,intrigues,politics and mentality goes. But in terms of masterful acting and historical authenticity the first goes to Sharpe and the second to Alatriste. Rome and Got battles and realistic fighting were awful.

@thomasrinschler6783 2 года назад

Their actions at Gabiene were truly short-sighted. As Eumenes told them, the enemy was basically beaten, so they should be able to defeat them totally the next day and regain their baggage train (Antigonos' forces certainly weren't going to escape with it in their possession if they retreated, as it would have slowed them down too much). But the most of the other satraps hated Eumenes for being a non-Macedonian Greek and having started out as a mere secretary, and were already on the verge of betrayal anyway; and thus they persuaded the Silver Shields to turn on Eumenes when victory was in their grasp.

@Cross-xm2fr 2 года назад

Wife and kids could be killed, even if gold can be recovered

@RexGalilae 2 года назад

If I was Antigonos, I'd have threatened to kill the hostages if I saw any aggression from the silver shields. The camp was a massive flaw in the Macedonian military. Always an Achilles's heel. Capturing the enemy camp was a sure victory regardless the cost. The Romans would later exploit this and improve on this vulnerability

@Rekovnii 2 года назад

@@RexGalilae they made marius mules for a reason

@fatherofhistory 2 года назад

Although the *Greeks* and *Macedonians* _fought_ together in the army of *Alexander* _the_ *Great* they have always had many problems and conflicts between both the soldiers and the highest military leaders. It was only the presence of the *_figure_* of Alexander the Great that he managed to keep together but with his death, these conflicts were rekindled.

@fatherofhistory 2 года назад

@@RexGalilae The thing the Romans did better than the fight was that they learned from the mistakes of their opponents so they were even more successful.

@omarbradley6807 2 года назад

@Ihavpickle Год назад

Boring fact but okay

@rorschach1985ify 4 месяца назад

Nothing boring about history on a history video, jackass.

@shawnsweet5557 Месяц назад

@@Ihavpickle you got a better one? "Pickle tickler"......

@Ihavpickle Месяц назад

@@shawnsweet5557 Why's bro so pressed lmfao

@nagamata 2 года назад

Stellar vid! Mercenaries were mentioned briefly, and I realized that such groups are used all across history, by nations great and small alike. I’d love to see a Units of History on ancient mercenary groups, from anywhere-how/when they come to be; examples where they’ve been crucial to victory or defeat; how they could operate as a third party in some other sovereignty’s campaigns. Did they work like the free companies in A Song of Ice and Fire? Or were there just divisions of armies that were more autonomous than those loyal to their sovereign leader?

@moisesflores5405 2 года назад

For the classical era Jeffrey Rop Greek military service in the ancient Near East, 401-330 BCE is an excellent book on Greek mercenary service in the East.

@cloudjumper8868 2 года назад

Yes, so many famous mercenary "bands". From ancient greek through roman period, medieval, renaisance and more "civilised" ages. Numidians, cretan archers, thracian and illiriyan infrantry, carthaginians and their mercs armies, italian states in medieval with mercenary ranks, landsknechts, swiss pikes... I doubt one video would be enough and I only hope that these units will be covered in this Units of history series. I would like to see a video about bucaneers aka "state registered pirates so not really pirates". I think there were many famous ones with achievements in battle, explorations, topography and so on. Sir Francis Drake is a prime example for interesting character to cover.

@fatherofhistory 2 года назад

Because in the long run, it was cheaper to simply hire a standing *_group of soldiers_* who were already trained and (usually) equipped for the duration of a campaign than have to raise your own *army* out of your populace, *train*, and then equip them….which places a huge drain on your economy and potential economic output with men being diverted to being ***_soldiers_* instead of *workers*.

@ryandaverayla4910 2 года назад

Invicta covered the Numidian Cavalry and Balearic Slingers. These were mercenary groups that fought to pay

@nagamata 2 года назад

@@ryandaverayla4910 yeah TBH after I commented, I had that dumb realization, and definitely have watched all those already. In fact, the Balearic Slingers video is one of my favorites, it was one of the first I saw when I got into the channel. I guess the Kylo Ren inside me just needs more history. MORE. MOOORE.

@simonf823 2 года назад

A quick correction- the sword shown at 7:46 is a kopis, not a xiphos; the xiphos is the leaf shaped blade with two cutting edges.

@Evan-rj9xy 2 года назад

7:42 The sword depicted here is a Kopis, not a Xiphos. A Xiphos was a double-edged sword usually with a leaf shaped blade

@Skycube100 2 года назад

Yeah I was wondering about that a bit 😅

@AnarchAngel1 2 года назад

I believe I've heard Kopis translates to something like "I cut" in Greek...it's Greek to me though 😅

@Caedmon_Kael 2 года назад

I was also about to comment about that

@garymelchisky2880 2 года назад

I was thinking about saying that, but you beat me to it by quite a bit, as did a few others

@tituslaronius 2 года назад

I was just about to comment on that

@FAVanguard 2 года назад

Imagine their shields beaming in the sun reflecting blinding sun rays at their enemies. Cool af

@omarbradley6807 2 года назад

Fun fact: Some Silver Shield defected to Seleucus once he marched towards Babylon, and then fought alongside him against Antigonus forces. The Silver Shield legacy was thus keep alive under the Seleucid army. And when Antiochus III, invaded Syria in his second attempt during the fifth Syrian War, (this time sucesful) He did indeed made his silver shields to reflect the sun on the Ptolemaic enemies, during the ensuing battle of Panium, (altought this had minor effects, and the battle was won in a similar way than the Egyptians when they previously defeated him at Raphia, nevertheless, he avenged it and anexed all of Ptolemaic Asia.)

@ktheterkuceder6825 2 года назад

Spartiates: we are the best. Sacred bands: no we are the best. Silver shields: allow us to introduce ourselves.

@r.g.o3879 2 года назад

What is amazing is not how good the one unit or another was but that there were so many good units that over 2000 years later they are still remembered. Add in the roman preatorians and the earlier Persian immortals and you realize what a great era for military art existed.

@xSoulhunterDKx 2 года назад

13th Legion!

@nielsw7892 2 года назад

@@r.g.o3879 praetorian Gaurds were weaker then Legions

@ktheterkuceder6825 2 года назад

@@nielsw7892 And backstabbing corrupt bastards as well.

@jarosawkaczynski3414 2 года назад

them winged hussars arrived. Gamę over:)

@InvictaHistory 2 года назад

Thanks to everyone for helping to suggest and vote for this episode! What units do you want to see covered next?

@pelleas2681 2 года назад

the cossacks

@tsarzamancorpdna 2 года назад

Turkish jannisaries or mongol keshigs?

@danielhall6578 2 года назад

@@pelleas2681 I second the Cossacks

@RodolfoGaming 2 года назад

Nubian Archers please

@explosivereactionstv7414 2 года назад

Mameluke soldiers, janissaries, Qizilbash, and Ghilmans

@Dantick09 2 года назад

Silver shields be like: "I try to retire but they keep bringing me back in"

@unifiedhorizons2663 2 года назад

USA recruitment: so wanna go back in we’re pay you a 3000 USD non taxable bonus if you do!

@fl3669 2 года назад

Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in

@lukedukejohnson3678 2 года назад

Had they been twinned with composite bow armed calvary of mongol quality to engage the flank and rear of who they engaged imagine the unstoppable nature of the silver shields

@szarekhthesilent2047 2 года назад

@@lukedukejohnson3678 So. East Roman army basically.

@niros9667 2 года назад

What a fantastic episode, this channel blows me away. Hats off to everyone who contributed to this, the quality is insane!

@Fumblerful 2 года назад

I remember years ago when I was waiting around and decided to look up "Roman Legionaries" on RU-vid. I feel like I jumped just at the right time, to see you and all the rest cover such vast arrays of people and places, with so many different lenses of perspectives.

@napoleonibonaparte7198 2 года назад

They lived long enough to see themselves become the villain.

@RodolfoGaming 2 года назад

True and then Antigonus dispatched them

@omarbradley6807 2 года назад

@@RodolfoGaming Yes, but they those at the garrisons, deserted from Nikanor (Antigonid Satrap) and joined Seleucus in his war against Angtigonus.

@earltaylor1893 2 года назад

This gave me goosebumps! The wars of the Diodochi are one my favorite time periods. Thank you for this insightful video! I learned a lot I didn’t know about the silver shields.

@yaaseenabrahams5847 2 года назад

This coverage was absolute brilliant.. So in depth.. You don't find this level of detail often.. Thank you!!

@ElPorpoise 2 года назад

Seeing the growth of this channel has been absolutely wonderful. So many ways you have improved, it would be a far too long if a comment to list them all. Such a passion behind it all, I am thankful for all the content everyone involved creates!

@isimpkins4 2 года назад

Phenomenal video. Absolutely love the content focused on the Successor Kingsoms and the Diadochi. Thank you Invicta!

@Brandazzo22 2 года назад

An excellent video Invicta! Your ethics of explaining history by telling us the different scholar theories are something to be admired.

@petitpanierdosier3206 2 года назад

love the artworks, the narration and the overall content ! great video

@ys8686 2 года назад

Imagine fighting in the battlefield at the age of 60 what a chad move

@TheAdrian229 2 года назад

And still kick ass of much much younger enemy soldiers , absolute legends

@Ulfhednar1993 2 года назад

Leonidas was 60 year old when he fought at Thermopylae

@rezawicaksono4753 2 года назад

beware of a bunch of oldman with a profession where people die young (stolen comment)

@nocive7381 2 года назад

In that time 60 was 40 in our timeline

@soggybiscuitz5985 2 года назад

@@nocive7381 No. 60 is 60

@Ulfhednar1993 2 года назад

Finally thank u Invicta, I ve ben asking for this since u guys started this amazing series

@DOMINATOREDWING 2 года назад

I've always wonder about the history of the silver shields since Rome: Total War. Now I know the full history! Thank you so much!! I love your work and your merch. 10/10 all the way!!

@TheBikeOnTheMoon 2 года назад

Now I understand why Seleucids has silver shield troops. Still, I've been wondering about the same for the bronze shield as well.

@dschehutinefer5627 2 года назад

I still remember how insane these guys were in Europa Barbarorum. A single unit of silver shields entrenched in the victory zone of a city (where they can't retreat and fight to the last man) was always guaranteeing heavy losses on my side. Even pelted with spears and stones and surrounded on all sides, these guys would just refuse to move an inch and take down three Principes for every one silver shield. Seriously, only the Gallic naked fanatics were more frustrating to fight because of their stacking intimidation bonus.

@deepdungeon8465 2 года назад

@@dschehutinefer5627 This men are more skilled, more experienced, and more battle hardened than any Roman Legionnaires.

@RJALEXANDER777 2 года назад

@@deepdungeon8465 The Triarii (never properly represented in Total War) were a similar formation in weapons, experience and prestige. They were the seniors of the pre Marian Roman Maniples, but were more of a reserve/rear-guard force that whilst could often be the decisive element weren't expected to be. The post Marian legions meanwhile mixed soldiers of different experience levels together and veterans were more often than not officers, very similar to how modern armies operate.

@elkingoh4543 7 месяцев назад

Seleucid in Rome TW is OP went face other factions, but.....

@user-ll9hb3sd8h 2 года назад

Fun fact: Byzantine Emperor Basil I the Macedonian was very attracted to this historical period because the court related him to Philip and Alexander due to his Macedonian origins. Basil began a Macedonian propaganda campaign to link his dynasty with that of Alexander the Great and himself as Philip, to give more credibility to his campaign he named his son the future Basileus Alexander and established a royal company called the "hetarairea" that was composed of the aristocatras or "philoi" (friends) of the Basileus and the best mercenaries such as the Varangians. He also created a company composed only of Macedonian soldiers since there was a myth in the eastern armies that only they could re-conquer Asia as they did with Alexander.

@apmoy70 2 года назад

The only problem is that the Macedonia of Basil's era ≠ Ancient Macedonia, as his "Macedonia" is nowadays in Greek Thrace, a few hundred kilometers to the East

@ornessarhithfaeron3576 2 года назад

:hidethepainharold:

@TeutonicEmperor1198 2 года назад

@@apmoy70 όντως, το θέμα της Μακεδονίας ήταν στην Θράκη κι όχι στην κανονική Μακεδονία η όποια ανήκε κυρίως στο θέμα της Θεσσαλονίκης!

@wankawanka3053 2 года назад

But the macedonia he came from was a roman province

@tatjanavelkova5814 3 дня назад

MAKEDONIJA 25 CENTURIES IN SOUTH EVROPA ! ! !

@tigergaminggr8079 2 года назад

The terms lochos, lochagos, syntagmata and hypaspist are still used in the Greek army today!

@apmoy70 2 года назад

Yep, they passed on in the Byzantine military nomenclature and are used in Modern Greek military nomenclature today

@johnvolos8667 2 года назад

@@apmoy70 Roman not Byzantine....Byzantine is German term and is wrong

@neonknight-1522 Год назад

@@johnvolos8667 shut up

@rat488 2 года назад

this is definitely the most fascinating military unit in history

@seanbigay1042 2 года назад

Not least because of another guy known for his special shield? "When Captain America throws his Mighty Shield / All those who chose to oppose his Shield must yield!" Of course, as mendacious and faithless as the Silver Shields proved, they were really the backwards of Cap.

@timpac17 Год назад

The sacred band is also an interesting concept

@Ihavpickle Год назад

Not really

@rat488 Год назад

@@Ihavpickle why would you waste your time writing that...

@Ihavpickle Год назад

@@rat488 it's two words bro

@disgustedvet9528 2 года назад

Must've been some tough old guys back then , imagine marching all over and then fighting man to man when you're 50 or 60 and even 70 years old.

@Dantick09 2 года назад

imagine getting beaten by a geriatric army

@wulf1046 2 года назад

Truly amazing stuff keep up the good work

@livrasyt166 2 года назад

seeing Invicta with an MCDM shirt just made me an even bigger fan of him lol

@InvictaHistory 2 года назад

I owe Matt a lot for helping me launch my DM career and have spoken to him about collaboration on a History of D&D episode

@livrasyt166 2 года назад

@@InvictaHistory Now I am even more hyped! Invicta and Mat in a DnD video. A dream come true!

@aenorist2431 2 года назад

@@InvictaHistory So, DnD videos when?

@zacharyelliott7161 2 года назад

@@InvictaHistory Awesome

@rickmisnich2097 2 года назад

Remember, mirrors are just highly polished silver behind glass. Could you imagine heading to fight guys with big mirrors shinning the light in your eyes? Silver tarnishes pretty quick, which suggests they were more likely to be superbly polished the day of the battle.

@RuinnTheGreat 2 года назад

Man whoever creates the art is a magician, its so beautiful 🥰

@jdirty8799 2 года назад

I believe this was my favorite of the unit documentaries so far!

@SoLoGLidez 2 года назад

just been getting into history. always thought it was boring and this format makes learning it fun. thank you

@mikemodugno5879 2 года назад

Awesome video! I would love to see you continue with the successor kingdoms (like Ptolemaic Egypt, and the Seleucids)

@ferrjuan 2 года назад

24:51 You forgot to depict Antigonus with only one eye! He was known as Antigonus I Monophthalmus (the one-eyed)

@fmmsf1 2 года назад

What a great episode! Thanks guys :D

@prva9347 2 года назад

Most interesting, thanks. Love the illustrations and maps, and the soldiers standing on their individual pedestals like board game pieces :-)

@Boxingbear 2 года назад

Great job. The Silver Shields serve as a warning to those who would sacrifice their honor for wealth. The fates have a way of dealing with men like this so that their betrayals ultimately leave them in ruin.

@kostas3577 2 года назад

The Silver shields are one of the best Greek peek Hellenistic era infantry and you can't change my mind

@ktheterkuceder6825 2 года назад

Better than spartiates.

@haywoodjablomi9393 2 года назад

Thracian Rhomphaiaphoroi are badass, though they aren't Hellenistic.

@demetriusstiakkogiannakes1326 2 года назад

@@haywoodjablomi9393Wrong.The Silver Shields remained as a unit during the Hellenistic period and they were still used by the Seleucids.

@haywoodjablomi9393 2 года назад

@@demetriusstiakkogiannakes1326 I never said Rhomphaiphoroi were the best, I said they were badass.

@trajcemitevski7087 2 года назад

As the narrative says they are Macedonian silver shields , so 🤷 .

@esem8500 2 года назад

Great video as always thanks for your work keep it going.

@SuperSwordoftruth 2 года назад

Really enjoyed this, part of a great series of videos.

@cfv7461 2 года назад

Finally, my Rome Total War bias :)

@Nikosmentis 2 года назад

Small correction: it’s is pronounced lochagos (λοχαγός in modern greek meaning the man who leads the lochos)

@ajavierb2078 2 года назад

Amazing video!!! I have waited for this video for years

@Sk0lzky 2 года назад

Whoever has been making the art for your videos (for quite a while now) deserves a medal. Any plans to make a course on how to draw like that?

@queldron 2 года назад

Amazing video once again! Just one small correction: the word is Lochagos, not Lochargos. Also, while you correctly state that they had Xiphos swords you depict a Kopis sword.

@vanivanov9571 2 года назад

Deuratus channel is HIGHLY recommended. One of the best on youtube, and criminally unknown. Seems weird to have no links to Deuratus' channel.... There ought to be one in the description, video card, and in a pinned comment, since he did the heavy lifting of writing the episode.

@theoutlook55 2 года назад

Yay, I was looking forward to this subject.

@Iamthatiis Год назад

Thanks for making videos like this.

@JuanCanuck 2 года назад

Shoutouts Eumenese for being the most based Diadochi

@omarbradley6807 2 года назад

He could be, but maybe Seleucus was the best,

@adammercer6004 Год назад

Never forget that Eumenes was only Alexander's Secretary and has never fought or commanded prior to Perdicas placing him in command of the northern army and technically he never lost a battle once all it took the Silver Shields betrayal to beat him.

@LudosErgoSum 2 года назад

Seems the Macedonians unlocked this crafting recipe earlier than most Minecraft players that were still fooling around with bronze gear. No wonder they were able to conquer all of the chunks that had been generated so far!

@RobertMihalache 2 года назад

Amazing and very informative. Thanks a lot for sharing. Kind regards.

@kentkagle3850 2 года назад

Awesome work you guys do.

@thegermaniccoenus2525 2 года назад

My theory on who were the Silvershields. Hypaspist Peltasts and the Ashetairoi/Agema? These men now called Silvershields were originally known as the 5000-strong Phalanx Guard; the picked men of the late Argead and Antigonid Kings. They were deployed on the farthest right of Chalkaspides phalanxes. The most senior veterans among them, a 2000-strong regiment called the *Agema* or Old Guard nicknamed as their age was 45 and 60 *(Asthetairoi or Best Companions)*. The rest are 3000 men called the *Hypaspist-Peltastai* due to their age being 35. Being classified as Elite Special Forces of Macedon, they weren't just sword-armed Shield-bearing Guards or Pike phalangites or skirmishing Peltasts. They were all three. They were equipped like a heavier version of the *"Iphicratean hoplites"* ; wielding a shorter version of the sarissa pike of about 12 to 13 foot long like the ones featured on the tomb of Agios Athanasios, as it was far more easier to manage. Two or three javelins for skirmishes, ambushes and other missions that require more mobility. Upon close-quarters combat, they also carried a 68 to 69 cm blade called Xiphos paired with 70cm variety (shield diameters ranging from 70cm to 74cm) of the Macedonian shield. They also carried a hoplite spear on guarding duties or sieges. For armor, the soldiers would be clad in linen armor reinforced by a tough leather hide along with bronze or iron plates, as the nature of Hellenistic warfare requires them to be highly mobile even in pitch battles. They wore bronze greaves, Iphicratid boots and open helmets either of the Phrygian (or Thracian) variety. The fate of the Silvershields. By the end of the campaign and death of the Macedonian emperor, about 3000 more so or less of the 5000 men were left, most of them once belonged to the younger guard of the Hypaspist-Peltastai chilliarchies aging 60 to 70 but some of the Agema now aging 80 to 90 were still a part of the Corps. But as stated in the video, they were still very much invincible. In the battlefields of Gabiene and Paraitacene, they were able to prove themselves far superior against the enemy Macedonian phalanxes. At the last battle at Gabiene, the Antigonus captured their baggage train. They turned over their commanders Antigenes and Eumenes, who were executed. N.G.L Hammond tells us that when Antigonus inherited the Argyraspides, he found some of them to be very tumultuous and unruly to command so he sent a thousand of the most unruly men into the Satrapy of Sibyrtius where they would be divided into smaller groups and sent into hostile missions against the Indians and other barbarians as form of slow punishment. The rest of the 2000 were incorporated into his phalanxes as file leaders. Though some would be part of the Antigonid Guard.

@giftzwerg7345 2 года назад

Pikes dont work with hoplite shilds

@thegermaniccoenus2525 2 года назад

@@giftzwerg7345 I'm breaking down the known concensus of the Elite Guard's armament: the Aspis. Macedonian shields ( or more accurately the *Macedonian Peltai* ) come in two sizes. Namely the 70cm version and the 60cm version. The smaller ones (60cm to 65cm) were used by the Chalkaspides or the Bronze-Shields, more commonly known for their title of honor by Alexander as *"Foot Companions"* The larger version of these shields ( the 70cm to 74cm variety) were the ones used by Elite Guard. The reason why we know this was when the shields were excavated, the royal emblems and the names of the Kings they served were inscribed on the said shields. These are different from the Argive Aspis used by the Greeks in the south. They don't have a bronze porpax but an *ochane* (handle) as this allows the individual soldier to use his two hands in handling a sarissa. The researcher Nicholas Sekunda in his book called *The Macedonian Armies after Alexander* reconstructed a reconstructed an accurate depiction of the shield's handle from the painting of Ajax from the Hellenistic-inspired in a fresco from the House of Menander. Ajax is described from the painting using peltai which reveals three straps of leather being attached to shield as handles. The Elite Guard (the Hypaspist-Peltastai and the Agema) weren't just by all means Shield-bearing guards. Being versatile in combat and the special forces of Macedon, they were also sarissa-bearers. We have literary evidence to support this; that being the "Duel of Coragus and Dioxippus" in Rufus Curtius *The History of Alexander the Great* . On the day of the duel, the Macedonian Coragus is known by his weapons to have wielded a sarissa, a javelin, a sword and a shield. The author did specify the length of pike Coragus used in that duel. But it is clearly known that he would've used a shorter version of about 12ft. in length, as using one with the length of 18 to 20 feet. would've been unsuitable for single combat. We have also artistic evidence to support of such weapons, like the paintings from the Tomb of Agios Athanasios which shows two soldiers of the Guard carrying two short pikes of about 12 feet.

@eagle162 Год назад

Do you have any sources, I'm very curious to read more about this.

@julianmarsh1378 2 года назад

The thing that always amazes me about the Macedonians is that their army never seems to have numbered more than 40,000 of their own troops, and yet look what they accomplished! Their military exploits under Philip and Alexander outshine any comparable Roman tag team of generals, while the best of the Hellenistic Era rivals the best of the Greco-Roman period.

@ww2wall561 Год назад

Greeks were always numbered

@tiestofalljays Год назад

One of the closest comparison’s I’d pull would be the Roman Empreror Aurelian during the Crisis of the 3rd Century. Rome seemed on the verge of collapse, but this man somehow, at a breakneck pace, fought battles and recaptured Egypt, Gaul, and Palmyra [among others]…all while bouncing between the East of West of the Empire….all in what? 5ish years? It honestly seems almost impossible to believe, and a show based on this in the style of “Rome” would probably outdo Game of Thrones in its grandeur. The Palmyra arc would be super interesting, there was all sorts of political intrigue going on. The city of Órleans in France is named after him (and I suppose, by extension, so is New Orleans in the USA :) ). He’s got to be one of my favorite ever figures in Roman history for sure.

@AKRITAS365 11 месяцев назад

@ww 2wall The Greeks were always outnumbered and still managed to destroy their enemies. The recent example was the Greco Italian war in 1940 where the Greek army Completely destroyed the invading Iralian army which was heavily armed by German arms and by airforce.

@ichotw5766 2 года назад

You guys are great, keep up with great work

@kostasmetal7 2 года назад

That video was beyond amazing!

@bernsry 2 года назад

You ought to consider covering a naval unit! The Greek trireme, the roman quinquereme, anything!

@ViceadmiralNelson 2 года назад

Love your work. Very picky me found the smallest of oversigth: Around 6:30, the unit should be a Pentakosiarchie and its Commander a Pentekosiarchos or Pentekosiarch

@afisemenaborevlaka48 2 года назад

You're not going to like this. It's actually a "Pentakosiarchia" and a "Pentakosiarchos" or "Pentakosiarch." I guess I'm more picky than you.

@ViceadmiralNelson 2 года назад

@@afisemenaborevlaka48 If you Read Ael. Tact. 2,10 - likley the source used here - you actually find πεντακοσιαρχιαν (acc sng, fem.) commanded by an πεντακοσιαρχην. For πεντακοσιαρχιαν its a simple question of transliteration - I have seen Pentakosiarchy, Pentakosiarchie and Pentakosiarchia. Now πεντακοσιαρχην is an interesting form, because it is a masculinum that can be found both in the "regular" masculin Decilnation - then the correct nom. sng. would be πεντακοσιαρχος. However, since πεντακοσιαρχιαν is female, Aelian decided that he should use a masculin of the female a-decilnation, hence πεντακοσιαρχην (acc. sng, masc). So the correct nom. sng. masc. of the Pentakosiarch of this special source would be not πεντακοσιαρχος, but πεντακοσιαρχης - or Pentakosiarches. Now the real fun begins, because Aelian uses early second century AD. attic dialect, whereas Alexanders men would have used fourth century BC macedonian dialect, while Alexander himself likley used both the macedonian dialect as well as the posh Attic tongue, perhaps mixed with some doric (his house comming from the peloponessus and all), chacidian elements (with Aristotle coming from Stageira) and whatever Epiroite accent his mother migth have transmitted. There is basically no way for us to know how he would have pronounced it. In terms of writing, the fun gets even better, since our three main written (and all lost) sources are a) Ptolomy (the gods may know his dialect - probably similar to Alexander) Eumenes (greek, from the Chersonessus, official secreterial documents) and Callisthenes (chalcidian, likley with some attic elements). By the way, I would rather count on Arrian, who does - to my knowledge, would need to dive deeper into that - not use the interval of 512 men for the infantry at all, so...

@afisemenaborevlaka48 2 года назад

@@ViceadmiralNelson OK, I was wrong, you are more picky than me. It's really hard to make sense from all the different Greek dialects used throughout time as to the exact spelling and pronunciation of words. I read an article a while back that Latin mostly derives from the Chalkidian alphabet and dialect. Have to look into that.

@DavidSmith-wy3ii 2 года назад

Incredible details very interesting .thank you

@Cycon91 2 года назад

It was fun to see an MCDM shirt on this channel :) Great video, as always.

@neutralpeace647 2 года назад

Greek coalition was the most spectacular event in World's history.

@aenorist2431 2 года назад

Dude casually in a MCDM shirt. What a legend.

@ahoosifoou4211 2 года назад

Invicta you make me feel like a child. I love the thumbnail give me rome total war vibes playing as seleucid in the desert. Could you also look into famous mercenary bands across history?. Thanks and great vid

@stefos6431 Год назад

Great job Invicta.........

@nobedience 2 года назад

Imagine the distances they were walking their whole life.

@Dennell_Mount_and_Blade 2 года назад

It's really quite an accomplishment if you think about how much equipment they had to carry as well. I wonder how their knees and backs were able to hold out all those years. To some extent they were the super humans of their time.

@marloyorkrodriguez9975 2 года назад

I am a big fan of Eumenes, he is a secretary who became a great general, a shame he was betrayed by the best of the best but hey his curse turned true.

@user-ln8eh5nq3q 2 года назад

Yes he could unite the empire again

@ferrjuan 2 года назад

He was the last supporter of Alexander’s dynasty once he died the Diadochi would each claim kingship over their respective regions and of course Cassander would kill Alexander’s heir/son as well as Olympia (Alexander’s mom) and Roxanne (Alexander’s wife)

@FearTheNorth 2 года назад

Many congrats. Great Video 🏺🏺🏺🏺

@mistypluto6918 2 года назад

One of my favourite youtube channels now

@eldrenofthemist2492 2 года назад

The Silver Shields had Silver Beards to match. When Elders had Conquered an Empire.

@nekomakhea9440 2 года назад

*the ending is super depressing* _We hope you've enjoyed this deep dive~!_ lol the tone shift is sudden enough to cause whiplash

@thegainsayerstalker 3 месяца назад

Some corrections: Lochagos [λοχαγός -> λόχος (company) + άγω (lead/guide)]. Syntagmata is the plural, the singular is syntagma (σύνταγμα = regiment). A pentakosiarchy [πεντακοσιαρχία -> πεντακόσια (500) + άρχω (rule)] is lead by a pentakosiarch (πεντακοσιάρχης). Great video overall, thank you.

@user-bw6kh6xp9h 2 года назад

Nice work

@mariaasturias4134 2 года назад

Alexander the Great is even mentioned in the Geneva bible, I love reading about that great man.

@x1_catalyst_x174 2 года назад

How is he great? What did he do after his conquest, oh shoot he died and no one knows where his grave is=(

@tatjanavelkova5814 3 дня назад

before 25 centuries ALEXANDER THE GREAT TSAR ON MAKEDONIJA .

@gelisgeo1309 2 года назад

Lochos lochagos syntagma pezikarioi etc... Exist until now in Greek army

@metigame1450 2 года назад

🤣🤣🤣🤣

@MikeSmith-vl5em Год назад

When I read that I was like is this dude speaking elvish or sindarin from LOTR LOL I’m reading the novel the change and the rangers war cry starts with lochos

@gelisgeo1309 Год назад

@@MikeSmith-vl5em I don't understand

@nezperce2767 5 месяцев назад

Modern greek are formed by Archelaos king of Macs and close friend of Evripides. He took his capital from Aiges to Pella. Study

@gelisgeo1309 5 месяцев назад

@@nezperce2767 I think you have not understood what I wrote.. the Byzantine titles are completely Greek and are used to this day. that's what I'm talking about

@bleekskaduwee6762 2 года назад

Bravo , your guys just raised your own bar much higher

@magnomotta8661 2 года назад

Great episode!

@darthsidious6753 2 года назад

Yet he turned against Perdiccas, allied with Antipatros, which sparked the first Diadochi war.

@Strider91 2 года назад

60!!! Jesus, watch out for that guy. Beware an old man in a profession where men die young!

@robbabcock_ 2 года назад

Wonderful video! ⚔🏹

@Vegnarr 2 года назад

Great Video My friend

@VforValenti 2 года назад

"Λοχαγός" ie "Lochagos", not "Lochargos". AMAZING video nevertheless.

@user-xy1pd9cr3r 2 года назад

There is also lochargos a lochagos who is lame or goes late,take his time to do things or maybe a lochagos from Argos 😁

@VforValenti 2 года назад

@@user-xy1pd9cr3r hahahahaha....

@pixelhistoricalwarriors 2 года назад

7:42 "And the Xiphos sword" The guy picks up a kopis

@JuCarlos-ex8ip 2 года назад

Great documentary 👏

@danielm3670 2 года назад

Very good presentation.

@che71che 2 года назад

Do you think that having a highly trained unit armed with polished Silver Shields could have been used as a field weapon? Reflecting the glaring sun into the eyes of the enemy, blinding or even temporarily dazzling your opponent just before engagement must give some advantages especially if your being disadvantaged because the higher ground you've chosen is facing into the sun but with silver polished shields you could turn your disadvantage back into an advantage, I wonder if any battle re-enactments have been recreated to test if this could have been deployed as a battle field tactic?

@josiplucic7077 2 года назад

In 7:40 you made a mistake, you said the soldier used xiphos sword but you drew kopis model :)

@artbyevangelos 2 года назад

Great channel thank you for sharing 🍀🌞✍🏼

@dansmith4077 3 месяца назад

Awesome video

@BeatMonkeyV5 2 года назад

Excellent coverage, but as a nit-picking comment; when the animation shows the equipment of the Hypaspists, the narrator mentions their sidearm being a Xiphos but the weapon shown is actually a Kopis.

@GottHammer 2 года назад

that and I thought that use of the word 'hoplon' for shield is less preferable to 'aspis' now?

@BeatMonkeyV5 2 года назад

@@GottHammer I guess the term ‘hoplon’ is more related to the idea of the Hoplite, but in reality the names are interchangeable for the same piece of equipment

@szarekhthesilent2047 2 года назад

@@BeatMonkeyV5 Nope. Hoplon means "equipment (for war)" where as "aspis" means "guardian"/shield. That being said, Dipylon, Aspis, Thyreos and Pelta are all overlapping in some areas. So feel free to call the shield Hoplon. Or Bob. I think Bob sounds good.We should call the shied Bob, and the Spear "also Bob".