WARRIORS THAT WERE LETHAL
Added on: 16th Jun 2016
THE MEDIEVAL KNIGHTS
Training for knighthood during medieval times usually began
at an early age. Often the prospective knight was sent to
live with a relative or lord who had the resources to train the
young boy in use of weapons and, most important, the
skills to handle a horse in combat. Once his training was
complete and he reached fighting age (usually around
sixteen to twenty years old), he was ready to take part in
wars and crusades in which he most likely would lose his
life with honour.
THE VIKINGS
“Viking” is the name by which the Scandinavian seaborne raiders
of the early medieval period are now commonly known. More
than the vicious warriors and raiders of tradition, the Vikings were
also traders and colonists who left an enduring mark all over
Northern Europe thanks to their glorified fighting skills, from
which many epic tales were written that endure to this day.
THE SAMURAI
The samurai were Japanese warriors who became the
highest-ranking social caste of the Edo Period (1603–1867).
A samurai employed a range of weapons such as bows and
arrows, spears and guns, but his main weapon and symbol
was the sword. A samurai was supposed to lead his life
according to the ethical code of bushido (“the way of the warrior”).
Strongly Confucian in nature, bushido stressed concepts
such as loyalty to one’s master, self-discipline and respectful
ethical behaviour.
THE GREEK PHALANX
The Greek phalanx was a rectangular mass military formation,
usually composed entirely of heavy infantry armed with spears,
pikes, sarissas, or similar weapons. The phalanx became
widely known through Alexander the Great’s army, which
perfected this military formation helping their king become
one of the most, if not the most, successful general and
conqueror of all time.
THE PERSIAN IMMORTALS
The first Persian Empire (550 BC–330 BC), called the Achaemenid
Empire, is known for having an elite warrior force. Named the
“Immortals” by the Greek historian Herodotus, this army
consisted of a heavy infantry of ten thousand men that
never reduced in number or strength. The Immortals played
an important role in Persian history, acting as both the
Imperial Guard and the standing army during the
empire’s expansion.
THE ROMAN LEGION
A full-strength legion was officially made up of six thousand men,
but typically all legions were organized at below strength and
generally consisted of approximately 5,300 fighting men
including officers. They were originally heavily influenced by
the Greek phalanxes of Alexander the Great but evolved
further with new techniques of warfare, helping the
Roman Empire to become one of the greatest empires
the world has ever known.
THE MONGOLIAN WARRIORS
The Mongols were violent and extremely well trained in the art of war.
Divided into groups of skilled archers and horse riders, the
Mongolian warriors went up against some of the best organized
armies of their time helping their leader, Genghis Khan, to create
one of the biggest empires the world has ever seen.
THE SPARTANS
Arguably the most famous military unit in history, the Spartans
are rightfully considered the most ferocious and effective
warriors in history. From the moment a Spartan male was born,
the military and the city-state were the centre of his life. If the
infant was too weak or sick, he was abandoned in the
countryside and left to die since he would never be a strong,
healthy warrior. The life of a Spartan soldier was inseparable
from that of his fellow soldiers. He ate, slept, and trained with them.
They were allowed to marry, but couldn’t live with their wives
since they spent most of their time fighting in wars or training.
They also didn’t participate in sporting events (such as the
Olympics) since according to Sparta’s standards sports were
for kids and women, men should only spend their energy
fighting in wars.
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