Medes (650-550 B.C.)

The Medes were the Iranian Precursors of the Persian Empire. The origin of the Medes concerns the gathering of six tribes to form a nation. The core of Media is a large plain and the Medes were noted for their cavalry horses.

They make an interesting army because they provide a cavalry based army to face the Late Assyrians, Babylonians and Egyptians. They should also be able to fight the Scythian army from the Antiquity set.

Era: Biblical   Medes (650-550 B.C.) CR: H: 4 L: 3   BP: 2 Init: 4
Core
Number Type   Description Key FV PROT Weapon Cost
3 HC Medes X 4(0)0 +1 Various/bows 12
1 FT Medes/Persians X 6(1)1 +1 Spears 8
1 FT Medes/Persians X 5(1)1 +1 Bows 8
1 LC Scythians   1(0)0 +1 Bows 6
2 SI     2(1)1 +2 Bows 2
Bonus:
1 HC Guard X 4(0)0 +1 Various/bows 12
3 HC Medes X 4(0)0 +1 Various/bows 12
3 LC Scythians   1(0)0 +1 Bows 6
2 LC Hyrcanians   2(0)0 +1 Various 7
4 FT Medes/Persians X 6(1)1 +1 Spears 8
4 FT Medes/Persians X 5(1)1 +1 Bows 8
4 LI Hill Tribes   4(1)2 +1 Javelins 7
2 SI     2(1)1 +2 Bows 2
2 SI     3(1)2 +2 Javelins 2
3 SI     3(1)2 +2 Slings 2

Terrain:

Core: 1 GR

Bonus: (Max: 3 ) 2 GR, 2 RG, 2W, 2 SH

Notes:

Core: 95 Bonus: 186

The Medes in Assyrian reliefs are shown with spears and square shields. The shields do not look big enough to count as a +2 PROT as the later Persian shields do.

King Cyaxares reorganised the army, according to Herodotus, separating out the spearmen, cavalry and archers. That implies that they are not a mixed bow spear formation. They employed Scythian mercenaries and were under Scythian domination for 30 years.

I have given the HC bow after much thought. This because the Medes on the Persian reliefs at Persepolis are shown with Gorytus type quivers which contain a composite bow and arrows Scythian style as against the Cane bow and box quiver of the Persians. This is pretty clearly mounted kit. The Successor to Cyaxares was called Astyages which means 'spear-thrower' in Persian. However, the best model for the Medes cavalry was the Late Assyrian cavalry. These are clearly shown as spear and bow heavy cavalry.

The Hillmen are those tribes that live in the mountains next to Assyria and formed Assyria's concept of Medes.

Ordo Link: There is no dedicated thread to the Mede list. Some information can be found on the New Army Submissions Thread, or by using the Search function located on the main Ordo page.

List Author: Aligern