Parsa Military

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Ancient Iranian Army

Pre-Achaemenid Armies

During Pre-achaemenid times Iranian armies were mainly composed of tribal and family units fighting along side one another. Mostly likely conflicts between Iranians, although warfare between Iranians and Central Asians mostly occured, evidenced by Ferdowsi's Shahnameh. Certainly there are records of wars farther west between Elam and Babylon.Originally a vassal state, Elam revolted and overpowered Babylon. Though ousted by Hammurabi, with his death Elam sacked Mesopotamia so badly, a thousand years later Babylonians still recounted the horrors. Elam subsequently declined soon after and was destroyed by the Assyrians invasion. Though they attempted a revolt, Elam was brutally but down by the despotic Assyrian kings, who were recalled as to have feasted with heads of dead Elamites surrounding them. Elam's army was composed mainly of foot soldiers with basic weaponery.

During the latter period of the Assyrian empire the peoples of the Iranian plateau gain greater prominence in Assyrian vassals. Indeed the Median peoples, in alliance with the Scythians, and the Chaldeans, brought down the Assyrian empire. Dayyauku, the first leader of the Medians united them in general revolt against Assyria. Though the revolt was unsuccessful, the unification of Media had grave implications for Assyria. Khshathrita, the next king, ousted the Assyrians and took a lot of land using a hit and run tactic. His army would often descend from the mountains to strike at the Assyrians and flee back into the mountains when the Assyrian Army responded. Though their foot soldiers could not match Assyria's, Media's cavalry was far more powerful. Khshathrita was later killed during a Scythian raid, leaving Huvakhshtra to ascend the throne.Huvakhshtra ousted the Scythians, extracting revenge. Then, in alliance with Babylon, Huvakhshtra took continued his conquests, claiming most of Iran, the Caucaus mountains and eastern Antolia.

Achaemenid Army

After Kuroush (Cyrus) overthrew Astayges, unifying the Median and Persian tribes, with himself at the helm, he continued to expand his empire. Though Kuroush was immortalized in the bible for his great tolerance, his military genius helped him overcome many enemies in combat. He trained his soldiers through hefty rountines to condition them for combat. During his expansion westward Kuroush battled the armies of Croseus, king of Lydia. Babylon was alarmed, but Kuroush in act of pure political savy, assured Babylon that he was not contemplating attacking them. At that time war in mountainous regions was seasonal. Fighting through the summers and taking a break during the harsh long winters. Kuroush decided to attack early in Spring, when the mountain passes had opened, but the Lydians were still unsuspecting. The Lydians had a formidable cavalry. To solve this issue Kuroush set camels up in front of his army. The ghastly smell from the camels terrified the Lydian horses who fled, leaving their masters hopeless. After conquering Lydia, with Babylon pacified for the time-being, Kuroush set his sights on his eastern domain. Attacking tribes in Afghanistan and Central Asia until his empire had expanded into kingdoms such as Bactria and Sogdiana. Prepared for Babylon, Kuroush moved to attack Babylon. Most people were discontent with their king Nabonidus. The battle was short as Nabonidus soon fled.

Upon his Kuroush's death his son Kambujiyahya (Cambyses) took the throne. Not as experienced as his dad he moved to attack Egypt swiftly, showing the plans where likely already set by Kuroush. Kambujiyahya also conquered lands to the south and west of Egypt, principally Libya and Nubia. Upon hearing an imposter had taken the throne Kambujiyahya hurried back to reclaim his throne but died enroute.

One of Kuroush's relatives and a general in his army, Darayavus (Darius) was furious upon hearing of the imposter on the throne. Resolving to reclaim the throne he took a small battalion and killed the imposter and his supporters. During his reign Darius took land in Northern Thrace, India, and Central Asia.

The Persain army was divided into units by a factor of 10, similar to the Romans. Most divisions had their own standards and insignias. These soldiers wore scaled armour under tunics. Some wore bronze, others Iron. Elite warriors, and nobility wore gold-plated armour. The shields used by the army also came in many shapes, forms, and uses. The Spara shields were large shields made of reed that were used on the front lines to protect the advancing army. Smaller shields were oval in shape but had two circular cut outs on either side, making two handed spears more usable. Among the many types of swords the Kopis was the favorite. It had a curved blade which gave it more leverage and a longer cutting edge than the Greek double-sided swords, perfect for decapitating. Its heavy blade allowed it to be used against heavier infantry. Most soldiers also also carried an Akinankes as well. This dagger originated in northeast Iran and was versatile and useful. Spears were important to the army as well. Usually about 9 or 10 feet long, they were used two handed or one handed. Some were also shorter and javelin shaped for throwing. Counterweights were placed on the ends of spears to make them balanced in weight distribution. These counterweights were circular in shape so as to prevent any accidentaly injuries from the thrusting motion to the soldiers behind. Persian forces used small composite bows which were versatile but not the most powerful. Greek soldiers would pull the arrows back with their thumb and index fingers, while Persian soldiers would use their index and middle fingers, giving them more strength and distance. Their archery was often used for blanketing enemy formations at distances. This made it effective against lightly armoured combatants but only effective against heavily armoured enemies at short distances. The army was divided in cavalry and infantry. Chariots were rare, obsolete, and mainly restricted for command positions as oppopsed to actual battle. A group of about 10,000 elite soldiers who were called, according to Herodotus, the immortals were also created. Their name as immortals was seems to be false. There is no mention of such names in Persian texts and some scholars theink that Herodotus confused the word of company, Anooshiya with the word for immortal Anausha. Herodotus was most likely referring to the royal guard, who were the best fighters from the Persian camp. Among other advancements, high-ranking officials were given authentic documentation to prove their position. Most soldiers had the right to take their wives along on campaigns. Soldiers from other nations were also hired or conscripted for their abilities. Phoenician seafares were masters of shipbuilding and were readily employed in naval conflicts. Greek and Nubian mercenaries were also utilized for their skills. The military of Iran greatly advanced under Achaemenid rule.

Parthian Army

The Parthian army's success was forged their huge cavalry that was among the best in the world. Being that their nomadic life depend on their horses, they bred the finest breeds. When political dischord hit the Parthian dynasty, the Romans thought it a great opportunity to invade. Big mistake! The Parthians rode around in circles shooting arrows into the hordes of Roman foot soldiers whose mobility was severely impaired by their heavy armor. The Romans were so embarrassed by their defeat that they took a prisoner from the jail who A unique tactic, called the Parthian shot, was carried out by feigning retreat. In an instant they would turn their hips around and shoot one last shot at the unsuspecting enemy soldiers. Kings and general would often watch and direct via portable structures that kept them safe. Quivers were placed on horses for quick reloading. Daggers and knives were carried for melee combat, which the Parthians rarely engaged in.

Sassanid Army

The Sassanid dynasty came into power after overthrowing the Parthians. The Sassanids reformed the military greatly. While the Parthians based their military solely on cavalry, the Sassanid amry was only 1/3 cavalry. The rest was mainly foot soldiers. A small Navy did exist. Its main purpose was to secure trading links to Vietnam and southern China before the Romans did. In the Sassanid army all members were required to wear proper armor, which was vastly improved over the Parthian army. Even horses had plated armor o they wouldn't die as easily when hit by arrows. Armor, along with dress and pay, also showed rank. Reviving Darius' system, these wrongly termed "immortals" were the elite sect of 10,000 equatable to the Roman Praetorian guard. The Pushtigban were the top of 1,000 who were the royal guardians. They wore solid armor of plated, in the fashion of many knights, which was gold-lined. They also had custom-designed armors and clothes. Awards were seldom handed out to ensure safety (the Achaemenids who had given away awards too easily caused many of their soldier to rush out in lunacy for self-glory on the battle fields). Elephants captured in India were also incorporated, though they were very valuable and rarely used, mainly to scatter enemy horses. Most of the time the Sassanids were at war with the Romans. Though they fought against nomads on the empire's eastern border too.

Post-Islamic Resistance

For, political reasons many have claimed that Iranians blatantly accepted Islam. These assertions are based off political motives and historically speaking are hideously incorrect. During the subsequent invasion by the Islamic Arabs, Iran was devastated. The Arabs pillaged towns, murdered people and raped women. In the wake most ancient Iranian libraries were burnt to the ground, on grounds that their teachings did not match Islam. The royal carpet at the Persian capital of Cteisphone was torn to pieces and burnt to show Islam's hate for material things. Near where Cteisphone was burnt down, the Arabs built their capital Baghdad, with the help of a Persian!

Omar, one of Muhammad's most loyal followers, throughout his devastating genocides took many Iranians as slaves. One Iranian by the name of Peeroz came to him begging for relief from the overburdening taxes which were put upon non-muslims, especially as he was only a slvae. Omar asked him what he did as a job, he replied that he was worked as a slave engineer, carpenter, and weaver. Omar exclaimed that someone of his skill should be able to live with what litlle money he gets, especially since he was a non-muslim. The next day at morning prayers Peeroz ran up on Omar and pulled out a sharp shank, stabbing him six times over and killing him.

Meanwhile in Iran many were equally fed up. Abu Muslim, also a slave (hence the name), led a rebellion until he was eventually killed. In the wak of his rebellion were inspired others. Militants in Iranians northern provinces stepped up their attacks, making the provinces of Gilan and Mazanderan off limits to the Arab armies. Meanwhile in the Khorassan the so-called "black shirts" rebelled against Arab rule. As in western Iran, a self-educated famer, by the name of Abdullah, converted back to Zoroastrianism, changed his name to Babak, and lead a deadly guerilla campaign. It was here the art of guerilla warfare was perfected. As many as 500,000 Arab soldiers and conscripts died by the hit and run tactics of his "red shirts". Eventually Babak was caught (thanks to a traitor among his own men) and horrifically slaughtered by his Arab captors. Though Babak died, in Gilan the resistance continued. Eventually Yaqoob-e-Leis appeared on the scene and moved to free Iran. Afraid of losing his empire the Caliphate offered to give Yaqoob Iran back, here is the letter Yaqoob wrote,

"To Caliphate of Muslemin, Al-Mu'tamid ol Be-Allah of Abbasid, When we heard of your generosity & action, to dedicate to us a numerous States & Provinces of Iran, it was intriguing! We told our brothers, that how can the Arab Caliphate of Baghdad be so generous to give us the deeds to our own states!? In fact, where does The Caliphate of Baghdad get the authority to give us such gifts? States of Iran have never belonged to Caliphate of Baghdad to grant their deeds to us! In fact, Baghdad was built on once, State of Mesopotamia, the first state of Iran. Baghdad was built on the ashes of Ctesiphone, over the dead bodies of hundreds of thousands of our fallen & murdered countrymen. You can see the wondering ghosts of our murdered ancestors walking around the glorious palaces & gardens of Baghdad at night! Isn't it true that Baghdad was built at the cost of Persian Blood? Caliph needs to answer these questions to the world. Can what caliph & his ancestors done to Iran be defined as Justice? I, Yaqoob-e Leis, son of Leis-e Sistani, a simple coppersmith, a simple working man, a son of Iran, by the power of the people of Iran, hereby reject, both, The Caliphates authority to: First, Curse & Condemnation of myself, my brothers & fellow Iranians. Second, generosity & forgiveness of returning our own States & Provinces back to us! I hereby refuse any further interference of Baghdad into Persian Affairs. We do not need the Caliphate of Baghdad to grant us the states of Iran which we already have repossessed! Iran belongs to Iranians & no one else. Caliph might be the Caliphate of the Universe, but he is not the Caliphate of Iran.

sign,

Yaqoob-e Leis Saffarid"

Indeed yaqoob may well have taken Baghdad back were it not for traitors among his soldiers. And so at the close we see that in the history of Iran the heart and soul of the warrior have always had an important place.