Sasani ordusu: Revizyonlar arasındaki fark

 

== Army ==

In the character of their warfare, the Persians of the Sasanian period differed greatly from their forebears under the [[Achaemenid]] kings. The principal changes which time had brought about were an almost entire disuse of the [[war chariot]], the advance of the [[war elephant|elephant]] corps into a very prominent and important position, and the increased use and pre-eminence of cavalry on the Parthian model, including both heavy [[cataphract]]s and [[horse-archer]]s. Four main arms of the service were recognized, each standing on a

different level: the [[Persian war elephants|elephants]], the horse, the archers, and the ordinary footmen.<ref name="Ancient Eastern World Page 189">George Rawlinson "''The Seven Great Monarchies of the Ancient Eastern World: The Seventh Monarchy: History of the Sassanian or New Persian Empire''" Page 189</ref>

 

=== Cavalry ===

The backbone of the ''Spâh'' in the Sasanian era was its heavy armoured cavalry, known since [[Classical antiquity]] in the west as [[Cataphract]]s. This was made up of noblemen who underwent extensive exercises in warfare and military manoeuvres through military training, gaining discipline and becoming true soldiers.{{Citation needed|date=July 2007}} Within the Sasanian military, the cavalry was the most influential element, and Sasanian [[cavalry tactics]] were adopted by the Romans, Arabs, and Turks. Their weaponry, battle tactics, [[tamga]]s, medallions, court customs, and costumes greatly influenced their Romano-Byzantine neighbours.{{Citation needed|date=February 2008}} The Romans had long contended against opponents who fielded heavy cavalry, notably the [[Sarmatians]] and the [[Parthia]]ns, and the recurrent wars with the Sasanian were an important factor in the Roman turn to new military organizations and battlefield tactics that centered around the use of heavy cavalry in the 3rd and 4th centuries. The Romans called these newly formed units ''[[clibanarii]]''; It is said that the word ''clibanarii'' is derived from Persian word ''[[grivpanvar]]'' or ''griva-pana-vara'' meaning ''neck-guard wearer''. Another, more direct and often quoted, etymology is the Greek word ''ho klibanos'', which refers to a covered pot in which bread was baked or a small oven; perhaps a joking reference to the one-piece mask helmets they wore. The Roman term appears for the first time in the ''vita Alexandri Severi'' (56.5) in the ''Historia Augusta'', a work from the very end of the 4th century AD.

 

 

=== Infantry ===

The infantry were mostly lightly armed [[spearmen]], who, like their Achaemenid ancestors, were usually levied troops of little fighting ability. Procopius of Caesarea famously derided them as "a crowd of pitiable peasants who come into battle for no other purpose than to dig through walls and to despoil the slain and in general to serve the soldiers [i.e. the cavalrymen]".<ref>[[Procopius]], ''History of the Wars: Persian War'', [http://www.gutenberg.org/files/16764/16764-h/16764-h.htm Book I, XIV.22-30]</ref> In some battles, however, [[heavy infantry]] was deployed. These were well-paid, heavily armoured infantry (carrying sword and javelin). The [[Guilan|Daylam]] provinces of the empire in particular were famous for providing high-quality foot soldiers.

 

 

== Foreign and mercenary soldiers ==

The Sasanian army, especially during the late Sasanian period, employed foreign mercenary troops from many different regions. The most frequently used types of mercenaries were Kurdish mercenaries from the northern boundary of the [[Zagros Mountains|Zagros]], who begin to appear in 6th-century sources, tribal people from [[Gilan Province|Gilan]] and [[Daylam]], [[Caucasian Albania]]ns (regarded as elite soldiers equal to [[Huns]] in the 4th-century), and [[Sakastan]]is.

 

 

== Azadan nobility ==

This class of nobility was first formed in Parthian times, and was carried over into the Sasanian state, where they were a force to be reckoned with. They accompanied the king in the wars and displayed great courage and discipline. They are clearly the forerunners and founders of the "Knights" of later history.<ref>[[David Nicolle]] "''Sassanian Armies : the Iranian empire early 3rd to mid-7th centuries AD''" pp. 11</ref> The ''Aztan'' (''Azadan'', آزادان, "freemen") jealously guarded their status as descendants of the ancient [[Aryan]] conquerors and rulers of the mass of originally non-Aryan peasantry. These ''Azatan'' formed a numerous minor aristocracy of lower-ranking administrators, mostly living on their small estates and providing the cavalry backbone of the Sasanian army. Most prestigious among them were the armoured ''"Asvaran"'' اسوران, who normally decided the outcome of a battle.<ref>David Nicolle "''Sassanian Armies : the Iranian empire early 3rd to mid-7th centuries AD''" pp. 11</ref>

 

 

{{DEFAULTSORT:Military of the Sasanian Empire}}

[[Category:Medieval armies]]

-->