Thunder of the Ancient World - Assyrian Army | The Assyrians

The military machine of the Assyrians was perhaps the most dangerous and formidable fighting force of the Bronze and Iron Ages due to its ability to mobilize hundreds of thousands of people within a region. The vast army stretched from the Zagros Mountains in Iran to the Nile River in Egypt. The Assyrians initially began as merchants and farmers, not soldiers. So how did a small town grow into such a mighty empire? The small city of Assyr, initially a humble settlement with small temples dedicated to the god Assyr, was built on top of a small cliff overlooking the Tigris River. Around 2000 BCE, this settlement evolved into a relatively wealthy city due to its role as a trading intermediary for tin and textiles between Anatolia and Babylon. Although the early kings of Assyr did not have ambitious territorial expansion plans, Assyr, in reality, was assimilated into the empires of other kings. In the early 18th century BCE, Assyr fell into the hands of King Shamshi-Adad, a warlord of the Amorites. He favored the city to the extent that he stayed in Assyr for several years and contributed a large sum to the Assyr Temple for its maintenance. After the reign of Shamshi-Adad, Assyr became part of the kingdom of King Hammurabi of Babylon. Like previous conquerors, the population and city of Assyr underwent few changes, as long as they remained loyal to the ruling authority at the time. However, this stability did not last long. In the 15th century BCE, an event changed Assyr forever. In 1595 BCE, the Hittite Empire, under the leadership of King Mursili, conducted an invasion along the Euphrates River into the heart of Babylon. They ravaged towns and cities, including the capital Babylon. Although the Hittite army stayed for only a short time, they quickly returned to Anatolia to address issues there. In their campaign, Mursili the Freund and his army passed through the territory of the Hurrians. The Hurrians, who had previously organized into small city-states, were terrified by the Hittite invasion into Babylon to the extent that within just one to two generations, they reorganized into a unified entity called the Mitanni Kingdom. This may have been the best way to defend themselves against external threats. However, Mitanni also conducted its own attacks in various other regions in the upper Mesopotamia, including the city of Assyr. In the 15th century BCE, the Mitanni king commanded raids on the city, plundering the temple of the god Assyr. He took away the temple's doors made of gold and silver before departing. This was a humiliation and affront to the divine and the Assyrian people. Even the Assyrians and the people of Assyr had to live under the Mitanni's dominion in the subsequent period. However, the Assyrians at this time, primarily merchants and farmers, learned some ideas about warfare from the Mitanni. During the early period of the Assyrian Empire, records of warfare are scarce. In fact, the armed force of Assyria during this time was essentially a militia equipped with heavy weapons, along with fortified city walls. They functioned as a city guard, protecting the city, temples and inhabitants from attacks by hostile tribes attempting to raid the city. When Assyr first became part of the empire under Shamshi-Adad in the early 18th century BCE, men in the city began to enlist, although there are no specific Assyrian texts recording this. However, documents from the city of Merii, another city on the western bank of the Euphrates River from Assyr, mention the recruitment of infantry soldiers from cities like Assyr to join Shamshi-Adad's campaign. While amassing a large military force, these individuals still possessed basic military skills, knowing how to use bows, arrows, spears and implements for hunting and farming. They were equipped with copper axes, spears and short swords, and later organized into units ranging from ten to a hundred individuals to be assembled into thousands of soldiers when needed. From around 1700 to 1400 BCE, information about Assyrian warfare during this period is scarce. However, in the later stage after 1400 BCE, we have more information. After the Mitanni state collapsed under pressure from the Hittites, Assyria gained independence. The texts from this period mention deeper military training, better equipped armor, and allocation of more resources to the military. Furthermore, Assyria learned and adapted their fighting style to suit their opponents. One of the major changes was the development of cavalry units, and even chariots becoming an integral part of the army. Indeed, some Hurrian cavalry training manuals have been found, and texts also mention khasite, cavalry units from the Zagros mountains serving Assyria as horse-riding experts. However, perhaps the most significant change was in the Assyrian mindset towards war and their neighbors. They were not just defending their homeland from external threats but actively engaging against their adversaries. Although the Mitanni disappeared, the Hittites, Babylonians, and Egyptians were recovering, as well as other unnamed mountain tribes. In the north and east, all posed threats to Assyrian survival and sovereignty. Especially during the Neo-Assyrian period, when the Assyrian Empire reached its zenith and stretched from the Zagros mountains to the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, their army seemed unbeatable. The core Assyrian army was always ready to fight and deploy wherever the king needed. Each unit consisted of about 1,000 soldiers but could be divided into smaller units of 10. The infantry units primarily included Assyrian men from the heartland, as well as men from neighboring provinces. The Assyrian army comprised individuals from all empires and ethnicities. There were no requirements regarding who could fight for the king or join the army. They could even hold command positions within the force. These positions were often held by royal members or trusted military officials. The Assyrian army is known as one of the most formidable military forces in the ancient world, with exceptional organization and ruthless tactics. Under the leadership of their kings, the Assyrians built a powerful empire centered in what is now Iraq, reaching its peak of power in the 8th and 7th centuries BCE. Brutal strategies such as massacres or mass deportations of conquered city populations became common measures to suppress resistance. By the mid-8th century BCE, the Assyrian army had developed on a massive scale, far surpassing other forces in the region. For instance, during the reign of King Shalmaneser III, the Assyrian army numbered up to 120,000 soldiers while the world population was only about 50 million. This figure increased even further under Tiglath-Pileser III, with approximately 0.25% of the world population serving in the Assyrian army. Assyria readily recruited skilled warriors from Aramean tribes or talented archers from Elam to bolster their ranks. One of the major challenges for the Assyrian army was that the majority of its soldiers were farmers, which reduced their effectiveness. During the harvest season, these farmer units had to return home to tend to their fields, as failure to do so posed a threat of famine to the population. Mobilizing these large farmer units onto the battlefield was a challenge and took a considerable amount of time. It took months to gather sufficient troops and then another month or two to advance into the combat zone. However, Tiglath-Pileser III implemented reforms to transform his army into a more agile force, including armored infantry, cavalry, and siege engines. Assyria was the first empire to employ such heavy weaponry and warfare, and the fighting prowess of this army could be compared to the Roman legions of later centuries. A notable aspect of the Assyrian army was its flexibility in advancement and promotion. As long as they remained loyal to the king, warriors could quickly rise through the ranks. The forces were divided into three main groups, light infantry, medium infantry, and heavy infantry. The light infantry could be spear or bowmen, and in Assyrian art, they were often depicted wearing headbands and going barefoot. The medium infantry in the Assyrian army was considered the largest group and played a crucial role in the armed forces' structure. They were equipped with weapons similar to light infantry, but notably wore pointed bronze helmets and sometimes thin armor. However, the most feared group was the heavy infantry, comprising various ranks including not only archers and spear throwers, but also slingers. These were the frontline troops trained to fight in close formation in fierce battles. They were equipped with scale armor and adorned helmets with intricate decorations, along with spears and shields. The elite heavy infantry of Assyria were often the first to charge into battle to breach city gates with siege engines or scale walls to pave the way for the forces behind. During the Neo-Assyrian period, cavalry became an indispensable part of the armed forces. Horses were typically smaller by modern standards and were often bred in the mountainous and steppe regions in the northern and central parts of Assyria, or sometimes acquired from neighboring tribes like the Urartians and Medes. All horseback warriors were equipped with swords and were typically divided into two distinct groups akin to infantry, melee, and ranged. In the cavalry force, many were not of Assyrian origin but could come from various Urartian and Median tribes, where the best horses were found. At the height of the Assyrian Empire under King Ashurbanipal, around 645 BCE, cavalry units were equipped with the finest armor and protection. Their warhorses often wore armor over their necks and bodies, with the horse's forehead protected by bronze or ivory. Chariots also played a crucial role in the Assyrian forces, with the charioteers' crew comprising some high-ranking officials, such as nobles or the king. Those riding in chariots would engage in combat as archers, with a quiver containing about fifty arrows. They were protected by the charioteer and two shield-bearers. Chariots also supported infantry by pursuing fleeing enemies. In addition to combat units, there were several non-combatant forces crucial to the success of campaigns, such as spies and interpreters. Physicians, quartermasters, diviners, scouts, and guides also often accompanied the army. Although they did not directly engage in battles outside Assyrian territory, the Assyrians developed a network of messengers and relay stations to maintain communication throughout their vast empire. This allowed them to coordinate their armies effectively and respond rapidly to any threats, regardless of their military strength. As the Assyrian Empire finally collapsed in the 7th century BCE due to various factors such as internal conflicts, external pressures from other empires, and uprisings, the Assyrian army left a lasting legacy in military history. This was not only due to the tactical innovations they employed, but also because of the ruthless approach to warfare they carried out. What do you think about the formidable fighting force of Assyria? Let me hear your thoughts in the comment section and don't forget to hit the subscribe button to continue exploring ancient history with us. 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