Armies of the Great King

The Achaemenid Persian empire dominated the Near East and the eastern Mediterranean for two centuries, from the mid-sixth century BCE to the mid-fourth. It was the largest empire the world had yet seen. Armies of the Great King provides the most up-to-date account of the Achaemenid armies that built this empire, invaded Greece, and eventually fell to Alexander the Great’s Macedonians. It combines Greek literary sources with documentation from within the empire and plentiful ancient artistic and archaeological evidence, and incorporates the results of the latest academic research.

Chapters detail the history of the Achaemenid empire; its military organisation, including Persian military training, the renowned élite Immortals, and the provincial garrisons of the empire; the dress and weaponry of both Persian troops and their subject auxiliaries and mercenaries from Greece to India, from Egypt to Central Asia; the use of exotic forces such as camels and scythed chariots; and the tactics and strategy of the Achaemenid army in action.

Armies of the Great King includes specially commissioned colour plates of Achaemenid soldiers, along with numerous illustrations of ancient artworks and artefacts.