Mercenary Karian Heavy Infantry

Description

The region of Karia, famous for its Mausoleum and the city to which it belongs (Halikarnassos), is home to strong and hardy troops. These men are protected by large Aspis shields, Linothorakes, crested Phrygian and Chalcidian helmets, as well as iron greaves, while they are armed with drepana and daggers. Able to hold the line even against phalangites (though not for too long), or punch through one with a swift strike, these troops are a gift to whatever empire rules over the lands of the great Mausolos, and a poison to whomever wishes to conquer it for themselves.

Historical background

The first mercenary known from history was a Karian. Herodotos relates how the pharaoh Psammetichus I (r. 664-610 BC) hired Karian and Ionian Mercenaries towards the end of his reign, the first such act ever recorded (Hdt. II, 152-154). Karians seem to have been used as mercenaries in Egypt or elsewhere even earlier, as the poet Archilochos (680-645 BC) said "I shall be called a mercenary, like a Karian" (F40). This first use of a word meaning "paid soldiers" shows that even in his time the inhabitants of South Western Anatolia had already gained a certain reputation, and in fact further search shows that Karian mercenaries in Judaean service might be mentioned in the Bible (2 Kings 11.4: they are called Karites here). Pharaoh Amasis (r. 570-526 BC) moved the mercenaries to Memphis, where the Karians built their own neighbourhood in the North West of the city, the Karikon (PSI V, 488). They also retained their own cults and customs, though in the eyes of the Egyptians there were no differences between Ionians and Greeks (cf. Stele of Amasis). They probably saw both as Barbarians – after all, some Karians left graffiti on the walls of Abu Simbel!

Karians continued to migrate to Egypt for pay and land (see e.g. Polyb. V, 36, 5), but they were also popular in other cities and kingdoms. Demetrios Poliorkets made a Karian garrison commander of Athens at the end of the 4th century (Polyaen. V, 17), the Rhodians relied on Karian mercenaries (Berthold (2018), p. 45), and Polybios often mentions Karian soldiers in the armies of the Antigonid kings. Livy (33.18.9) adds that the Macedonians garrisoned their cities in Karia with local soldiers. Herodotos – himself a Greek from Karia – says that the Karians invented three things: shields with handles, devices on shields, and crests on helmets (Hdt. I, 171). Thanks to the latter, the Persians called the Karians "cocks", and cock comb's helmets are still found on Karian paintings from the late 2nd century BC. Most of them were equipped just like Hoplites, but for the primary weapon. The classic spear was replaced with a ‘drepana’, a sickle-like weapon better suited to quick attacks than the close combat of Hoplite warfare. Most Karians still carried daggers to be able to defend themselves in melee, however (Hdt. 7.93).

These Karians fight for whoever pays most. However, don't make the mistake of underestimating them! Fighting has been the job of the Karians for centuries, and they are pretty good at it.