The one with the longer stick wins, right?
“The Epic Struggle for Infantry Supremacy in the Ancient World.” Yeah, but which one triumphs? The phalanx or the legion? As the reviews on this blog are typically spoiler-free, don’t expect me to give that away. Those astute readers who can dredge up from the depths of their minds the not-so-well-known fact about whether the Romans or the Greek-Macedonian tandem held sway over the Mediterranean coastline for hundreds of years, might have some preliminary guesses. The book Legion versus Phalanx is mainly for those who have no idea.
Myke Cole is an amateur military historian but also an enthusiastic and practicing soldier. Through six ancient battles, he attempts to provide a clear answer to this burning question, using a wealth of source material; alongside the well-known ancient historians, he also quotes authors you’ve probably never heard of in your life.
Moreover, Myke Cole skillfully dramatizes the events, making the battle descriptions particularly thrilling. (Though, in the case of the unfortunate water-carrying mule at the Battle of Pydna, he may have gone a bit overboard.)
Thorough Background Information and Historical Context
Beyond military history, the book Legion versus Phalanx also places the events in a historical-political context, allowing you to quickly get acquainted with the comprehensive history and key military leaders of the 120 years following 280 BCE. And of course, it includes a detailed introduction to the two military forces, from their formation to their equipment. For instance, did you know that phalanx warriors supposedly wore layered “linen armor”?
I certainly wouldn’t have worn it, that’s for sure!
Cats in Heat on the Battlefield? Never Mind! It’s So Exciting!
But the essence lies in the battles, where you’ll notice that just when the two renowned heavy infantries are about to face off, something always intervenes, making it impossible to decide which type is more effective – despite starting this book with a fairly clear idea of the outcome.
In Legion versus Phalanx, everything from enraged elephants to disorganized auxiliary troops and nonsensical uphill attacks occurs. At some points, you might even expect that the next disruption will come from combat penguins or cats in heat that have accidentally wandered onto the battlefield.
But don’t worry, if you’re still left with lingering uncertainty after the last battle, the author expertly summarizes at the end why the #$@+?;-&$;’ is the cooler side.
And all the while, you might have a faint feeling that you would have a similar experience, at least regarding the battle descriptions, if instead of Myke Cole’s book, you read the relevant biographies by Plutarch (the author’s main source).
Rating: 7.8/10
Legion versus Phalanx by Myke Cole
288 pages, Hardcover
Published in 2018 by Osprey Publishing
history, roman empire, infantry, war, military, strategy, tactics, antiquity, macedonians,