Spears and pikes

From: Andrew Barton <AndrewBarton_at_compuserve.com>
Date: Tue, 30 Jan 2001 15:39:05 -0500


> The pike/sarissa was used two-handed. There isn't any doubt about that.
Hoplites sometimes did well against sarissa-armed troops also.

Alecander's successors, who could draw on a very wide range of troop types, used both sarissa wielders and troops with one-handed spear and shield in the same army. The pike formed the solid centre, the more mobile spearmen formed a link with the cavalry on the flanks.

It's like when Pooh was asked whether he wanted honey or condensed milk on his bread. 'Both' he said.

Andrew


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