The Hittite Army 1600-717BC
My Sun Mursilis, Great King, King of Hatti, the Valiant, son of Suppiluliumas, Great King, the Valiant.
- by Cimbri
Got the idea after XIII posted the The Egyptian New Kingdom Army
The military history of the Hittite Empire is one of near-constant warfare. The land of Hatti was surrounded by other states, all competing for the same resources.
Hence therefore the military played an important part in Hittite history.
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The Army
The Hittite army (tuzzi) was divided into two arms: Infantry and Chariots. I shall focus on the infantry force first, even if the infantry played a minor role in Hittite tactics.
The Infantry
The infantry was build around a small permanent core of elite troops Meshedi or Teheru as described by Ramses II (of Egypt)
These guys served as the bodyguard of the Great King of Hatti, the valiant.
When on campaign the infantry force would be supplemented by levied troops from the local countryside, mercenaries and troops from vassal-states. On occasion the army could reach a size of up to 30.000 men.
The army also had contingents of pioneers for siege-work and a few mounted messengers.
High Command
The commander of the army would be the Great King of Hatti, the valiant, himself, and Hittite kings were not afraid to engage in combat themselves. If the Great King, the valiant, was killed, power could be delegated to members of the royal family.
On occasion a prince (the less valiant) could be sent to a frontier and receive the title of king.
Ranks and OOB
Ranks were, it seems, held by the lesser nobility (the not-so-valiant as the less-valiant), but little is known about this.
The order of battle for an Infantry Division was the decimal system: ten, one hundred, one thousand.
Hittite infantry in battle
In open terrain engagements, the Hittite army would rely on its chariots, the infantry being little more than cheerleaders. But back in Anatolia, with her difficult terrain, the Hittite infantry served an important role.
The Hittite army was well trained and disciplined, and this allowed the Great King, the valiant, to make complicated military manoeuvres and organized nighttime attacks. The standard tactic seems to have been to rapidly form battle line formation, and then Chaaarge!!!
and break the enemy before they had time to organize.
Infantry weaponry
The standard infantry weapons seem to have varied according to terrain.
In open terrain, a long spear would have been employed, and in hilly terrain a sickle-like slashing sword (indeed like a sickle, but with the sharp end on the outside). At the end of the second millennium BC, the long sword seems to have been introduced from western Anatolia, perhaps by the infamous Sea People.
Hittite infantry would also carry an axe, a stabbing-sword and/or a dagger. Bowmen would use a composite bow of Mesopotamian (Akkadian) origins.
For personal defense, some Hittite troops would have a helmet and some would also have shields. The helmet looked like a bowl and had a long plume. Body-armour seems to have been a closed west, worn over a shirt of scale armour.
The ankle length garment worn by the Hittite troops at Quadesh (source: Egyptian depiction) may have been a mail coat or some odd tropical kit
Payment and Supply
Little is known about payment of the troops, but military service seems to have been a feudal obligation. The only payment troops would receive seems to have been booty after the battle.
On campaign the troops seems to have lived off the land. The local population would have supplied Garrison troops stationed on the frontiers
Baggage trains with donkeys and ox-carts would also follow the army on campaign, carrying equipment and supplies.
Army movements seem to have been dictated by the local water supply.
The Chariots
The trend of the era was chariot warfare. Every state was only a great as its chariot force.
The Hittite chariot was, as with the other powers, the light horse-chariot. The light chariot, probably of Hurrian origin, spread through the Middle East during the second millennium BC.
By the time it reached Anatolia and the Land of Hatti, it had evolved in to a perfect light chariot: lightweight, very manoeuvrable with a wooden-frame body covered in leather.
The perfect chariot would be one that reconciles speed and manoeuvrability with firepower and security. For speed and manoeuvrability you need a light chariot, for firepower and security you need to stabilize the firing platform and provide the charioteer with protection.
Egyptian chariot in battle
In battle the charioteer must control the chariot, fight a battle and defend himself. In Egypt, the pharaoh would have a coat of mail for his protection and the reins tied around his waist to allow him to operate his bow. A javelin-case is attached to the side of the chariot.
The Egyptian chariot has the axle in the rear to ensure maximum manoeuvrability at high speed.
Lesser Egyptians did not share the Pharaohs skill and thus normal chariots would have a crew of two.
The Egyptians used the chariot as a skirmisher, a mobile firing-platform to cause confusion among enemy troops.
Hittite chariot in battle
The Hittite chariot doctrine, however, was something different from that of the Egyptians.
For the Hittites the chariot was the contemporary equivalent of a panzer division. A heavy assault force used to crush infantry lines in a close charge.
Hittite chariots would also have their axle in the middle of the body, making the chariot liable to overturn a speed, but providing it with a stable fighting-platform. Additionally, with the forward mounting of the wheels, the Hittite chariot could carry a crew of three: driver, warrior and shield-carrier. The principal weapon seems to have been a thrusting spear.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hope someone finds this information useful
Cimbri
Who the hell are the Hittites anyway
Well heres some links:
The History of the Hittites
Hittites - 1600-717BC
Mesopotamia - The Hittites
Encyclopaedia of the Orient
My Sun Mursilis, Great King, King of Hatti, the Valiant, son of Suppiluliumas, Great King, the Valiant.
- by Cimbri
Got the idea after XIII posted the The Egyptian New Kingdom Army
The military history of the Hittite Empire is one of near-constant warfare. The land of Hatti was surrounded by other states, all competing for the same resources.
Hence therefore the military played an important part in Hittite history.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Army
The Hittite army (tuzzi) was divided into two arms: Infantry and Chariots. I shall focus on the infantry force first, even if the infantry played a minor role in Hittite tactics.
The Infantry
The infantry was build around a small permanent core of elite troops Meshedi or Teheru as described by Ramses II (of Egypt)
These guys served as the bodyguard of the Great King of Hatti, the valiant.
When on campaign the infantry force would be supplemented by levied troops from the local countryside, mercenaries and troops from vassal-states. On occasion the army could reach a size of up to 30.000 men.
The army also had contingents of pioneers for siege-work and a few mounted messengers.
High Command
The commander of the army would be the Great King of Hatti, the valiant, himself, and Hittite kings were not afraid to engage in combat themselves. If the Great King, the valiant, was killed, power could be delegated to members of the royal family.
On occasion a prince (the less valiant) could be sent to a frontier and receive the title of king.
Ranks and OOB
Ranks were, it seems, held by the lesser nobility (the not-so-valiant as the less-valiant), but little is known about this.
The order of battle for an Infantry Division was the decimal system: ten, one hundred, one thousand.
Hittite infantry in battle
In open terrain engagements, the Hittite army would rely on its chariots, the infantry being little more than cheerleaders. But back in Anatolia, with her difficult terrain, the Hittite infantry served an important role.
The Hittite army was well trained and disciplined, and this allowed the Great King, the valiant, to make complicated military manoeuvres and organized nighttime attacks. The standard tactic seems to have been to rapidly form battle line formation, and then Chaaarge!!!
and break the enemy before they had time to organize.Infantry weaponry
The standard infantry weapons seem to have varied according to terrain.
In open terrain, a long spear would have been employed, and in hilly terrain a sickle-like slashing sword (indeed like a sickle, but with the sharp end on the outside). At the end of the second millennium BC, the long sword seems to have been introduced from western Anatolia, perhaps by the infamous Sea People.
Hittite infantry would also carry an axe, a stabbing-sword and/or a dagger. Bowmen would use a composite bow of Mesopotamian (Akkadian) origins.
For personal defense, some Hittite troops would have a helmet and some would also have shields. The helmet looked like a bowl and had a long plume. Body-armour seems to have been a closed west, worn over a shirt of scale armour.
The ankle length garment worn by the Hittite troops at Quadesh (source: Egyptian depiction) may have been a mail coat or some odd tropical kit
Payment and Supply
Little is known about payment of the troops, but military service seems to have been a feudal obligation. The only payment troops would receive seems to have been booty after the battle.
On campaign the troops seems to have lived off the land. The local population would have supplied Garrison troops stationed on the frontiers
Baggage trains with donkeys and ox-carts would also follow the army on campaign, carrying equipment and supplies.
Army movements seem to have been dictated by the local water supply.
The Chariots
The trend of the era was chariot warfare. Every state was only a great as its chariot force.
The Hittite chariot was, as with the other powers, the light horse-chariot. The light chariot, probably of Hurrian origin, spread through the Middle East during the second millennium BC.
By the time it reached Anatolia and the Land of Hatti, it had evolved in to a perfect light chariot: lightweight, very manoeuvrable with a wooden-frame body covered in leather.
The perfect chariot would be one that reconciles speed and manoeuvrability with firepower and security. For speed and manoeuvrability you need a light chariot, for firepower and security you need to stabilize the firing platform and provide the charioteer with protection.
Egyptian chariot in battle
In battle the charioteer must control the chariot, fight a battle and defend himself. In Egypt, the pharaoh would have a coat of mail for his protection and the reins tied around his waist to allow him to operate his bow. A javelin-case is attached to the side of the chariot.
The Egyptian chariot has the axle in the rear to ensure maximum manoeuvrability at high speed.
Lesser Egyptians did not share the Pharaohs skill and thus normal chariots would have a crew of two.
The Egyptians used the chariot as a skirmisher, a mobile firing-platform to cause confusion among enemy troops.
Hittite chariot in battle
The Hittite chariot doctrine, however, was something different from that of the Egyptians.
For the Hittites the chariot was the contemporary equivalent of a panzer division. A heavy assault force used to crush infantry lines in a close charge.
Hittite chariots would also have their axle in the middle of the body, making the chariot liable to overturn a speed, but providing it with a stable fighting-platform. Additionally, with the forward mounting of the wheels, the Hittite chariot could carry a crew of three: driver, warrior and shield-carrier. The principal weapon seems to have been a thrusting spear.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hope someone finds this information useful
Cimbri
Who the hell are the Hittites anyway
Well heres some links:The History of the Hittites
Hittites - 1600-717BC
Mesopotamia - The Hittites
Encyclopaedia of the Orient
