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+--- Thread: Generals or officers haranguing enemy troops! (/showthread.php?tid=14837)
Generals or officers haranguing enemy troops! - Dutchhoplite - 03-23-2009
The first one that comes to mind was the one shouted to the opposing lines at the Battle of Gabiene (316 BC) by Antigenes, commander of the Silver Shields.
I found these two versions:
Quote:"Wicked men, are you sinning against your fathers, who conquered the whole world under Philip and Alexander?"
And/or:
Quote:"You are sinning against your fathers, you degenerates - the men who conquered the world with Philip and Alexander!"
I was wondering: are there more written examples of comparable incidents with Hellenistic generals??
Re: Generals or officers haranguing enemy troops! - hoplite14gr - 03-24-2009
Well,
Themistokles puting inscriptions on rocks inciting Greeks in Persian fleet to mutiny. Dubious results
Aristides at Platea shouting to the Greeks under Persian command not to fight their Greek brothers.
Only the Thebans did not heed him.
Leotyxidas at Mycale putting herald to tell to the Ionians under Persian command to change sides.
They did it eventually
Kind regards
Re: Generals or officers haranguing enemy troops! - Paralus - 03-26-2009
I think that first by Antigenes' horseman at Gabiene is the first attested truly "psychological" soundbite. Here Macedonian faced Macedonian as the Silver Shields faced Antigonus's Macedonian levy. The psychological impact of the slurr should not be underrated. It was geared to unnerve as the Silver Shields were facing relative newbies who'd only recently left Macedonia under Antipater. As well, the commanders and officers of Eumenes' army had "gained their spurs" under Alexander in the conquest of Asia.
Antigonus certainly seemed not to take kindly to being reminded that Alexander had left him in Pgrygia as the really "heroic" romp got underway. Poor old Antigenes.