The Makedonian phalanx -- why such depth?

[Paullus Scipio]

What Paul B. is expounding is certainly feasible, and very likely to have been the case for the early phalanx. ( but could also apply to 'Homeric Infantry'). Unfortunately, the only 'drill' details we have are those of Xenophon, rather late in the Classical period (fourth century). Xenophon's drill forms are essentially very simple, and it can be seen that they form part of an evolutionary process when comparing them to the later Hellenistic Manual(s), whose drill is much more sophisticated, though some of it was probably never practised on the battlefield.

We may infer that in the earliest phalanx, the men drew up much as you say, as is common with any primitive tribal groups e.g. relatively modern New Guinea natives, or celtic tribes down to the eighteenth century, for whom we have a fair amount of information.

In looking at the Persian Wars we know nothing for certain, though there are clues, I think, that point toward them being more like Xenophon's phalanx rather than what we may call the 'primitive' phalanx.

One problem with accepting the opened order advance is that I have real doubts that the generally inexperienced troops of the average phalanx could maintain 6' between files wihtout bunching. If they bunched at all, they were screwed when it came time to double again.

This is simply not correct. Anyone with experience of drill can tell you that even raw recruits have no trouble maintaining open order at 6 ft intervals. Remember that any 'bunching' ( and I don't think this would or could occur to any great degree) would not occur whilst in the marching/movement phase, but probably only when the Phalanx charged, after 'closing up' and then the men are already 'shield to shield', and can hardly bunch much more, except possibly the rightward drift, which would start with the commander on the right flank edging to his right, shieldless, side so as not to be outflanked, and the others staying in touch...

I think that the incident later, where men are calling to others to not break formation in pursuit does speak to a need to keep formation, but we don't really know on what scale this cohesion manifested itself.

...I would suggest that the opposite conclusion can be drawn here - that the "Ten Thousand" displayed a very high dgree of discipline and cohesion.

At the "rehearsal" when Cyrus inspected them. the 10,400 Hoplites formed up 4 deep in close order, probaly flanked either side by the 2,500 Peltasts.

If we consider the Hoplites alone, they formed a front of 2,600 yards (2,400 metres). Cyrus inspected them, then asked them to demonstrate a 'charge'. The orders were passed verbally, and the signal to advance was given by trumpet. Spears were lowered, and they advanced at the walk, quickening their pace to the jog which was the charge, and raising a war-cry. At this point the terrified native audience panicked and scattered. This was quite some feat, to have maintained such a line unbroken.

At the battle itself, Cyrus' army was caught still on the march, by the larger army of Artaxerxes.The Cyreans were alerted by the usual distant clouds of dust. The Greeks hastily deployed. The Persians were formed up in tribal contingents each in a 'dense oblong formation'. They came on in a slow steady march ( doubtless because, being undisciplined, they were having 'dressing' problems of their own.) The Greeks remained stationary, while their march column deployed into line. Their right flank was on a river. Cyrus wanted the Greeks to attack the Persian centre, where Artaxerxes would be, but Clearchus, the Greek commander was concerned about his flank and wanted to stay in touch with the river. With the armies some 600 yards or so apart, and the Persians still coming on, they sang the Paean and began to move forward at the walk, just like the 'rehearsal'. As the advance accelerated, part of the phalanx began to get ahead ( probably on one wing or the other), and the remainder 'straightened' the line by moving at the double.They then raised the War-Cry "Eleleleu..." and accelerated to a run. They were now somewhere around 100 yards apart ( effective bow range) and just as at the rehearsal, the Persians broke and ran. The Greeks then turned their charge into a pursuit, and then carried out one of the most difficult acts of battlefield discipline. Throughout military history, once an enemy turns his back and runs, the stress of battle and fear vanish in the victors, and an almost unstoppable urge to 'get after them' takes over which breaks up cohesion, most especially among cavalry. Many battles have been lost by this wild pursuit phenomenon, including this one.

On this occasion the "Ten Thousand" were disciplined enough to shout to each other not to run all out, and thereby lose cohesion, but to follow up the enemy without breaking ranks. Few armies in History have been capable of doing the same. The Greeks lost only one man on the left wing to an arrow. Some of the scythed chariots, abandoned by their drivers, came their way, but they simply 'opened out' and let them through.

Later in the same battle, Cyrus ' cavalry bodyguard of 600 cavalry lost their cohesion in their eagerness to pursue, which led to Cyrus' death, and despite the Greeks success, the battle was lost.