The Assyrian Army I: The Structure of the Neo-Assyrian Army, 2. Cavalry and Chariotry

273 Pages·2016·6.85 MB·English

by  Dezső T.

Tamás Dezső
THE ASSYRIAN ARMY
I. T S N -A A
HE TRUCTURE OF THE EO SSYRIAN RMY
2. CAVALRY AND CHARIOTRY
EÖTVÖS UNIVERSITY PRESS
EÖTVÖS LORÁND UNIVERSITY
To the Memory of my Father
Antiqua et Orientalia 3
Monographs of the Institute of Ancient Studies, Faculty of Humanities,
Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest
Assyriologia 8/2
Monographs of the Department of Assyriology and Hebrew, Institute of Ancient Studies,
Faculty of Humanities, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest
Tamás Dezső
THE ASSYRIAN ARMY
I.
T S
HE TRUCTURE OF THE
N -A A
EO SSYRIAN RMY
as Reconstructed from the Assyrian Palace Reliefs
and Cuneiform Sources
2. Cavalry and Chariotry
Budapest, 2012
© Tamás Dezsô, 2012
Drawings: © Tamás Dezsô, 2012
ISBN 978 963 312 076 7
ISSN 0209 8067
ISSN 2063 1634
www.eotvoskiado.hu
Executive publisher: András Hunyady
Editorial manager: Júlia Sándor
Printed by: Multiszolg Bt.
Layout and cover: Tibor Anders
T C
ABLE OF ONTENTS
CAVALRY................................................................................................................................................13
THEEARLYHISTORYOFTHEASSYRIANCAVALRY(883—745 B.C.) ........................................................14
The representations (1—4)..............................................................................................................14
Cuneiform sources ..........................................................................................................................16
THECAVALRYOFTHEIMPERIALPERIOD(745—612 B.C.) ......................................................................19
The evolution of the Assyrian cavalry (5—22)............................................................................19
Types of cavalry (regular cavalry – bodyguard cavalry)............................................................21
Lancers (mounted spearmen)..................................................................................................22
Mounted archers ......................................................................................................................23
Cavalry bodyguard ..................................................................................................................23
(1)Pēt‹alli šēpē (cavalry of the ‘personal guard’) ........................................................28
(2) Pēt‹alli ša—qurbūte(cavalry of the ša—qurbūtebodyguard)................................29
(3) Pēt‹al qurubte (cavalry bodyguard)..........................................................................29
Home based units of the Assyrian cavalry (ki%ir šarrūti): the ‘city units’..........................32
Foreign units of the Assyrian cavalry....................................................................................32
Cavalry of the high officials and governors..........................................................................35
Cavalry officers and other cavalry personnel..............................................................................39
Cavalry officers..........................................................................................................................39
(1) Šaknu(prefect) ............................................................................................................42
(2) Rab mūgi ša—pēt‹alli (cavalry commander)............................................................42
(3) Rab ki%ir ša—pēt‹alli (cohort commander of the cavalry)......................................43
(4) Rab pēt‹alli(cavalry commander) ............................................................................43
(5) Mušarkisu(recruitment officer)................................................................................43
Grooms ......................................................................................................................................44
The use of cavalry............................................................................................................................45
Size of cavalry units ........................................................................................................................50
CHARIOTRY ..........................................................................................................................................55
THEEARLYHISTORYOFTHEASSYRIANCHARIOTRY(1317—745 B.C.) ..................................................56
The representations (23—25)..........................................................................................................56
Cuneiform sources ..........................................................................................................................60
THECHARIOTRYOFTHEIMPERIALPERIOD(745—612 B.C.)....................................................................65
The representations (26—32)..........................................................................................................65
Cuneiform sources ..........................................................................................................................68
ASSYRIAN ARMY• Cavalry and Chariotry 5
TABLEOFCONTENTS
Chariotry units reconstructed from cuneiform sources......................................................69
Headquarters staff: chariotry element..........................................................................69
(1) Ša—šēpēchariotry ................................................................................................70
(2) Ta‹līpuchariotry....................................................................................................70
(3) Pattūtechariotry....................................................................................................71
Deportee unit....................................................................................................................72
Chariot owners ................................................................................................................72
Palace chariotry................................................................................................................74
Chariotry bodyguard ......................................................................................................76
Chariotry of the ša—šēpēguard......................................................................................76
Chariotry of the bodyguard of the ša—šēpēguard......................................................77
Open chariotry of the bodyguard of the ša—šēpēguard............................................78
The ‘city units’..................................................................................................................78
(1) Aššurāia ..................................................................................................................78
(2) Arrap‹āia ................................................................................................................78
(3) Armāia ....................................................................................................................79
(4) Arzu‹ināia ..............................................................................................................79
(5) Arbailāia..................................................................................................................80
Foreign units of the Assyrian cavalry of the royal corps (ki%ir šarrūti):
The ‘provincial units’ ......................................................................................................81
(1) Unit 1 (Šarru-ēmuranni)........................................................................................81
(2) Unit 2 (Marduk-šarru-u%ur) ..................................................................................82
(3) Unit 3 (Chaldean unit)............................................................................................83
(4) Unit 4 (Nabû-bēlu-ka’’in) ......................................................................................83
(5) Unit 5 (Taklāk-ana-Bēli)..........................................................................................84
(6) Unit 6 (Adallal) ......................................................................................................85
(7) Unit 7 (Nergal-šarrāni) ..........................................................................................85
Unit of stable officers ......................................................................................................87
Chariotry of the crown prince........................................................................................88
Open chariotry of the crown prince..............................................................................88
Chariotry of the high officials and governors..............................................................88
Foreign chariotry..............................................................................................................92
The chariot crew and other chariotry personnel..................................................................93
Mukil appāte(chariot driver) ..........................................................................................93
(1) Chariot driver of the king (mukil appāte ša šarri)..............................................93
(2) Chariot driver of the crown prince (mukil appāte ša mār šarri)........................94
(3) Chariot driver of the queen mother (mukil appāte ummi šarri)........................95
(4) Chariot drivers of the high officials ..................................................................95
(5) Chariot drivers of governors ..............................................................................96
(6) Chariot drivers of other officials........................................................................96
(7) Chariot driver of the treasury/storehouse or reserve horses..........................97
(8) Other types of chariot drivers ............................................................................97
Māru damqu(chariot warrior) ........................................................................................99
(1) Chariot warrior of the king (māru damqu šarri) ................................................99
(2) Chariot warrior of the […] unit (māru damqu piri […])..................................100
(3) Chariot warrior of the bodyguard (māru damqu ša qurub)............................100
(4) Chariot warrior of the crown prince (māru damqu ša mār šarri)....................100
6 ASSYRIAN ARMY • Cavalry and Chariotry
Table of contents
(5) Chariot warrior of the lady of the house (māru damqu ša bēlet bēti) ............100
(6) Chariot warriors of Assyrian officials..............................................................101
(7) Chariot warriors of the gods ............................................................................101
Tašlīšu(‘third man,’ shield bearer) ..............................................................................102
(1) ‘Third man’ of the king (tašlīšu ša šarri) ..........................................................103
(2) ‘Third man’ of the crown prince (tašlīšu mār šarri) ........................................104
(3) ‘Third man’ of the queen mother and the queen (tašlīšu ummi šarri, ša
MÍ.É.GAL)............................................................................................................105
(4) ‘Third man’ of high officials..............................................................................105
(5) ‘Third man’ of governors and other officials..................................................105
(6) ‘Third man’ of the left and right ......................................................................107
(7) Officers of ‘third men’........................................................................................107
(a) ‘Chief third man’ (tašlīšu dannu)..................................................................107
(b) ‘Deputy third man’ (tašlīšu šanû)................................................................108
(c) ‘Commander-of-50 of the third men’ (rab ‹anšē ša tašlīšāni)....................108
LÚ.GIŠ.GIGIR (susānu/šušānu, ‘chariot man,’ ‘chariot troop,’ ‘chariot horse
trainer,’ ‘Pferdeknecht’) ................................................................................................109
(1) Chariot man / chariot horse trainer (LÚ.GIŠ.GIGIR)....................................109
(2) Chariot man / chariot horse trainer of the crown prince (A—MAN) ........114
(3) Chariot man / chariot horse trainer of the open chariotry (DU .MEŠ) ......114
8
(4) Chariot man / horse trainer of the open chariotry of the crown prince
(GIGIR A—MAN DU .MEŠ (A—MAN?))......................................................115
8
(5) Chariot man / horse trainer of the ta‹līpuchariotry (šaGIŠ.ta‹-líp)............115
(6) Chariot man / horse trainer of the reserve horses (na-kám-ti)......................115
(7) Chariot man / horse trainer of the qurbūtubodyguard (qur-bu-[ti])............116
(8) Chariot man / horse trainer of theša—šēpēguard (ša—šēpē(GÌR.2))..........116
(9) Chariot horse trainer of the team commander (ša GAL urât) ......................117
(10) Chariot man / horse trainer of eunuchs (šaSAG.MEŠ) ..............................117
(11) Chariot man / chariot horse trainer of the god Aššur (šaAššur) ..............117
Murabbānu(‘horse raiser’)............................................................................................117
Raksu(‘recruit’) ..............................................................................................................118
(1) Recruit (raksu)......................................................................................................118
(2) Recruit of the chief eunuch (raksu ša rab ša—rēšē)..........................................119
(3) Recruit of the chariotry (raksu mugerri)............................................................119
Horse keeper of a god....................................................................................................120
Chariot supervisor ........................................................................................................120
Officers of the chariotry..........................................................................................................120
Prefect (šaknu) ................................................................................................................122
(1) Stable officer (lit. prefect of stables, šaknu ša ma’assi)....................................122
(2) Prefect of the ta‹līpucharioteers (šaknuLÚ.GIŠ.GIGIR ta‹-líp)....................122
(3) Prefect of the horses of the chariotry of the left (šaknu šumēli sīsê mugerri)......122
(4) Prefect of the recruitment officers (šaknišunu ša mušarkisāni) ......................122
(5) Prefect of the horses of the new house (šaknu ša sīsê bīt ešši)........................122
(6) Prefect of the horse trainers (šaknu ša susāni)..................................................122
Recruitment officer (mušarkisu)....................................................................................122
(1) Recruitment officer of the chariot owners (mušarkisu bēl mugerri)..............127
(2) Recruitment officers of the palace chariotry (mušarkisāni ša mugerri ekalli)127
ASSYRIAN ARMY• Cavalry and Chariotry 7
TABLEOFCONTENTS
(3) Recruitment officer of the chariotry bodyguard (mušarkisu ša mugerri
qurubte) ................................................................................................................127
(4) Recruitment officer of the deportees (mušarkisu ša šaglūte)..........................128
(5) Recruitment officer of the governor (mušarkisu ša šakin māti)......................128
Cohort commander (rab ki%ir) ......................................................................................128
Team commander (rab urâte)........................................................................................130
(1) Team commander of the cavalry bodyguard (pēt‹al qurubte)......................130
(2) Team commander of the provincial units ......................................................131
(3) Team commander of the chariotry bodyguard (rab urâte ša mugerri
qurubte) ................................................................................................................131
(4) Team commander of the palace chariotry (rab urâte ša mugerri ekalli) ........131
(5) Team commander of the stable officers (rab urâte ša šaknūte ša ma’assi)......131
(6) Team commander of the Chief Eunuch (rab urâte ša rab ša—rēšē)................131
(7) Team commander of the horse trainers ..........................................................132
Chariotry or cavalry commander (rab mūgi)..............................................................132
(1)Rab mūgi of the chariotry (LÚ.GAL—mu-gi šaGIŠ.GIGIR)..........................134
(2) Rab mūgiof the cavalry (LÚ.GAL—mu-gi šaBAD-‹al-li)..............................135
Commander-of-50 (rab ‹anšê) ......................................................................................135
(1) Commander-of-50 of the chariotry (rab50 GIŠ.GIGIR.MEŠ) ......................135
(2) Commander-of-50 of the ‘third men’ (rab50 tašlīšāni)..................................135
(3) Assyrian commander-of-50 of the ‘third men’ (Aššurāia rab50ša tašlīšāni) ......135
(4) Commander-of-50 of the ‘third men’ of the ša-šēpēguard (rab50 ša
tašlīšāni ša—šēpē) ................................................................................................136
The size of the chariotry units ..............................................................................................136
(1) Reconstruction of the size of chariotry units using the number of
chariots ................................................................................................................136
(2) Reconstruction of the size of chariotry units using the number of
officers..................................................................................................................138
(3) Reconstruction of the size of chariotry units using the number of
soldiers..................................................................................................................143
(4) Reconstruction of the size of chariotry units using the number of
horses....................................................................................................................144
SUMMARY: THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE NEO-ASSYRIAN ARMY......................................147
Assurnasirpal II(883—859 B.C.)..................................................................................................147
Shalmaneser III(858—824 B.C.) ..................................................................................................150
Tiglath-Pileser III(745—727 B.C.)................................................................................................152
Sargon II(721—705 B.C.)..............................................................................................................154
Sennacherib(704—681 B.C.) ........................................................................................................156
Esarhaddon (680—669 B.C.) ........................................................................................................159
Assurbanipal(668—631 B.C.) ......................................................................................................160
8 ASSYRIAN ARMY • Cavalry and Chariotry
Table of contents
CHARTS ................................................................................................................................................165
Chart 1 Equestrian army of Sargon II ..........................................................................................165
Chart 2 Officers and other military personnel of the Rēmanni-Adad archive
(671—660B.C.) ..................................................................................................................166
Chart 3 Officers and other military personnel of the Šumma-ilāni archive
(709—680 B.C.) ..................................................................................................................184
Chart 4 Number of chariots and horses mentioned in the Assyrian royal inscriptions........186
Chart 5 Chariot drivers (mukil appāte)..........................................................................................192
Chart 6 Chariot warriors (māru damqu)........................................................................................194
Chart 7 ‘Third men’ (tašlīšu) ..........................................................................................................196
Chart 8 Chariot men / chariot horse trainers (LÚ.GIŠ.GIGIR) and chariot owners
(bēl mugerri) ........................................................................................................................198
Chart 9 The stucture of texts CTN III, 99, 102, 103, 108, 111 and the reconstruction of
Assyrian army units..........................................................................................................202
Chart 10 The reconstruction of equestrian units of two texts of Nimrud Horse Lists............204
Chart 11 Reconstruction of the Assyrian army – Infantry (ratio of the different arms
represented on the palace reliefs)....................................................................................206
Chart 12 Reconstruction of the Assyrian army – Cavalry and Chariotry (ratio of the
different arms represented on the palace reliefs)..........................................................208
Chart 13 Reconstruction of the Assyrian army (ratio of the different arms represented
on the palace reliefs)..........................................................................................................208
BIBLIOGRAPHY ..................................................................................................................................211
INDEX....................................................................................................................................................241
PLATES..................................................................................................................................................253
LIST OF FIGURES
Fig. 1. Reconstruction of the Assyrian cavalry of the Sargonides..................................................38
Fig. 2. Officers of the Assyrian cavalry..............................................................................................44
Fig. 3. Officers of the chariotry..........................................................................................................121
Fig. 4. Number of recruitment officers mentioned in cuneiform sources..................................126
Fig. 5. List of tribute distributed to equestrian officers at court (FALES– POSTGATE1995,36) ..134
Fig. 6. Numbers of chariots mentioned in Assyrian royal inscriptions......................................137
Fig. 7. Number of equestrian officers (cavalry and chariotry) listed in CTN III, 99 ................139
Fig. 8. Number of equestrian officers (cavalry and chariotry) listed in the Nimrud Horse
Lists ..........................................................................................................................................140
Fig. 9. The division of officers concerning ADD 857 ....................................................................160
Fig. 10. Structure of the armies of Assyrian kings............................................................................163
ASSYRIAN ARMY• Cavalry and Chariotry 9