Era: Age of Empires		Maccabean Jewish 168 BC to 104 BC	CR: H: 2 L: 5			BP: 2	Init: 4
Core
Number	Type	Description	Key	FV	PROT	Weapon	Cost
1	HC	Cavalry of the Army	Key	4(0)0	+1	Lance	10
6	LHI	Jewish Infantry	Key	4(1)2	+1	Javelins	7
1	SI	Guerillas		3(1)2	+2	Javelins	2
2	SI	Guerillas		3(1)2	+2	Slings	2
1	LC	Cavalry of the Phalanx		1(0)0	+1	Bow	6
		OR
1	LC	Cavalry of the Phalanx		2(0)0	+1	Javelins	7
Bonus:
1	HC	Cavalry of the Army	Key	4(0)0	+1	Lance	10
6	LHI	Jewish Infantry	Key	4(1)2	+1	Javelins	7
2	SI	Guerillas		3(1)2	+2	Javelins	2
4	SI	Guerillas		3(1)2	+2	Slings	2
1	LC	Cavalry of the Phalanx		1(0)0	+1	Bows	6
		OR
1	LC	Cavalry of the Phalanx		2(0)0	+1	Javelins	7
2	WB	Zealots*		5(1)3	+1	Various	6
4	LHI	Rabble, etc. **		3(1)2	+1	Javelins	5
1	SI	Guerillas		2(1)1	+2	Bows	2
4	LI	Guerillas	Key	4(1)2	+1	Javelins	7

Terrain:

Core: 1 SH

Bonus: (Max: 4 ) 2 GR, 2 SH, 3 RG, 1 W

Notes:

Core: 96 Bonus: 139

* WB [Zealots] are not key units, move 9", BP:3 and cannot Break-off. These represent the more fanatical troops, ‘fired -up' with religious enthusiasm.

** Rabble, etc. cannot be used with Zealots or Guerrillas etc.

Rabble represent the less ‘stable', less well trained, less experienced, more urban elements of the larger Maccabean forces.

Guerrillas etc - represents the independent semi-regular, experienced rural troops that joined the main army for larger campaigns, who were more used to an ambush style of ‘hit & run' campaigning.

The use of the term ‘Phalanx' in the context of this army is deceptive. In the same way that ‘Cohort' was often used as the general designation for a unit (of varying size & troop composition) in Roman armies. In the case of this army ‘Phalanx' is used by the historical sources to designate the main bulk of the infantry in the army.

It is my belief that these troops fought primarily as longer spear & javelin armed Thureophoroi rather than pike (sarissa) armed Hellenistic Phalangites.

There is no evidence for any allied ‘foreign' contingents (Nabatean or Syrians) fighting alongside or in conjunction with Jewish forces – which is probably due to the extremist religious nature of Maccabean forces. Ex-Seleucid & Ptolemaic Jewish deserters/veterans would have fought in the bulk of the ‘Phalanx' in their traditional Thureophoroi role.

As the war against the Seleucids progressed the' Infantry of the Phalanx' would have up-armoured itself with looted Seleucid helmets, mail & linen cuirasses etc. so a mix of more Hellenistic Thureophoroi types could be used to vary the appearance of these units.

Ordo Link: Maccabean Jewish

Last Edited: 12 December 2005

List Author: Aetius