Οἱ Ὑπασπισταὶ τῶν Μολοσσῶν
(Hypaspistai of the Molossians)
(Hypaspistai of the Molossians)
The Molossian Tribe (Μολοσσοί) The Molossoi ('Molossians') were one of the three chief tribes of the Epeirotai ('Epirotes'), and it was considered the one with the most Hellenic influence of them all; yet it seems they were still prone to some acts the other Hellenes might refer to as 'barbaric'. The tribal leaders claimed direct descent from Achilleus himself, through his son Neoptolemos who is said to have settled in Epirus with his army, joining the local population. They were renowned for their vicious Molossian hounds, excellent for hunting, watching over livestock, and perhaps for battles as well. The Molossians were used to a form of rule with a proper king, and accustomed to the tribe having some dominance over the other Epirotes. From their stock came Olympiás, the mother of Aléxandros ho Mégas ('Alexander the Great'), and from them arose also the mighty king, Pyrrhos, whose deeds and valour proved him worthy indeed of his mighty ancestors! The Hypaspistai (Ὑπασπισταὶ) The Hypaspistai ('shield-bearers') were an elite force, and much more mobile than the sarissa-wielding men of the phalanx. In the major battles they acted as a link between the heavy infantry and the cavalry. They were taken by the king on special missions that involved speed and endurance, often fighting in rugged areas. Named for their shields they were the infantry guard and, of all the infantry troops, they fought closest to the king. Small detachments of Hypaspistai acted as guards at official events and banquets, and also as a police force. There is a strong likelihood that, on occasion at least, they were armed more like traditional Greek hoplites and they are often referred to, loosely as Doryphoroi ('spear-bearers'). Like any elite force, they took pride in their special status as the king's guard. Membership was based on physical qualities as well as merit; the demands were greater and life expectancy shorter, but their identity as a unit was unmistakable. Their equipment set them apart from the regular phalangites, and they were called upon more often and for the most arduous and dangerous tasks. They were the first on the city walls or the first through the breach, and their commanders had one of the highest mortality rates amongst the officer class. Their sense of belonging was based on having 'walked the walk,' both as a unit and as individuals. Although they had unit-commanders, Chilíarchoi and Pentakosiárchoi, the entire force was under the command of the Archihypaspistes (literally, 'the leader of the hypaspists'). Our group represent a Lóchos ('warband'), one of several within the force, lead by our Lochagós ('Captain'), the veterans of which are known as the Tycheró Skýlous ('Lucky Dogs') and carry their own characteristic shield, painted with a black Molossian dog on a white background, while the remaining part is nicknamed the Koinótopo Kynigóskyla ('Hoary Hounds'). Historically, the Hypaspistai first appear with Alexander the Great at the beginning of his reign as his elite troops and bodyguard. He used them extensively for special missions, assault of fortifications, and in support of light troops in rough terrain; however, details of the unit seem to disappear by the time Alexander reaches India and remain as such until appearing in various sources for the three remaining Diadochoi kingdoms in different forms and perhaps briefly in Epirus with Pyrrhos. Such examples of their deployment count them as possibly numbering a fifth of the 10,000 Arygraspides corps of the Seleukid kings or as the military police and closest guard of the Makedonian kings. Yet, despite their prowess, the Hypaspistai were either forced to evolve past the antiquated hoplite model as in the east or vanish with the fall of their kingdom as in the west. |
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Who are we, and what can we offer?
The Lucky Dogs, which forms the core of our group, is comprised of 'veteran' players of Mount&Blade & Mount&Blade: Warband. We have a particular preference for good, historical Warband modifications, and in recent years our go-to mods have been; The Deluge, where we have a clan called 'Bande of Pike & Shotte - The Lucky Dogs', and Víkingr, of which our members are either veteran community members or former developers of the modification. In essence we are a group of friends who love playing Warband (and other games) together and wish to do so as an organised group, fighting together in both a cohesive and effective manner.
Because the members of the Lucky Dogs know each other so well outside of playing Warband mods, we keep our recruitment very strict. We do not accept applications and if we do recruit someone, we do it solely on the basis of their personality. Our intention, in terms of the less restrictive part of our group, the Hoary Hounds, is to find like-minded people who wish to enjoy Rome at War (and/or The Deluge) without being overly serious about playing it. Whilst there won't be any training days/evenings as such, we will 'train' by playing together on public servers and mould ourselves in the flames of battle rather than on the training field.
The Hoary Hounds is therefore mostly an event institution aiming to offer players the option participate alongside, and get to know, the Lucky Dogs in our semi-historical & organised clan, the Hypaspistai of the Molossians; and its members are welcome to join us in both The Deluge and Rome at War events. Players who wish to play alongside us would contact either rapier17 (Steam) or Dansk viking (Steam) to register their interest & we would then communicate whether it is possible or not. If you have any questions or concerns or just wish for more information then do message us and we will do our best to respond quickly.
Because the members of the Lucky Dogs know each other so well outside of playing Warband mods, we keep our recruitment very strict. We do not accept applications and if we do recruit someone, we do it solely on the basis of their personality. Our intention, in terms of the less restrictive part of our group, the Hoary Hounds, is to find like-minded people who wish to enjoy Rome at War (and/or The Deluge) without being overly serious about playing it. Whilst there won't be any training days/evenings as such, we will 'train' by playing together on public servers and mould ourselves in the flames of battle rather than on the training field.
The Hoary Hounds is therefore mostly an event institution aiming to offer players the option participate alongside, and get to know, the Lucky Dogs in our semi-historical & organised clan, the Hypaspistai of the Molossians; and its members are welcome to join us in both The Deluge and Rome at War events. Players who wish to play alongside us would contact either rapier17 (Steam) or Dansk viking (Steam) to register their interest & we would then communicate whether it is possible or not. If you have any questions or concerns or just wish for more information then do message us and we will do our best to respond quickly.
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Ἤπειροταὶ (Ḗpeirotaì): Epirotes (pl. nom.)
Ὑπασπισταὶ (Hypaspistaì): Hypaspists/Hypaspistai (pl. nom.)
Ὑπασπιστής (Hypaspistés): Hypaspist (sg. nom.)
Λοχαγός (Lochagós): Captain (sg. nom.)
Λόχος (Lóchos): Warband (sg. nom.)
Μολοσσοί (Molossoi): Molossians (pl. nom.)
Μολοσσός (Molossós): Molossian (sg. nom.)
τῶν Μολοσσῶν (tôn Molossôn): of the Molossians (pl. gen.)
Οἱ Ὑπασπισταὶ τῶν Μολοσσῶν (Hoi Hypaspistaì tôn Molossôn): The Hypaspistai of the Molossians
Κοινότοπο Κυνηγόσκυλα (Koinótopo Kynigóskyla): Hoary Hounds
Tυχερό Σκύλους (Tycheró Skýlous): Lucky Dogs
Pronunciation note: The letter χ is transliterated into Latin script ch, but it is pronounced /kʰ/ in Ancient Greek.
Sources:
Europa Barbarorum - mod for Rome: Total War.
Heckel, Waldemar & Jones, Ryan: Macedonian Warrior - Alexander's elite infantryman, Osprey Publishing, 2006.
McBride, Angus & Sekunda, Nick: The Army of Alexander the Great, Osprey Military, 1984.
Wikipedia
Wiktionary
Pictures:
Dog motif on a coin from Pherae, Thessaly, dated ca. 450 B.C.
Molossian warrior from an in-game screenshot.
Molossian coin dated ca. 350 B.C.
Ὑπασπισταὶ (Hypaspistaì): Hypaspists/Hypaspistai (pl. nom.)
Ὑπασπιστής (Hypaspistés): Hypaspist (sg. nom.)
Λοχαγός (Lochagós): Captain (sg. nom.)
Λόχος (Lóchos): Warband (sg. nom.)
Μολοσσοί (Molossoi): Molossians (pl. nom.)
Μολοσσός (Molossós): Molossian (sg. nom.)
τῶν Μολοσσῶν (tôn Molossôn): of the Molossians (pl. gen.)
Οἱ Ὑπασπισταὶ τῶν Μολοσσῶν (Hoi Hypaspistaì tôn Molossôn): The Hypaspistai of the Molossians
Κοινότοπο Κυνηγόσκυλα (Koinótopo Kynigóskyla): Hoary Hounds
Tυχερό Σκύλους (Tycheró Skýlous): Lucky Dogs
Pronunciation note: The letter χ is transliterated into Latin script ch, but it is pronounced /kʰ/ in Ancient Greek.
Sources:
Europa Barbarorum - mod for Rome: Total War.
Heckel, Waldemar & Jones, Ryan: Macedonian Warrior - Alexander's elite infantryman, Osprey Publishing, 2006.
McBride, Angus & Sekunda, Nick: The Army of Alexander the Great, Osprey Military, 1984.
Wikipedia
Wiktionary
Pictures:
Dog motif on a coin from Pherae, Thessaly, dated ca. 450 B.C.
Molossian warrior from an in-game screenshot.
Molossian coin dated ca. 350 B.C.
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