Battle Of Pydna: Macedonians vs Romans - Myth and Reality

In this post, we'll dissect the common misconceptions and actual events of the Battle of Pydna, fought in 168 BC between the Romans and Macedonians.

What People Think Happened:

Many believe the battle unfolded with both armies, commanded by Lucius Aemilius Paulus for the Romans and King Perseus for the Macedonians, deploying in well-ordered formations.

According to this view, the Macedonian Phalanx, renowned for its formidable frontal assault, initially gained the upper hand, pushing the Romans back. The Macedonian king is often said to have made a critical mistake by not sending his cavalry to press the advantage.

As the Phalanx pursued the retreating Romans into uneven terrain, it became disordered, allowing the Romans to mount a decisive counterattack that shattered the Macedonian formation.

Perseus, unable to salvage the situation, is depicted as fleeing with his cavalry, which played a minimal role in the battle.

What Actually Happened:

The real events of the Battle of Pydna were quite different. The battle began almost by accident, with a skirmish between forward outposts escalating into full-scale fighting.

The Roman deployment was rushed, and the line of battle only began to form as combat stabilised. The Macedonian Phalanx, initially successful in repulsing an attack from Roman Socii, faced challenges due to its formation.

The Romans, more flexible and quicker to deploy, exploited the gaps in the Macedonian Phalanx, aided by the difficult terrain. The Macedonian left flank, consisting of cavalry and anti-elephant troops, was overrun by a combined Roman charge of elephants and cavalry.

Meanwhile, the Roman infantry, having already breached the Phalanx's gaps, quickly turned the tide of the battle. Within less than an hour, the Romans routed the Macedonian forces.

Perseus and his cavalry, who had been unable to properly deploy and faced a hopeless situation, retreated from the field, leaving the Romans victorious.

In summary, the battle was characterised by its chaotic and opportunistic nature rather than a straightforward clash of well-organised armies.

The Romans' ability to exploit the Macedonian Phalanx's vulnerabilities and their effective use of terrain and tactics led to a swift and decisive victory.

The article first appeared on Roman World.

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