Persian army

E224750

The Persian army was the formidable military force of the ancient Persian Empire, known for its vast size, diverse troops from many subject peoples, and major clashes with Greek city-states during the Greco-Persian Wars.

All labels observed (9)

How this entity was disambiguated

Statements (72)

Predicate Object
instanceOf ancient military force
army
alsoKnownAs Achaemenid army
linked to: Persian army

Imperial Persian army
linked to: Persian army
commandedBy Cyrus the Great
Darius I
linked to: Darius I of Persia

Xerxes I
commandStructure contingents organized by ethnic origin
royal guard
satrapal levies
country Achaemenid Empire
eliteUnit Immortals
equipment bows
scale armor
short swords
spears
wicker shields
estimatedSize hundreds of thousands in major campaigns
garrisonRole fortresses across the empire
hasUnit Immortals
Persian cavalry
Persian infantry
linked to: Persian army

archers
chariotry
naval contingents from subject peoples
historicalSource Achaemenid royal inscriptions
Herodotus
Xenophon
logistics imperial supply depots
royal road system
notableBattle Battle of Gaugamela
Battle of Issus
Battle of Marathon
Battle of Mycale
Battle of Plataea
Battle of Salamis
Battle of Thermopylae
notableConflict Greco-Persian Wars
opponent Athens
Greek city-states
Macedonian army of Alexander the Great
linked to: Macedonian army

Sparta
partOf Achaemenid Empire
primaryFunction defense of the Achaemenid Empire
expansion of imperial territory
recruitmentFrom Armenians
Babylonians
Bactrians
Cappadocians
Egyptians
Elamites
linked to: Elam

Indians
Ionians
Lydians
Medes
Persians
Phoenicians
Saka
linked to: Saka people

Scythians
linked to: Scythia

Thracians
tactics combined arms
heavy cavalry charges
use of missile troops
timePeriod 4th century BCE
5th century BCE
6th century BCE
usedBy Achaemenid kings
Artaxerxes I
Cambyses II
Cyrus the Great
Darius I
linked to: Darius I of Persia

Xerxes I

How these facts were elicited

Referenced by (21)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

300 portraysGroup Persian army
Battle of Gaugamela notableUnit Persian Immortals
linked to: Persian army
Persian army alsoKnownAs Achaemenid army
linked to: Persian army
Persian army alsoKnownAs Imperial Persian army
linked to: Persian army
Persian army hasUnit Persian infantry
linked to: Persian army
Median forces successor Achaemenid Persian forces
linked to: Persian army
Marathon plain associatedWith Persian army
Revolt of Inaros in Egypt opposedBy Achaemenid Persian forces
linked to: Persian army
Tigranes militaryBranch Achaemenid army
linked to: Persian army
Mardontes militaryBranch Achaemenid army
linked to: Persian army
Battle of Cunaxa belligerent Achaemenid royal army
linked to: Persian army
Datis militaryBranch Achaemenid army
linked to: Persian army
Siege of Halicarnassus conflictBetween Achaemenid Persian forces
linked to: Persian army
Thespian hoplites opposedTo Persian army
Ten Thousand Greek mercenaries enemyOf Persian royal army
linked to: Persian army
Cyrus the Younger’s revolt hasParticipant Achaemenid royal army
linked to: Persian army
Cyrus the Younger’s revolt involvedForce Achaemenid infantry
linked to: Persian army
Ariaeus servedIn Achaemenid army
linked to: Persian army
Indian contingents of the Achaemenid Empire partOf Achaemenid army
linked to: Persian army
Battle of the Persian Gate combatant Achaemenid Persian forces
linked to: Persian army