Best Ancient Warriors

[Nevar242]

Originally Posted by Irishtom29

The Spartans weren't warriors, they were proper soldiers, which was one reason they were so formidable. But their combat record included many losses and never forget the real reason for Spartan militarism was to hold down the Helots at home; the Spartan army was kind of a mixture of the Gestapo, Einsatzgruppen and the Waffen SS.

In the end to hold up their rotten and corrupt system they were reduced to taking money from Persia to fight other Greeks and still they fell to the Thebans and revolt at home.

With respect
I challange your comment "But their combat record included many losses " Sparta from what I have read and was told, never lost or retreated. But There was one or two draws. Not sure of which battle, but There resolve was so steadfast that there enemy let the Spartans remove there wounded and carry off there dead. Of which was never heard of at the time.
Thanks all great posts

[Irishtom29]

Originally Posted by Nevar242

With respect
I challange your comment "But their combat record included many losses " Sparta from what I have read and was told, never lost or retreated. But There was one or two draws. Not sure of which battle, but There resolve was so steadfast that there enemy let the Spartans remove there wounded and carry off there dead. Of which was never heard of at the time.
Thanks all great posts

Sorry, the Spartans were defeated many times. Among their more famous defeats are Thermopylae, Sphacteria, Leuctra and 2nd Mantinea.

[Chango]

Originally Posted by Dane_in_LA

Nah, I've only been here 7 years.

You're late... My great , great grandpappy got here in the 1870's from Norway, and Grandma from Denmark in the 1950's. But somewhere in between an Italian, some Englishmen and a Spaniard got mixed in, so my mead consumption capacity is slightly less than it should be and my beard is too short.

Hopefully they'll still let me into Valhalla, though.

[BlackShoe]

In terms of professionalism it would be difficult to surpass the Assyrian army of the 9th to 7th century BC.Highly structured,this army had admistration,logistics,engineering,and armoring staffs that in some ways not even the Romans could equal centuries later.They may have been the first to maintain a full time year around permanent professional army.Their weapons and armor were first rate,as were their tactics.Like so many other empires,it collapsed due to political reasons,not military ones.

[Irishtom29]

Originally Posted by BlackShoe

In terms of professionalism it would be difficult to surpass the Assyrian army of the 9th to 7th century BC.Highly structured,this army had admistration,logistics,engineering,and armoring staffs that in some ways not even the Romans could equal centuries later.They may have been the first to maintain a full time year around permanent professional army.Their weapons and armor were first rate,as were their tactics.Like so many other empires,it collapsed due to political reasons,not military ones.

Yes, yes indeed.

[ncc]

Originally Posted by Irishtom29

So what happened, Danes sure ain't tough guys now.

I know the Swedes were formidable soldiers at least well into the 1700s but what about the western Scandanavians?

LOL... same with the French!

[Nevar242]

Again Thanks for the post. Great reading

At Thermopylae While they Died to the Last [ only because of a traitor] the War was won Because
SPARTAN WARRIORS held there ground.

[6 FOOT 3]

Originally Posted by Trotter67

I'm going to stick my neck out and say...The Huns.

The Hunnic Cavalry was formidable and second to none.

I agree as they were awesome and terrifying to all those in eastern and middle Europe around 370 A.D. Probably only the Mongols were as proficient in fighting with their horse cavalry.

They even drove the other conquering barbarians fleeing west i.e. the Goths, Saxons and the Vandals.