Alexander biography great macedonian phalanx

Ancient infantry formation

The Macedonian phalanx (Greek: Μακεδονική φάλαγξ) was an infantryformation developed by Philip II from the classical Greek phalanx, of which the main innovation was the use of the sarissa, a 6-metre pike.

It was famously commanded by Philip's son Alexander the Great during his conquest of the Achaemenid Empire between 334 and 323 BC. The Macedonian phalanx model then spread throughout the Hellenistic world, where it became the standard battle formation for pitched battles.

During the Macedonian Wars against the Roman Republic (214–148 BC), the phalanx appeared obsolete against the more manoeuvrable Roman legions.

Development

In 359 BC, following the Macedonian defeat by the Illyrians, which killed the majority of Macedonia's army and King Perdiccas III of Macedon, Perdiccas' brother Philip II took the throne.^[1] Philip II was a hostage in Thebes for much of his youth (367–360), where he witnessed the combat tactics