Machimoi Hippeis (Native Egyptian Cavalry)

Machimoi Hippeis (Native Egyptian Cavalry)
Machimoi Hippeis (Native Egyptian Cavalry)
Primary Weapon	Type: Javelin Attack: 13 Charge: 0 Lethality: 1 Range: 60 Ammo: 4 Attributes: Thrown weapon
Secondary Weapon	Type: Sword Attack: 7 Charge: 4 Lethality: 1 Attributes: Armor piercing
Defence	Armour: 3 Shield: 2 Skill: 4
Recruitment	Soldiers: 40 Cost: 1322 Upkeep: 248 Turns: 1
Mental	Morale: 2 Discipline: low Training: trained
Climate Fatigue	Hot climate : 2
Ground bonuses/Penalties to attack	Scrub: -1 Sand: 2 Forest: -4 Snow: -5
Other	Hit Points: 1 Mass: 1 Attributes: Can board ships, Can hide in forests, Hardy Formation: Square Side/Back spacing: 3.7/3.7 Mount effects: Elephant -1 Ownership: Ptolemaioi

These Machimoi are the native cavalry of Aigyptos. Though technically a warrior class, and moderately reliable, a wise general will not expect too much from these soldiers.

Description

The makhimoi were an important part of Aigyptian society long before the arrival of the Hellenes and the new Pharaonic dynasty of the Ptolemaioi. Aigyptian society consisted, aside from the royal family, primarily of the priests, the warriors - or makhimoi -, and the farmers. These horsemen are drawn from the highest eikosarouroi (20 aroura) class of makhimoi and come armed with a clutch of javelins, leather-covered shields and a makhaira sword. Their land allotments have allowed many of them to acquire leather or cotton cuirasses and most come equipped with simple bronze helmets. The sturdy ponies they ride make them decent skirmishers and mobile defence forces against hostile raids, but they are simply not the equal of more professional cavalry. They may once have been a warrior class, but for hundreds of years many of the makhimoi have spent most of their lives farming or trading, not fighting.

Historically, the makhimoi were a hereditary land tenure class that both existed long before the Ptolemaic regime and changed considerably under the regime. Makhimoi seem likely to have been present at the battle of Gaza in 312 BCE, probably as both light and medium infantry, shortly after the establishment of the dynasty. Most landed makhimoi held allotments of 5 or 7 arouras (a unit of land equivalent to 100 square cubits or 2,756 metres squared each) in size, with only a select few receiving 10 (elite infantry) or 20 to 30 (cavalry) arouras. Landless makhimoi on the other hand likely rented smaller plots associated with their class in temple precincts, as they had done in pre-Ptolemaic times. Regardless of status, makhimoi filled all sorts of liturgic roles in the Aigyptian state: police, crop guards, irrigation guards, contract witnesses, and security, in addition to their military roles. On that front, the 20-aroura makhimoi acted mainly as skirmishing cavalry.

Evidence for such makhimoi horsemen does not appear until the mid-to-late period of Ptolemaic rule, although they were probably present earlier as well. We similarly lack much evidence for their exact equipment, though their status and military context provide some indications. Late Dynastic and Achaemenid cavalry had tended towards the usage of javelins on horseback, and most Aigyptian troops in Ptolemaic service retained older roles that preceded the establishment of the dynasty, which encouraged leaving the role of heavy cavalry to the Hellenic or Hellenised squadrons. Surviving evidence concerning land allotments for these riders supports such a division of roles, as makhimoi horsemen received substantially less land than their heavier compatriots (only 20 to 30 arouras), indicating both lower status and a cheaper panoply. Finally, the context for the evidence of such troops was one of pervasive fighting against rebels and pretenders rather than one of grand military campaigns, which would have favoured the retention of such riders as mobile mounted skirmishers.

Nonetheless, Aigyptian horsemen could also be found in units of higher status. For instance, many served in more or less Hellenised "Persian" units of cavalry, which, along with the makhimoi cavalry, gradually took on larger roles as the Hellenic component in the Ptolemaic armies declined from the 2nd century BCE onwards, building on a tradition of similar ethnic fictions in the army that was at least a century older. By that point, they likely had adopted the thureos as well, although the evidence is too thin to draw any firm conclusions.