Entry Title: "
Ancient Asian Warfare"
Name:
Enrique Frio,
Thailand
Story: Ancient battles in Asia involved the use of horses and elephants in warfare, along with swordsmen and other foot soldiers. The soldiers mounted on the elephants also fought with each other using spears and sword-like weapons. The elephants would engage in a fierce lockup of trunks and their captains would fight atop them. Below, the infantrymen would sword-fight, usually using two blades each. Horse-mounted fighters also fought using swords and spears.
An elephant on the battlefield is pretty menacing and is symbolic of the strength and courage of a given camp. Alexander the Great’s armies suffered heavy casualties against India’s King Porus’ elephant-led army. The Romans in the Battle of Zama herded the enemy elephants into gaps in their ranks and attacked them with javelins. Elephants were also used in sieges to ram into enemy fortress gates, and as a defense against this, long wooden spikes protruding out of the gates were constructed.
With the introduction of firearms, elephant use in warfare was discontinued, obviously since they were easy targets and would be unmanageable once they panicked.
Ultimately, strategy and tactics won the battle. This re-enactment in Surin, Thailand is part of the annual Elephant Roundup Festival.
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