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Short description

Spear armed light infantry from the region of Nubia.

Description

The spearmen of Nubia are the rank and file warriors of their country. Their spears and shields are standard, not great, but not bad either. With their spears, they can still overcome lions of their homelands, and can kill a man just as well. Cavalry, especially the unarmoured or lightly armoured types will have difficulty if they are caught or charge into these spearmen. As with all spearmen vs. cavalry encounters, the armour of each side is an important factor. In melee, commanders of these troops should be careful to have them face heavy troops. Many commanders have had success keeping these men as a reserve force, holding or plugging gaps in the battle line until better equipped troops can arrive. Still, these warriors are cheap and their logistical upkeep for the Ptolemaci kingdom is not a strain on the royal coffers. Recruited in great numbers, the Ptolemaic strategos has a formidable infantry to rely upon.

The core of Nubian lands dwell south of the Ptolemaic kingdom. Though no true national border existed restricting access to either side, their homelands were generally said to begin past the 1st and 2nd cataract. The Nubians were a very warlike race. At times, they and their kingdom, centred at the great city of Meroe, were known to support the machimoi rebellions against the Ptolemaic kingdom.

As for their military nature, in Strabo's Geography, he states that while the Romans, under Aelius Gallus, were off campaigning against the Arabs, the Ethiopians (the general term for dark skinned Africans) used that diversion to attack, and through surprise, captured Syene, Elephantine, and Philae, enslaving the inhabitants and throwing down statues of Caesar. Another Roman force, commanded by the new governor, Petronius, is said to have less than 10,000 infantry and 800 horse against an army of 30,000 Ethiopians, compelled them to retreat to Pselchis, an Ethiopian city. He then sent deputies to demand restitution of what they had taken, and the reasons which had induced them to begin the war. Replying that the nomarchs (governors of Ptolemaic nomes, or regions) the Ptolemies had continually mistreated them, Petronius explained that the Ptolemies no longer ruled the country. After a three-day hiatus to decide the matter came to nothing, Petronius attacked and won. Strabo, on their equipment, says, "they carried large shields made of raw hides, and hatchets for defensive weapons; some, however, had pikes, and others swords equipment and were led by bad commanders as well." Eventually, Petronius won back much of the territories lost. Approaching Napata, where Prince Akinidad soon fled from, Petronius razed the city. Napata is mentioned as the seat of the Ka'andakes (Candaces) by Dio and Strabo, although it's also believed that Napata was just a royal residence with Meroe being the royal capitol.