Agrianes

The Agrianes (

Their country was centered at Upper Strymon, in present-day westernmost Bulgaria, and also held areas of southeasternmost Serbia,^[9] at the time situated north of the Dentheletae. In the times of Philip II, the territory of the Agrianes was administered by Pella.^[10] According to some Bulgarian researchers they inhabited an ethnocultural region known today as "Graovo", whose name probably derives from that of the Agrianes.^[11][12] Its location is in the central and eastern areas of modern-day Pernik Province.^[13]

Military

The peltasts raised from the Agrianes were the elite light infantry of the Macedonian army. They were often used to cover the right flank of the army in battle, being posted to the right of the Companion cavalry, a position of considerable honour. They were almost invariably part of any force on detached duty, especially missions requiring speed of movement.^[14]

Peltasts were armed with a number of javelins and a sword, carried a light shield but wore no armour, though they sometimes had helmets; they were adept at skirmishing and were often used to guard the flanks of more heavily equipped infantry. They usually adopted an open order when facing enemy heavy infantry. They could throw their javelins at will at the enemy and, unencumbered by armour or heavy shields, easily evade any counter-charges made by heavily equipped hoplites. They were, however, quite vulnerable to shock-capable cavalry and often operated to particular advantage on broken ground where cavalry was useless and heavy infantry found it difficult to maintain formation.^[15][16]

History

They are first mentioned regarding Megabazus' campaign in 511 BC.^[2] In 429 BC they were subject to the Odrysian kingdom^[17] and later, as early as 352 BC, they became allies of Philip II of Macedonia.^[18]

They fought under king

• Peltast
• Osogovo

References