The military level of the Eastern Roman Army has been at the world's advanced level for most of the period, whether it is tactical thinking, individual soldier quality, or weapons and equipment. The Eastern Empire may not have as many troops as the ancestors did, but

When it comes to prowess and strategy, he will never fall behind.

From the 10th century to the early 11th century, it was the highest point of strength and organization of the Eastern Roman army. It was also the best-organized, best-trained, best-equipped, and highest-paid force in the known world at the same time.

As far as salary is concerned, Eastern Roman soldiers generally have high salaries. According to data, the monthly salary of soldiers in the military area is 1-1.5 nomisma (gold coins weighing one-seventh of a pound), which is one-sixth to one-quarter per year.

Pounds of gold. In addition, peasants and soldiers in the military region also had income from the land they owned. In 947, Constantine VII stipulated that the land output value of each royal seaman (possibly including infantry) should be at least two pounds of gold per year, and that of military region cavalry and sailors was four pounds of gold.

, once rose to 12 pounds of gold at the end of the 10th century.

In addition, soldiers can receive supplies and occasional bonuses during military operations, and sometimes receive part of the spoils of war. Disabled personnel can receive a pension, and widows of fallen soldiers can sometimes receive a one-time compensation payment (

In the ninth century it was five pounds of gold).

In the era of Leo VI, the salaries of the officers and generals of the Byzantine Empire were as follows: the annual salary of the captain of the ten was one pound of gold (72 nomis horses), the captain of the fifty was two pounds, the fifth-class general of the military district was five pounds, and the fourth-class military district general was paid five pounds.

Ten pounds for a general (such as some naval generals), twenty pounds for a third-class military district general, thirty pounds for a second-class military district general, and forty pounds for a first-class military district general (2880 Nomisma)

In terms of training, soldiers' training includes three categories: basic quality training, weapons training and military formation training. The so-called basic quality training is actually physical training, including frog jumping, long-distance running, swimming and other sports modes.

Weapon training mainly involves the use of training weapons of equal weight or slightly heavier than actual combat weapons (long weapons are of equal weight, and personal weapons are heavier, up to twice the weight), specifically including long weapons, personal weapons, and unarmed combat. Soldiers in

Weapons training is required every day during the period of regular service.

Soldiers' personal weapons training mainly involves holding a shield to approach, stabbing targets and holding a shield to cover their evacuation.

Spear training is based on marching in unison. The content includes from dispersing to forming a solid defensive square, gathering in a center, moving closer to the flanks, advancing and retreating, turning back as a whole, and normal marching formations, etc.

Large-scale formations include two-way square formations, marching formations, marching formations in narrow areas, and alternating formations.

Archers conduct shooting training, which requires them to fire bows and arrows to hit spear-shaped targets at a fixed distance, or use fragmented arrows to hit suspended pipes or shoot twice as far as the normal shooting range.

The cavalry training includes basic skills such as alternating left and right riding and shooting, charging with a spear, etc. The formations include the Scythian formation, the multi-round impact formation and other various formations.

In addition to individual training, there is also regular collective actual combat training. The army uses sticks instead of spears, wattle sticks instead of bows and arrows, and mud blocks instead of throwing stones for offensive operations. This kind of actual combat training must be carried out even before the war (unless the enemy is approaching)

.The winner will be honored by the military region general.

In addition, there is earthwork work, which mainly involves digging trenches and quickly setting up and breaking out of camps. In addition, peasants and soldiers in specific areas also need to build a network of underground military camps and fortresses at fixed locations. Peasants and soldiers in the Cappadocia Military Region must build in caves.

Underground military camp as an additional camp.

In most periods, an Eastern Roman army could withstand 10 to 15 percent casualties (elites such as the Varangians generally had higher casualties). If this ratio was exceeded, the army might collapse.

It may not be a big deal in modern times, but this is the Middle Ages. Soldiers do not have nationalism bonuses, and most people do not have enough patriotism. They only fight for money, land and honor. The Eastern Roman Army can be regarded as a medieval casualty.

One of the most capable armies.

Back to John's side, after several hours of fighting, the night attack achieved very good results.

The total casualties of the Roman army participating in this sneak attack were about 11%, and they lost about a hundred people, which was close to the limit of what they could bear. Before the war, Henry's army had about 4,000 troops (many of them Greek servants), and the knights were four.

Ten men. As the battle continued, Henry lost five hundred soldiers and seven knights.

John did not want to annihilate Henry at once. He did not have the strength at present, not to mention that the casualties his army suffered were approaching the limit, so in the end he ordered an organized retreat and returned to the rear.

The keen Henry did not choose to retaliate and pursue him because his army suffered heavy losses and was severely lacking in logistics, so he did not have the strength to march in a short period of time.

But after this sneak attack, Henry stepped up vigilance. Higher-level security measures include prohibiting any activities in the camp without permission and nearly 10% of the infantry being on standby at any time to prevent surprise attacks. Anyone moving in the camp will be

A password is required, and the password is changed every day to prevent spy infiltration.

Guerrilla warfare (night raids can also be considered a type of guerrilla warfare) was the specialty of the Romans. They almost mastered this tactic. At the same time, the Romans also liked to play "tunnel warfare." If you don't believe it, you can ask the Arabs.

After this war, John also summarized the following problems for our army:

First, there is a lack of relatively strict organizational and training capabilities. Any successful guerrilla war cannot be separated from a strict organizational form and unified command and dispatch.

Second, there is no emphasis on base area construction. Only by building a stable base area can we carry out production and living work for a long time, improve logistics levels as much as possible, and organize guerrilla warfare.

Third, insufficient intelligence was collected in time. In a war with a weak enemy and a strong enemy, collecting intelligence is very important. Whether it is pre-war military intelligence collection, reconnaissance of large-scale enemy movements, or small-scale tactical reconnaissance on the battlefield

Actions are extremely important. Only by understanding the specific situation of the enemy can we flexibly formulate tactics for confrontation.

Fourth, there is no relatively stable front. Guerrilla warfare and mobile warfare require appropriate strategic development space. If the enemy is completely occupied at once, the space for guerrilla warfare will be lost. Therefore, the only way to attract attention is through a stable front.

Only when the enemy's main force is present can we effectively launch mobile warfare, ambush warfare, and guerrilla warfare on the enemy's flanks.

Finally, there must be convenient transportation conditions. The most important thing in guerrilla warfare is movement ability. If the military formation is too bulky and lacks movement ability, it will not work. And John's army lacks enough carriages and horses, so many soldiers can only run on their legs.
Chapter completed!