Flying Wedge. The wedge formation is a very old and very effective formation when employed correctly. Historically used with cavalry, the formation involves a mass of troops in a triangular wedge with the tip charging at the enemy.

Then, Why does the phalanx work so well?

One of the primary reasons for its success on the battlefield was the Phalanx formation. … When engaging in battle, the phalanx would form a tight defence and advance towards the enemy. The defence would be held tight by the hoplite shields and greaves which formed a barrier on all sides of the unit.

Who is the greatest military general in history? The 7 best military commanders of all time, according to Napoleon Bonaparte

  • Julius Caesar (100 BC-44 BC).
  • Hannibal Barca (247 bc-183 bc). …
  • Henri de La Tour d’Auvergne, vicomte de Turenne (1611-1675). …
  • Frederick the Great (1712-1786). …
  • Gustavus Adolphus (1594-1632). …
  • Prince Eugene of Savoy (1663-1736). …

Keeping this in consideration, What was the most genius war tactic in history?

The capture of the Dutch fleet at Den Helder might be one of the most ridiculous and effective attacks of all time. A large number of Dutch warships were docked at Den Helder during a particularly cold winter.

What is the only weakness of the phalanx?

The main weakness of the phalanx alway was that its right wing was poorly protected, because hoplites had their shields on their left arm.

How do you kill Macedonian phalanx?

Defeating phalanxes in the game typically involved positioning sufficient force near their front while moving to threaten their flanks, before charging into their flanks. Attempting to re-orient to face the flanking force simply presented the flank to the force posturing near what used to be the front.

Who is the only 6 star general in American history?

George Washington, History’s Only Six-Star General ( … Sort Of) The rank of five-star general is an honor bestowed upon very few.

How do you win a Sun Tzu war?

The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.” “If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat.

What’s the difference between strategist and tactician?

A strategist understands the nature of a long term goal and invents an innovative plan to achieve it. A tactician is skilled at responding to situations as they arise and developing sound plans to win but is not useful for long term planning.

What made the phalanx obsolete?

At the Battle of Cynocephalae in 197 BCE, the Romans defeated the Greek phalanx easily because the Greeks had failed to guard the flanks of their phalanx and, further, the Greek commanders could not turn the mass of men who comprised the phalanxes quickly enough to counter the strategies of the Roman army and, after …

Is a phalange a finger?

The phalanges are the bones that make up the fingers of the hand and the toes of the foot. There are 56 phalanges in the human body, with fourteen on each hand and foot. Three phalanges are present on each finger and toe, with the exception of the thumb and large toe, which possess only two.

When was the phalanx last used?

Taking the broad view of the phalanx, as a formation not wedded exclusively to the ancient Greeks, then I would propose that the last effective use of the formation was by Zulu warriors at Isandlwana. The Zulus fought in tight phalanx type formations, armed with short iron tipped spears, and cowhide shields.

Why did armies stop using phalanx?

Because the nations that practiced it got conquered by either the romans or the parthians. The phalanx were simpy inferior to the roman legion or the cavalry based military system of the parthians, and so died out.

Is phalanx obsolete?

It had characteristics of the classical Greek and Hellenistic phalanxes, but was more flexible. It was used against cavalry more than infantry. However, the phalanx did not totally disappear. The phalanx might not have been obsolete at the end of its history.

What were Macedonian soldiers called?

Suitable men from the Macedonian peasantry were recruited into an infantry formation, called the phalanx. It was developed by Philip II, and later used by his son Alexander the Great in his conquest of the Achaemenid Persian Empire. These infantrymen were called Pezhetairoi, which translates as ‘Foot Companions’.

Who was the last 6 star general?

William Tecumseh Sherman was appointed to the rank after Grant, and he changed the insignia to two silver stars with an American Eagle between them. The final holder was Philip Sheridan who held the rank briefly before his death.

Who is a 7 star general?

No person have ever been awarded or promoted to a seven-star rank, although some commentators might argue that General George Washington posthumously became a seven-star general in 1976 (see Part Seven).

Do generals have bodyguards?

The generals’ personal staff include drivers, security guards, secretaries and people to shine their shoes and iron their uniforms. When traveling, they can be accompanied by police motorcades that stretch for blocks.

How do you kill your enemies without fighting?

If you are equal in size and ability, deploy strategies to avoid direct combat.

  1. Use strategies of division to disrupt the enemy’s power, then engage in ambushes and surprise attacks.
  2. If this strategy is not possible, go on the defensive and stand your ground.
  3. Don’t get pulled into battle if you are not sure of victory.

Is Sun Tzu real?

Sun Tzu is traditionally credited as the author of The Art of War, an influential work of military strategy that has affected both Western and East Asian philosophy and military thinking. … His birth name was Sun Wu (Chinese: 孫武) and he was known outside of his family by his courtesy name Changqing (Chinese: 長卿).

How do I make my enemy weak?

How to Defeat Your Enemies: Best Tips

  1. Try to understand your enemy:
  2. Observe them carefully:
  3. Avoid your enemy as much as possible:
  4. Turn cold towards them:
  5. Learn to defend yourself:
  6. Find out their weakness:
  7. Move on:
  8. Try to build your character even more:

Who is the best strategist in history?

  1. Ghengis Khan. Genghis Khan conquered more than twice as much as any other man in history. …
  2. Hannibal. Hannibal might be one of the top strategists of all time. …
  3. Scipio Africanus. …
  4. John Boyd. …
  5. Napoleon. …
  6. “Desert Fox” Erwin Rommel. …
  7. Robert Moses. …
  8. William Tecumseh Sherman.

How do you become a strategic thinker?

How to Become a More Strategic Thinker

  1. Free Yourself from Execution.
  2. Ruthlessly Prioritize.
  3. Look for Solutions, Not Problems.
  4. Ask Yourself Bigger, Better Questions.
  5. Listen to and Recruit Others’ Perspective.
  6. Be Willing to Take Risks.

How do I become an expert strategist?

Here are six lessons on how to think like a strategist.

  1. Understand the core strategy process. There are thousands of books on developing strategy. …
  2. Build Your toolkit. …
  3. Develop A Skill In Understanding Drivers. …
  4. Be Curious. …
  5. Practice Visual Strategy. …
  6. Connect Challenges and Opportunities with Commercial Outcomes.