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How did the Achaemenid army combine Persian soldiers with troops from subject peoples?
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Achaemenid Empire
Frieze of Archers from the palace of Darius I at Susa, c. 510 bce; some believe the warriors are among the Ten Thousand Immortals.
The Achaemenid military evolved from a reliance on a Persian tribal levy into a professional standing army, which was supplemented by a troop levy from subject peoples during periods of intensive military activity.1
The integration of these forces functioned through the following methods:
- National Units: Troops from subject peoples fought alongside the regular army in distinct national units.1
- Customary Armament: These soldiers were typically armed according to their own individual customs rather than a standardized imperial kit.1
- Persian Command: Despite their diverse origins, these imperial levy units were generally officered by Persians, ensuring central control.1
- Military Colonies: Permanent bodies of troops were stationed at strategic locations throughout the empire, often organized as military colonies that were firmly settled into the local countryside, such as the garrison at Elephantine.1
While the core of the standing army consisted of elite units like the 10,000 "Immortals," the empire also increasingly relied on mercenaries, particularly Greeks, who served for Persian silver.1