Military history is often remembered through great commanders and famous battles, yet armies were built from the men and women who stood in formation, marched impossible distances, and fought under banners that have long since crumbled into dust. Every era developed its own distinctive military units, shaped by geography, technology, politics and culture.
One of the joys of studying military history is seeing familiar ideas constantly reinvented. A disciplined spear formation appears in Greece, evolves in Macedonia, disappears beneath Roman legions, returns in medieval pike squares, and eventually faces musket volleys that render centuries of tactical wisdom obsolete. History has a delightful habit of borrowing from itself.
This guide explores many of the best known military units from antiquity through to the Napoleonic period, explaining their equipment, battlefield role and historical significance.
Ancient Era (c. 3000 BCE to 476 CE)
Unit Type Hoplites Heavy Infantry Macedonian Phalangites Pike Infantry Companion Cavalry Heavy Cavalry Hypaspists Elite Infantry Peltasts Light Infantry Psiloi Skirmishers Sacred Band of Thebes Elite Infantry Spartan Homoioi Heavy Infantry Spartan Helots Auxiliary Infantry Thessalian Cavalry Heavy Cavalry Cretan Archers Archers Rhodian Slingers Slingers Persian Immortals Elite Infantry Persian Sparabara Spearmen Persian Takabara Light Infantry Persian Archers Missile Infantry Scythed Chariots Chariot Corps Camel Riders Camel Cavalry Roman Legionaries Heavy Infantry Roman Triarii Veteran Spearmen Roman Principes Heavy Infantry Roman Hastati Heavy Infantry Roman Velites Skirmishers Roman Auxiliaries Auxiliary Infantry Praetorian Guard Imperial Guard Equites Cavalry Roman Cataphracts Heavy Cavalry Roman Ballista Crews Siege Artillery Carthaginian Sacred Band Elite Infantry Numidian Cavalry Light Cavalry Libyan Spearmen Heavy Infantry Iberian Scutarii Infantry Gallic Warriors Shock Infantry Celtic Warbands Tribal Infantry Germanic Warbands Tribal Infantry Dacian Falxmen Heavy Infantry Thracian Peltasts Skirmishers Egyptian Charioteers Chariot Corps Assyrian Spearmen Heavy Infantry Assyrian Archers Archers Hittite Chariots Chariot Corps Indian War Elephants Elephant Corps Mauryan Infantry Infantry Han Crossbowmen Missile Infantry Han Cavalry Cavalry Xiongnu Horse Archers Horse Archers Sarmatian Cataphracts Heavy Cavalry Parthian Horse Archers Horse Archers Parthian Cataphracts Heavy Cavalry
Early Medieval Era (c. 476 to 1000)
Unit Type Housecarls Elite Infantry Fyrd Militia Infantry Viking Hird Elite Infantry Berserkers Shock Infantry Bondi Warriors Militia Infantry Byzantine Cataphracts Heavy Cavalry Varangian Guard Elite Guard Skoutatoi Heavy Infantry Akritai Frontier Infantry Byzantine Horse Archers Horse Archers Frankish Heavy Cavalry Heavy Cavalry Carolingian Infantry Infantry Saxon Thegns Elite Infantry Welsh Spearmen Spearmen Welsh Archers Archers Irish Kern Light Infantry Irish Gallowglass Heavy Infantry Norse Raiders Infantry Magyar Horse Archers Horse Archers Khazar Cavalry Cavalry Arab Camel Riders Camel Cavalry Arab Ghilman Elite Cavalry Abbasid Infantry Infantry
High Medieval Era (c. 1000 to 1300)
Late Medieval and Renaissance Era (c. 1300 to 1600)
Unit Type Landsknechts Pike Infantry Doppelsöldner Elite Greatsword Infantry Swiss Guards Elite Infantry Swiss Pikemen Pike Infantry Pike and Shot Infantry Mixed Infantry Arquebusiers Firearm Infantry Musketeers Firearm Infantry Reiters Pistol Cavalry Cuirassiers Heavy Cavalry Winged Hussars Heavy Cavalry Hussars Light Cavalry Cossacks Light Cavalry Condottieri Mercenary Cavalry Stradiots Light Cavalry Spanish Rodeleros Sword and Buckler Infantry Tercios Pike and Shot Infantry Halberdiers Polearm Infantry Handgunners Firearm Infantry Bombard Crews Siege Artillery Sappers Combat Engineers Ottoman Janissaries Elite Firearm Infantry Ottoman Sipahis Heavy Cavalry Azabs Light Infantry Akinji Light Cavalry Tatars Horse Archers Samurai Elite Infantry Ashigaru Infantry Yari Ashigaru Pike Infantry Teppo Ashigaru Arquebusiers
Early Modern Era (c. 1600 to 1789)
Unit Type Musketeers Firearm Infantry Fusiliers Line Infantry Grenadiers Elite Infantry Guards Regiments Elite Infantry Dragoons Mounted Infantry Carabiniers Heavy Cavalry Cuirassiers Heavy Cavalry Hussars Light Cavalry Lancers Lance Cavalry Horse Grenadiers Elite Cavalry Horse Guards Guard Cavalry Highland Regiments Line Infantry Riflemen Light Infantry Jaegers Rifle Infantry Pandours Irregular Infantry Croats Light Infantry Marines Naval Infantry Royal Artillery Field Artillery Horse Artillery Mobile Artillery Sappers and Miners Engineers
Napoleonic Era (1792 to 1815)
Unit Type Line Infantry Infantry Grenadiers Elite Infantry Voltigeurs Light Infantry Chasseurs à Pied Light Infantry Imperial Guard Elite Guard Old Guard Elite Infantry Middle Guard Elite Infantry Young Guard Elite Infantry Rifle Regiments Rifle Infantry 95th Rifles Rifle Infantry Fusiliers Line Infantry Light Infantry Skirmish Infantry Grenadier Guards Guard Infantry Coldstream Guards Guard Infantry Highland Regiments Line Infantry Chasseurs à Cheval Light Cavalry Hussars Light Cavalry Lancers Lance Cavalry Uhlans Lance Cavalry Dragoons Medium Cavalry Heavy Dragoons Heavy Cavalry Cuirassiers Heavy Cavalry Carabiniers Heavy Cavalry Horse Grenadiers Elite Cavalry Life Guards Guard Cavalry Horse Artillery Mobile Artillery Foot Artillery Field Artillery Rocket Troops Rocket Artillery Pontoon Train Combat Engineers Sappers Engineers Marines Naval Infantry
0%
Love
0%
Funny
0%
Wow
0%
Sad
0%
Angry
Post navigation
