Parthian Army: Rome’s Toughest Rival

Get 4 months extra on a 2 year plan here: https://nordvpn.com/kingsandgenerals It’s risk free with Nord’s 30 day money-back guarantee! Kings and Generals historical animated documentary series on ancient history and history of Rome and Iran, continues with a video in which we talk about the Parthian army and why Parthia is an often overlooked military powerhouse. Rome had no rival in the East like the Parthian Empire—yet we still know surprisingly little about how Parthian armies were organized. This video explains what newer archaeological finds and closer readings of ancient authors suggest: Parthia was not a loose “ad‑hoc nomad cavalry” horde, but a sophisticated military system under the Shahanshah. We break down the chain of command from the king’s elite guard (doryphoroi / gund ī Shahanshah) and mercenaries, to powerful landowning nobles (eleutheroi / azadan) and their retinues. You’ll learn how manpower also came from garrisons, governors (strategoi / marzban), client kingdoms, and older Seleucid and Achaemenid-style land-and-service institutions—creating a reserve that worked almost like a national guard. We also look at the underrated infantry: “Italian fashion” equipment, mixed formations, and evidence for siegecraft. Finally, we dive into Parthian battlefield methods—horse archers, a smaller core of cataphracts, and the coordinated envelopment tactics seen at Carrhae, where Crassus was annihilated and archers were resupplied by camels. The episode closes by asking why Parthia eventually fell despite its strengths: Rome’s bigger economic engine, slower mustering, social change, and internal conflict leading to the House of Sasan. Next, we continue the Rome–Parthia showdown under Gnaeus Domitius Corbulo in depth. Rome vs Persia: An Unwinnable War:    • Rome vs Persia: An Unwinnable War   Roman Empire - Julio-Claudians:    • Augustus: How Rome's First Emperor Shaped ...   Punic Wars:    • First Punic War #1 Messana and Agrigentum ...   Vandals:    • Rise of the Vandals: How the Vandals Took ...   How Rome Conquered Greece:    • How Rome Conquered Greece - Roman History ...   Did the Trojan War Really Happen:    • Did the Trojan War Really Happen?   Demosthenes:    • Demosthenes: Greatest Enemy of Philip of M...   Ancient Greek Politics and Diplomacy:    • Ancient Greek State Politics and Diplomacy   Pyrrhic Wars:    • Pyrrhus and Pyrrhic War - Kings and Genera...   Eastern Roman Empire: Why So Many Civil Wars?:    • Eastern Roman Empire: Why So Many Civil Wa...   Mos Maiorum: What led to the fall of the Roman Republic?:    • Mos Maiorum: What led to the fall of the R...   Caesar in Gaul:    • Caesar in Gaul - Roman History DOCUMENTARY   Animation: Michael Merc    / @mercenarycamp  , Kate Korolko Artwork: Vadym Berkutenko Script: Evan Schultheis Narration: Officially Devin (   / @offydgg   &    / @gameworldnarratives  ) ✔ Merch store ► https://teespring.com/stores/kingsand... ✔ Patreon ►   / kingsandgenerals   ✔ Podcast ► https://kingsandgenerals.libsyn.com/ iTunes: https://apple.co/2QTuMNG ✔ PayPal ► http://paypal.me/kingsandgenerals ✔ Twitter ►   / kingsgenerals   ✔ Facebook ►   / kingsgenerals   ✔ Instagram ►  / kings_generals   Production Sources: https://docs.google.com/document/d/16... Music courtesy of EpidemicSound 00:00:00 - Parthia vs Rome: the mystery 00:02:28 - Steppe roots and early assumptions 00:04:29 - The Shahanshah’s forces 00:05:50 - Nobles, retinues, and numbers 00:07:41 - Garrisons and recruiting systems 00:12:56 - Carrhae and cavalry tactics 00:15:32 - Why Parthia ultimately fell #Documentary #Rome #Parthia