I/23 VEDIC INDIAN 1500 BC - 501 BC

This list covers Indian armies from the Aryan invasion of India from the north until the Persian conquest of the north-west and the establishment of the first Buddhist states. The main sources are the Sanskrit Vedas and the Mahabharata epic poem. Most chariots had 2 unarmoured horses and were crewed by a driver and an armoured noble archer. In the later period, the general might have a heavy chariot with a parasol, 4 horses and up to 4 crew. Elephants are described as having a crew of up to 12 men, most of whom must have fought on foot alongside. Other foot were mostly archers who clumped at the rear and tried to avoid hand-to-hand combat. References: Armies of the Ancient Near East N. Stillman & N. Tallis, Armies of the Macedonian and Punic Wars D. Head, The Mahabharata R.K. Narayan, Ancient Indian Warfare S.D. Singh.

I/23a — Early Vedic Indian Army 1500 BC - 900 BC

List: 1 x General (LCh), 4 x heroic charioteers (LCh), 5 x archers (3Bw), 2 x followers (7Hd)
Terrain: Tropical
Aggression: 2

I/23b — Later Vedic Indian Army 899 BC - 501 BC

List: 1 x General (LCh or HCh), 1 x elephant (El) or charioteer (LCh), 4 x heroic charioteers (LCh), 5 x archers (3Bw), 1 x followers (7Hd)
Terrain: Tropical
Aggression: 2
Enemies: