4. The Immortals of Cyrus the Great were an elite unit of soldiers that could never be diminished in size or strength – until Alexander the Great came along, that is
The first Persian Empire, also known as the Achaemenid Empire, dominated large parts of Western Asia and Eastern Europe for almost 200 years – hardly surprising given that it could count on an elite group of warriors known as ‘The Immortals‘. They were armed to the teeth and adept in a range of combat situations. What’s more, for every member the enemy killed, another man of equal strength and skill was ready to step in to take his place. As the ancient historian Herodotus noted, they were a unit that never lost its strength, hence their legendary nickname.
Cyrus the Great established the Achaemenid Empire in 552 BC. Under him, it grew to cover a massive 5.5 million kilometers, winning territory and conquering numerous different peoples through a combination of diplomacy and military might. The Immortals played a big part in this. The unit, which was always 10,000-men-strong, was made up of the Empire’s very best warriors. They were kitted out with bronze breastplates and helmets. Even their horses had bronze armor. Each soldier was equipped with a number of weapons, each of which he knew how to use well. In addition to a sword, they would carry a large dagger, a spear, a sling and a bow and arrow.
According to Herodotus, the Immortals served both as the King’s bodyguard as well as the Empire’s elite shock troops. They traveled the Empire far and wide fighting its enemies. They even had their own caravan, carrying not only their food and supplies but also a large number of concubines for their pleasure. Over the years, the unit’s commanders became increasingly powerful, even becoming the king’s most trusted advisors, and not just on military issues.
The Immortals fought with distinction in several of the most important battles of the period. They helped Darius I invade parts of modern-day India and Pakistan in 520BC, helped their Empire expand into Egypt in 525 BC and were even there at the legendary Battle of Thermopylae in 480 BC. However, even the Immortals were no match for Alexander the Great. The military genius defeated them in 330 BC, effectively bringing the Achaemenid Empire to an end.