Anatolikoi Phylakes
| Anatolikoi Phylakes | |
|---|---|
| ἀνατολικοί φύλακες | |
| Active | 6th-13th Centuries |
| Disbanded | 13th Century |
| Countries | Modern day Serkios, Quenmin, Lemobrogia, Auroa, and Knichus |
| Allegiance | Symmerian Empire |
| Branch | Syaran Commonality Armed Forces |
| Type | Military district |
| Size | ~300,000 to 1,000,000+ |
| Garrison/HQ | Various |
| Engagements | Sabrian Wars Sundering Wars Crisis of the Ninth Century Tống Rebellion Seleucus' Civil War Autumn Flag Rebellions Symmerian-Ridevan War War of the Marked |
The Anatolikoi Phylakes (Symmerian language: ἀνατολικοί φύλακες), meaning East Guards, was a military formation of the Symmerian Empire active between the 6th and 13th Centuries in Eastern Siduri. Responsible for the most populated regions of the Empire the East Guards were the largest of the military formations of the Empire, numbering in the hundreds of thousands to an excess of a million troops during times of war.
Like the rest of the Guards the East Guards were not a permanent formation with a consistent structure or organization, but rather a summation of the various military forces available to the Empire. Archons and local rulers in the eastern provinces of the Empire maintained their own garrisons and forces to maintain security and rule of law, to be augmented by mass conscription of local citizenry in the event of war. The East Guards became a generic descriptor of the military forces of the Ancient Symmerian army and navy both immediately available and readily conscripted. It was first used by Deinokrates III in reference to the forces amassed under his command to combat the Sabrian Empire during the First Sabrian War, becoming the principal opponent of the legions during the Sabrian Wars.
Following the conclusion of the conflict with Sabria the East Guards became responsible for the protection of Symmerian interests and territory from Serikos to Knichus, as well as patrolling the waters between Siduri and the Cacertian Archipelago, and the south-eastern borders with the Rideva Empire. The East Guards were mobilized for the Sundering Wars, where they partook in extensive naval and land campaigns against the Acrean Empire in some instances invading Eracura and repelling Acrean invasions of Siduri. The East Guards frequently dissolved and rebelled amid the Crisis of the Ninth Century before Symmerian dominion was restored under Aristoxenus. They again splintered during Seleucus' Civil War and the Autumn Flag Rebellions. The subsequent loss of Quenmin deprived the East Guards of a major part of their manpower and supplies, weakening the force prior to and during the Symmerian-Ridevan War in the 12th Century. By the time of the War of the Marked the East Guards consisted solely of the Serikese garrisons and the local levy troops, many of which later sided with Eryx. Following the loss of Serikos the East Guards were effectively dissolved and not identified again in Symmerian records.
Responsible for some of the most populated and wealthiest parts of the Empire, the East Guards were among the most powerful and numerous military formations of antiquity. As with most of the Symmerian military, the majority of troops were Epikouros, locally conscripted troops who carried the arms and armor supplied by their respective cultures. This resulted in a wide variety of troops drawn up from the Serikese, Quenminese, Auroan, Lemobrogian, and Knichan populaces, including light and heavy infantry, cavalry, archers, sailors, marines, and siege engineers. Accurate numbers to indicate the size of the East Guards are difficult owing to the mixed definitions and standards the Symmerians employed during their rule, which included rosters of not only standing soldiers, but potentially mobilized manpower as well. Under Prexinos II in 706, the East Guards reportedly could mobilize 35,000 Phalangitès (Symmerian pikemen), 25,000 Knichan skirmishers, 10,000 Quenminese "shield bearers", 1000,000 Serikese Aichmophoros (literally 'spearbearer', but more likely polearm-wielding infantry), 30,000 repeating crossbowmen, 10,000 Auroan Agrianos (elite light infantry), 15,000 Hippotoxotès (horse archers), 10,000 Holosidèros (armored horsemen), and 40,000 hippikon (cavalry) of Quenminese, Serikese, and Knichan origin.