The Nitpicker’s Guide to Ancient Warfare: Strategy

[Gary Oswald]

Discuss this article by @David Flin here

 

[FriendlyGhost]

I do get a bit fed up with the terms strategy/strategic and tactics/tactical being mixed up. When I read that, for example, 'King X made a tactical blunder by sending his armies to the north' or 'Captain Y decided the best strategy was to set up an ambush' ... it's just annoying.

<rant>In modern times the idea has emerged of the 'strategic corporal' but often that just leads to the so-called 'long screwdriver' from higher echelons, resulting in operational headquarters staff, and even strategic headquarters staff, getting bogged down in tactical decisions, which means they're not spending their time looking at the operational/strategic questions.</rant>

Coming back to the article, Hannibal's campaign in Italy - and the Roman response to it - is a great example to use here. Pyrrhus' campaigns would be another example, I think.

 

[Charles EP M.]

"No one sane", I see what you did there

 

[David Flin]

"No one sane", I see what you did there

I stand by my comment.