The immortal 'demons' in history

Those are the immortal armies that fight bravely and carry on themselves majestic armor .

From the Immortal army (Immortal) of Spartan warriors .

Director Zack Snyder's 300 film brought film lovers around the world a picture of the brave, unyielding and brave Spartan warriors until the end. In the movie, the enemy of King Leonidas is thousands of times larger and possesses extremely terrifying troops.

Among them, impressing the most people must be the Immortal 'demon' army. This is the only army to create a feeling of hitting 'equally powerful' with Spartan warriors. It is interesting to know that these Immortals are real in history, but they are only human, not "mutated" as in the film.

Immortal image in movie 300

Why are they considered to be Immortal (Immortals)? This name was given by the Greek historian Herodotus and only the Greeks called it. The Persian book does not record the existence of this army under the name Immortal.

The reason for Herodotus to choose the name 'dread' is so because of 2 reasons: This army always has 10,000 people, who die or have no fighting power will immediately be replaced by others. No matter what, the enemy always sees the army has exactly 10,000 Immortal. So the enemy thought that these warriors were immortal, who died and then resurrected soon after. The second reason is definitely to honor the heroic Greek warriors.

The image of Immortal is behind Xerxes I in the film 300 of 1962

Of course, this army is not as immortal as its name. And their combat / equipment skills are not the same as what the 300 film depicts.

In fact, their armament was quite poor, including a shield that was subtle, far from the shields of Spartan warriors, a dagger, bow and arrow.

In addition, 9,000 of the Immortals will hold a spear at a pomegranate-shaped end made of silver. The remaining 1,000 people use spears with gold pomegranates. They only wear cloth clothes like regular soldiers, and the armor displayed in museums of Persian empire is for formal ceremonies.

Immortal has 2 different types of costumes.When they went to battle, they only wore cloth like normal soldiers

In addition to the characteristic of possessing a weapon that looks more "rich" than other troops, in the Persian army, the Immortals are the only ones who know . fight. The Persian Empire at that time did not place much emphasis on military specialization. Participants in Xerxes I's army - the Persian army leader who invaded Greece - were just ordinary people, never knew what fighting was until they were placed in swords and shields.

Therefore, the Immortals - trained "standard" suddenly became 'rare' in the Persian army. However, compared to the elite, the Immortals are nothing compared to the Spartan warriors born to fight.

Picture fighting in the battle of Thermopylae

The best part of the Immortals is the brave spirit, the author of the book Battle of Thermopylae - the battle for the West , Mr. Ernle Bradford wrote: ' They proved very brave and extremely disciplined. However, the Immortal realized, as well as the Medes and other peoples earlier, in such a narrow path, that the number of such large soldiers became a burden. The short spears could not penetrate the strong defenses of the Greeks, as well as the arrows that could not cross the bronze shield. How many battles are over show that courage is not enough. Confronted with superior weapons, the bravest one also collapsed. And when those better weapons fall into the hands of a lifelong person who doesn't know what else to do but war, the catastrophic outcome is inevitable. '

Indeed, the history books only wrote about the Immortals on the first day of fighting with Spartan warriors that did not appear on the second day. Many historians say, on the second day, people are still busy recruiting warriors. another to make up for the 10,000 .

Of course, if you show such scrawny images (which appeared in the movie 300 in 1962), the Immortals will make people depressed right away. Therefore, director Zack Snyder re-used the image of Immortals appearing in comics, wearing a terrifying mask, holding dual swords and black suits like Ninja. Speaking of unusual weapons and costumes, talk about the unique masks of these Immortals.

. to the immortal army of the Mongolian Empire .

People wonder, do they really wear that kind of mask in history? Of course not, however, if the question is whether there is an army wearing that mask when the battle starts, the answer is yes and that mask is much more elite than other Immortals. used, this army is also called the Immortal history. It is Keshigten - Kha Han Guard of the Mongolian Empire.

War masks have been used by the Mongols in many of their conquests

Only the best and most loyal warriors are allowed to join Keshigten. Not only equipped to the root of the tooth and the evil war mask when going out to the battlefield - which has the effect of making enemies terrified, the Keshigten are also able to chat and learn from Dai Han.

Radio Speed ​​- the No. 1 general in Mongolia and the world of the time also came from such a Keshigten. But like the Persians, the Mongols did not claim to be Immortal, so they still kept the name of Hainanese Guard for this army.

But they were considered by the other armies to be Immortal for two reasons. Firstly, Europeans look at all Asians alike, so when they defeat a Mongolian warrior, a person identical to their conception will revive, reappear.

Secondly, the Mongols fought on the principle that victory is the most important thing. It is better for them to run away so that they can win the next time, but do not try to live trying to die and fight just to lose people, so killing an ordinary Mongolian warrior is an extremely difficult task for European soldiers. don't talk to the Guardians.

The Benh Ho Guard was born warriors, they were able to absorb all the lessons from Dai Han so they could consider these guards as wolves of the battlefield, clever and extremely clever. Initially the Keshigten team consisted of just over 1,000 people but by the time of the Great Khan period of Tat Liet, the number had reached more than 12,000.

A typical Keshigten

. the army "Can't die" in the Middle Ages .

Unlike the Mongols, another army claimed itself immortal. It was the cavalry of the Medieval Byzantine Empire, named Athanatoi . Thanatos is the name of Death in Greek mythology and the name Athanatoi means 'Cannot die'.

Why is this cavalry team 'daring to ' designate such a 'dreadful' name like that, it is not without reason. It is said that, in the Dyrrakhion battle with the Normans in 1081, Alexios I, the Byzantine Emperor and leader of the Athanatoi cavalry team almost fell off the horse. He only "stuck" on the horse's back thanks to his harness.

3 Norman cavalry - famous soldiers with strong spears rushed in, stabbed Alexios I but he didn't even get . a scratch. A stab wound was so strong that he returned to the position of the saddle as in the beginning, but left no wounds and Alexios I was out of danger unbelievably.

A picture symbolizing the Athanatoi cavalry

The reason Alexios could 'be like that ' is because the armor of Athanatoi cavalry is the masterpiece of Byzantine military, the most durable shield the world has ever seen, appeared in the Middle Ages. .

The thoracic armor of the Athanatoi consists of four layers, the first layer is called Zava or Kavadion, mainly made from compaction cotton (similar to our bedding used today). The next layer is Lorikion Alysidoton, the armor is made of iron mesh.

After this class are Klivanion, chest armor and surrounding parts. The other is Kremesmata - a type of iron mesh armor that covers the body almost like a long skirt to protect the thighs, legs and hips.

Besides, the Athanatoi are also equipped with Podopsella - the type of armored body attached to the calf, Manikellia wrapped in the shoulders and hands also made of similar material. The final piece of the armor is Epolorikion, a blue and red cloak, made from a blanket-like material. It is believed that even if you use a direct gun, you cannot scratch the Athanatoi, let alone the classic spears.

Legs are reconstructed according to the records of the Byzantine military background

Someone might wonder if the armored Athanatoi are so strong, but they still have weaknesses like horses, what if the enemy attacks the horse to make them fall? This has been thought by military experts since the 300TCN years. They used a layer of armor like fish scales wrapped around horses and called it Kataphractoi Cavalry (meaning Body Armor).

Later, Byzantine troops used Kataphractoi as an important part of the military. Most of the Byzantine cavalry were Kataphractoi cavalry units except for a few light cavalry units dedicated to reconnaissance. Thus, not only the Athanatoi but also their horses are protected until their toenails.

Many sources record that the number of Athanatoi amounted to 10,000 to mimic the previous Immortal team of Persia. But the existence of this immortal cavalry team only lasted until 1200, it came down with the weakening of the Byzantine Empire (demise in 1453).

Although considered to be the standard of the Byzantine military, the Athanatoi were not really effective on the battlefields of the time - where the archers and cavalrymen had the predominant speed, not the "vehicles". increase'. They are 'immortal' that the main army shatters, too, failure is inevitable.

. and modern French royal guards

Royal Guard of Napoleon - the Immortals of France

Since then, anecdotes about the 'Immortals' army no longer appear. Until 1800, the Royal Guard of Napoleon the Great was also named for the Immortal. But this name did not come because the "immortality" was literally, the intention of the French soldiers hinted that the army was a darling in the French army, enjoying higher wages, better equipment and care. Be more careful, like the Persian Immortals.

Perhaps in part because the name was so great that later nations did not dare to use the name Immortal to place their army. Anyway, how good and talented they are are just people and people who still can't resist death. Especially when on the battlefield, death is something no one can avoid, only sooner or later.