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Module - I Maurya and Gupta Armiess

Military History
freebooters hired as individuals seeking military adventure; troops provided by local
of Ancient India
zamindars and business men; troops supplied by allies; deserters from the enemy; and
tribesmen from the wild forests and hills.

The tactical organization of the Mauryan army of this period had a basic unit called the
patti, a mixed group, comprising one elephant carrying three archers or spearman and
a mahout (the elephant trainer and handler) three horse cavalrymen armed with javelins,
Note round buckler and spear, and five infantry soldiers armed with shield and broadsword
or bow. This is depicted diagramaticlly for you.

Mauryan
Army Unit

Patti
(1 chariot +4 soldiers)

Elephant 3 Horse 5 Infantry
(3 Archers,1 Mahout) Cavalrymen Soldiers

In today's military terms it would be called an all arms team. This twelve-man unit
when assembled in three units formed a senamukha, or "company." Three of these
formed together comprised a gulma, or "battalion." Units were added in multiples of
three, forming an aksauhini, or "army," comprising of 21,870 patti. The phrase 'combat
arms' denotes cavalry/chariot/elephants combined with the infantry soldier either together
or as a combination of two or more.

Intext Questions 4.1

1. Who was the founder of the Mauryan Empire?
2. How many types of chariots were maintained in the Mauryan army?

3. What is the name of the basic army unit?

4.1.1 The Kalinga War
Ashoka is considered as one of the greatest Kings in Indian history who ruled from
269 B.C to 232 B.C. He is praised not so much for his militaristic activities as for his
policy of Dhamma. Dhamma was a code of conduct or ideal social behavior common
to all religions of the world. It was a uniform civil code for the people of the empire.

The Kalinga War was fought between the Mauryan Empire under Ashoka and the
state of Kalinga. Kalinga was a feudal republic located on the coast of the present-day
Indian state of Odisha and northern parts of Andhra Pradesh. The Kalinga war, the
only major war Ashoka fought after his accession to the throne, is one of the major
and bloodiest battles in ancient world history. The main reasons for invading Kalinga

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MILITARY HISTORY