John Jenkins Designs Preview: Cretan Archers

Cretan archers were a well known class of warrior whose specialist skills were extensively utilized by many ancient armies. They were especially valued in armies such as those of the Greek city states, notably Athens, Sparta and later Macedonia, as well as Rome as these armies could not draw upon substantial numbers of skilled archers from their native populations.

Cretan archers carried a composite bow, which consisted of a wooden core with laminated layers of sinew and horn. These bows while difficult to string and use, they gave the professional Cretan archers greater range over the simple wooden bows of the citizen levies of other armies.

Cretan archers were widely recognized as being amongst the best light missile troops in the ancient world, and as such found employment as mercenaries in many armies, including the armies of Alexander the Great.

Eurybotas was the toxarch, meaning the captain of the archers employed by Alexander.

During the retreat of the ten thousand following the Battle of Cunexa in 401 BC, Xenophon’s hoplites were able to hold off pursuing Persian troops, with the aid of the Cretan archers who formed part of the Greek mercenary army.

On this occasion the Cretans, cut off from supplies, were able to gather and reuse the spent Persian arrows while seizing bowstrings from local peasantry.

Following the conquest of Macedonia and the independent Greek city-states, Cretan archers served as auxiliaries in the Roman army, as reformed by Gaius Marius under the Republic, and later that of the Empire.

They were armed with secondary weapons for use at close quarters, included a sword and small round shields. This undoubtedly gave the Cretan warriors a huge advantage in skirmishing with other light troops.

Crete remained part of the Byzantine Empire until seized by Venice in the aftermath of the Fourth Crusade. During much of this period the island was a Theme (military province), providing both archers and sailors for the Byzantine forces.

In 1452 Venice granted specific permission for Byzantium to resume recruitment of Cretans. One of the last occasions on which Cretan archers are known to have played a significant role was as part of the garrison defending Constantinople against the Turkish army of Mehmet II in May 1453.

Cretan archers will be available in 2025.