Machimoi Phalangitai are Aigyptioi natives who have been conscripted to fight in the traditional Macedonian fashion. They are reputable enough fighters, have decent morale and can be relied upon as capable troops, but have a tendency to rebellion.

Can Form Phalanx

The Machimoi are Aigyptioi natives who have been conscripted to fight in the traditional Makedonian fashion. They are armed with all the standard phalanx equipment including the sarissa, the Phrygian cap, and the small Illyrian shield. They wear quilted cloth armor due to the harsh Aigyptian climate. They are reputable enough fighters, but have a history of rebellion, so they are far more expensive than most troops of the same caliber. This has to be dealt with though, since the Ptolemaioi simply do not have the numbers of Hellenes to fill their armies with. Machimoi have decent morale and can be relied upon as capable troops. Their weaknesses are the same as any pike phalanx, in that they are immobile and prone to flank attacks and missile fire. If used accordingly, they will give good account of themselves.

Historically, the Machimoi were used with good effect at Rhaphia and other battles. Once they realized their own power, however, they soon began to revolt against their Hellenic and Makedonian rulers. The Ptolemaioi looked for different racial groups to settle in Aigyptos to counter this disparity, and ended up importing large amounts of Ioudaioi and Galatai to fill the ranks. Still, the Machimoi were used as a necessity, and often gave good accounts of themselves in battle.