The elephant would have learned how to raise its legs to help a rider climb on. According to Chanakya as recorded in the Arthashastra, first the mahout would have to get the elephant used to being led. To accomplish this, they utilize metal chains and a specialized hook called an ankus, or 'elephant goad'. Mahouts were responsible for capturing and handling elephants.
They continued to be used in combat, however, in some parts of the world, such as in Burma, Thailand, and Vietnam, well into the 19th century.Ī 17th-century depiction of the mythological war of Lanka in the ancient Indian epic Ramayana, showing war elephants.Īn elephant trainer, rider, or keeper is called a mahout. After this, war elephants became restricted to non-combat engineering and labour roles, as well as being used for minor ceremonial uses. However, their use declined with the spread of firearms and other gunpowder weaponry in early modern warfare. In some regions they maintained a firm presence on the battlefield throughout the Middle Ages. During classical antiquity they were also used in ancient Persia and in the Mediterranean world within armies of Macedon, Hellenistic Greek states, the Roman Republic and later Empire, and Carthage in North Africa. While seeing limited and periodic use in ancient China, they became a permanent fixture in armies of historical kingdoms in Southeast Asia. War elephants played a critical role in several key battles in antiquity, especially in Ancient India. Elephantry is a term for specific military units using elephant-mounted troops. The war elephant's main use was to charge the enemy, break their ranks and instill terror and fear. Rajput painting depicting a war elephant in an armyĪ war elephant was an elephant that was trained and guided by humans for combat.
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