The Trident Strategy is a battle strategy used by the Army of Mahishmati during the Mahishmati-Kalakeya Battle. Amarendra Baahubali proposed using it against the Kalakeyas. It is used when an army aims to kill a high-profile individual of the enemy.
Description[]
The Trident Strategy involves creating a v-shaped formation in the center of your side of the battle, which will be made of soldiers placing a row of interlocking shields on the ground, while a second row of the shields is placed on top of the first one. There are certain holes in the shield formation that are meant for spears as an extra defensive measure. There are multiple layers of these shields, serving as extra protection in case the layer in front of them are broken through. A commander leads the v-shaped formation section.
An ancient drawing depicting the usage of the Trident Strategy (in real life)
On either side of the v-shaped formation is an army led by a commander. Each army uses swordsmen, archers, and large weapons (such as arrow-machines) to fight the enemy.
While the enemy is distracted with attacking the main part of the army, each of the commanders will lead part of their army around the enemy and attack them from the side. The goal of each side is to penetrate the enemy quickly and deeply, killing the powerful individual they want to kill.
When This Strategy is Used[]
The Trident Strategy is used when an army plans on killing a powerful person of the opposing army. This strategy works when that person has most or all of the power of the opposing army and their death would result in mass confusion, or even possibly retreat, for the opposing army.
This strategy can also be used when the defending army wants to protect a weak point of their defenses.
Usage in the Mahishmati-Kalakeya Battle[]
A simple drawing depicting the usage of the Trident Strategy in the Mahishmati-Kalakeya Battle
Before the Trident Strategy's usage in the Mahishmati-Kalakeya Battle, it had never been used before. It was only in textbooks. Amarendra chose this strategy because the Kalakeyas wouldn't have been expecting Mahishmati to use it, especially after gaining acess to their war secrets.
Amarendra and Bhallaladeva were the two commanders of the side armies, while Kattappa was the commander of the v-shaped formation. The main Kalakeya army stayed back, while the front few sections were sent forward to attack the main Mahishmati Army. Amarendra and Bhallaladeva led each of their army and attacked the main part of the Kalakeya army, penetrating it and killing the Kalakeya chief, Inkoshi. After Inkoshi died, the rest of the Kalakeyas retreated, unaware of what to do without their chief.