Hittite Spearmen

The Hittite army was also bolstered by a separate class of men, basically functioning as reservists. Known as the Lu Gistukul or Men of Weapon, these militia-type troops were organized in a similar manner to the Anglo-Saxon fyrd. Essentially, they were better armed, trained and equipped than the civilian conscripts and could be called upon during campaign seasons. However, during most parts of the year, they would be engaged in agricultural activities, and while regular soldiers were directly paid by the state (often in form of rations and housing), these reservists were paid in small lands that could be cultivated by their family members for sustenance.