The Macedonian Army
Command Structure
Supreme Commander of Macedonians - Alexander
General Staff - Parmenio; a general from Phillip's army
- Antiapter; a general from Phillip's army
- Ptolemy; a childhood friend
- Hephaestion; a childhood friend and possible lover of Alexander
These men he turned to before battles to discuss tactics and they also conducted their own campaigns and even governed provinces for Alexander.
Officers
Structured on territorial divisions - officers normally selected from the nobles of the same district as the common soldiers.
General Staff - Parmenio; a general from Phillip's army
- Antiapter; a general from Phillip's army
- Ptolemy; a childhood friend
- Hephaestion; a childhood friend and possible lover of Alexander
These men he turned to before battles to discuss tactics and they also conducted their own campaigns and even governed provinces for Alexander.
Officers
Structured on territorial divisions - officers normally selected from the nobles of the same district as the common soldiers.
Hetairoi
These were the Companion Cavalry, whose origins come from the retainers who were kept by the royal house of Macedon. Members were initially recruited from the Macedonian nobility - there were about 600 Companions before the reign of Phillip but the numbers swelled to around 3,000 by the end of his reign as members were selected from areas such as Thessaly and the rest of Greece.
They were organised into 'ilia', or 'wings', of around 200 men and formed up in battle in wedge shapes. However, the 'agema', or 'royal squadron', was composed of between 300 and 400 Companions.
The Companions wore metal helmets and various types of breastplate - some wore linen or leather corsets reinforced with metal strips whilst others wore bronze or iron breastplates whilst yet others did not wear any form, either as a show of courage or due to the comfort and slight decrease to mobility. Historians believe that shields were normally only used for actions once dismounted. They carried various forms of heavy spears to be used for thrusting and occasionally wielded spears to throw at enemy troops. They always had a sword as a secondary weapon but type used varied through individual preference between a hoplite-style sword and a curved sword.
It was incredibly effective against troops with low morale who would break easily and flee, allowing the Companions to chase. However, they struggled against well-formed enemies due to the nature of fright of horses - they had to be trained to charge at large masses of enemies and this was time-consuming, meaning that many of the hetairoi many have had to make do with poorly trained/untrained mounts when campaigning. For this reason, the hetairoi were used as a heavy-shock cavalry.
They were organised into 'ilia', or 'wings', of around 200 men and formed up in battle in wedge shapes. However, the 'agema', or 'royal squadron', was composed of between 300 and 400 Companions.
The Companions wore metal helmets and various types of breastplate - some wore linen or leather corsets reinforced with metal strips whilst others wore bronze or iron breastplates whilst yet others did not wear any form, either as a show of courage or due to the comfort and slight decrease to mobility. Historians believe that shields were normally only used for actions once dismounted. They carried various forms of heavy spears to be used for thrusting and occasionally wielded spears to throw at enemy troops. They always had a sword as a secondary weapon but type used varied through individual preference between a hoplite-style sword and a curved sword.
It was incredibly effective against troops with low morale who would break easily and flee, allowing the Companions to chase. However, they struggled against well-formed enemies due to the nature of fright of horses - they had to be trained to charge at large masses of enemies and this was time-consuming, meaning that many of the hetairoi many have had to make do with poorly trained/untrained mounts when campaigning. For this reason, the hetairoi were used as a heavy-shock cavalry.
Prodromoi
These were the scouts of the Macedonian army. They were usually equipped with javelins when on scouting missions, but were known to wield a cavalry version of the sarissa and served as sarrisophoroi, heavy cavalry, in battle. They tended to serve alongside non-Macedonian units such as mounted Paeonian, Thracian and Illyrian cavalry.
Pezhetairoi
These were the Foot Companions. They were recruited in a territorial manner in which each region of Macedon would provide a single taxis, or regiment - the army used by alexander was formed mostly of regiments from the northern parts of Macedon. The command of these was usually given to a noble from the same region, and the name of the tageis was given by the name of this commander.
Historians believe that each regiment was composed of around 1,500 men but due to depletions and deaths would have varied widely. There were six tageis at the start of the campaign but a seventh was added later with the arrival of reinforcements. This puts the number of pezhetairoi at between around 9,000 and 10,500 during Alexander's campaign.
The pezhetairoi were the heavy infantry in the Macedonian army. They were more flexible than their Greek counter-parts, the hoplites; equipment and tactics could be adjusted to suit different individual scenarios. They could fight inn the traditional Greek-hoplite formation when armed with a hoplite shield and spear of traditional length. When wielding a sarissa, 18-foot (5.5m) long as opposed to traditional spear of 15-feet (4.6m), and a rimless shield hung from the shoulder, they could form the Macedonian-version of the phalanx. At other instances, they held javelins to throw. Different sources also provide various different equipment used by the pezhetairoi when defending so further shows versatility. Historians agree that they wore helmets and that many wore greaves or other body armour - that worn-out armours was burned in India suggests that it was made of linen, leather or felt.
Historians believe that each regiment was composed of around 1,500 men but due to depletions and deaths would have varied widely. There were six tageis at the start of the campaign but a seventh was added later with the arrival of reinforcements. This puts the number of pezhetairoi at between around 9,000 and 10,500 during Alexander's campaign.
The pezhetairoi were the heavy infantry in the Macedonian army. They were more flexible than their Greek counter-parts, the hoplites; equipment and tactics could be adjusted to suit different individual scenarios. They could fight inn the traditional Greek-hoplite formation when armed with a hoplite shield and spear of traditional length. When wielding a sarissa, 18-foot (5.5m) long as opposed to traditional spear of 15-feet (4.6m), and a rimless shield hung from the shoulder, they could form the Macedonian-version of the phalanx. At other instances, they held javelins to throw. Different sources also provide various different equipment used by the pezhetairoi when defending so further shows versatility. Historians agree that they wore helmets and that many wore greaves or other body armour - that worn-out armours was burned in India suggests that it was made of linen, leather or felt.
Hypaspistai
These were the shield-bearers. Their tactics and equipment were similar to the pezhetairoi, but were used as an elite formation on special assignments. In battles they wielded shields and served on the dangerous, but place of high honour, on the right-flank of the infantry line. Modern historians speculate that they wore lighter armour but ancient sources do not necessarily show this to be accurate.
Light Macedonian Infantry
There was also Macedonian light infantry. These were made up of javeliners, archers and slingers, but were not normally recruited from inside Macedonia itself. The agrianoi, armed with javelins, stemmed from the neighbouring kingdom of Lagarus. These agrianoi formed an elite among Alexander's forces and were often employed on dangerous missions and even served in the Macedonian cavalry on occasion. An additional contingent of 7,000 Thracians served as peltastai, shield-bearing skirmishers. They were rather selected by Alexander in order to limit the risk of an uprising in their homelands. The Macedonian archers were also supported by Cretan archers.
The Allies
An important aspect of Alexander's army was the Thessalian cavalry - he had their loyalty as he was tagos, or military leader, of Thessalia. They tended to operate as the heavy cavalry on the left-wing of the army. Eight territorially-selected ilai were selected to join Alexander and the Pharsalian ile was held in the same regard amongst the Thessalians as the royal squadron was held by the Macedonians. In contrast to the Macedonian wedge formation, the Thessalian cavalry in a rhomboid formation. After defeating the Persians, many Thessalians returned home but those who opted to stay, were added to the ranks of the hetairoi.
Some members of the Corinthian League sent soldiers to fight against the Persians - in addition to infantry, some states sent small numbers of horsemen to join the Macedonian army. Historians believe that they played no major role any of the battles fought by Alexander. At the end of the official vengeance campaign against the Aechemenid empire (Persian empire), these troops were excused for duty; most returned to their homelands but some became mercenaries in Alexander's army.
Greek mercenaries were also used in the Macedonian expeditionary army; they were mostly employed for garrison duty in the conquered provinces but some served in the army. The infantry was composed of both hoplites and peltastai, or peltasts. Some small mercenary cavalry even played an important role in the army.
Mercenary troops were also hired among the population of the conquered Persian empire and India. Some of these forces consisted of mounted javeliners and horse archers, others served as light infantry skirmishers. At the end of Alexander's reign, 30,000 Asiatic boys were levied and equipped and trained on the Macedonian model - intended to be the successors of Alexander's army and to promote relation between the Macedonians and the Persians.
Some members of the Corinthian League sent soldiers to fight against the Persians - in addition to infantry, some states sent small numbers of horsemen to join the Macedonian army. Historians believe that they played no major role any of the battles fought by Alexander. At the end of the official vengeance campaign against the Aechemenid empire (Persian empire), these troops were excused for duty; most returned to their homelands but some became mercenaries in Alexander's army.
Greek mercenaries were also used in the Macedonian expeditionary army; they were mostly employed for garrison duty in the conquered provinces but some served in the army. The infantry was composed of both hoplites and peltastai, or peltasts. Some small mercenary cavalry even played an important role in the army.
Mercenary troops were also hired among the population of the conquered Persian empire and India. Some of these forces consisted of mounted javeliners and horse archers, others served as light infantry skirmishers. At the end of Alexander's reign, 30,000 Asiatic boys were levied and equipped and trained on the Macedonian model - intended to be the successors of Alexander's army and to promote relation between the Macedonians and the Persians.