1. Alexander the Great’s Companion Cavalry were recruited from the upper classes of society to ride into battle alongside the great military leader
Alexander the Great is widely regarded as one of the finest military minds who ever lived. But he was more than just a tactician, happy to dictate the course of a battle from the safety of the rear. The Macedonian leader was always in the thick of the action. He would ride into battle positioned on the right wing of his army. Surrounding him in this place of honor was his Companion Cavalry. These were young men recruited from the upper echelons of Macedon society.
In all, around 1,800 men fought as Companions. The elite unit was divided into eight squadrons. Each of these would be made up of men from the same part of Macedon – for instance, from Amphipolis or from Bottiaea. It was believed that this would help create a strong bond between the soldiers, making them even stronger in battle. The individual squadrons would move forward in wedge formations, with finest and fiercest fighters at the front. According to military historians both then and now, this tactic allowed Alexander to pierce his enemy’s defenses more effectively. Once a breach had been made, the rest of the unit could pass through and then attack the enemy from both the front and the rear.
The most important of these was the Royal Squadron. This was composed of the 300 best and most loyal men. Alexander himself would ride at the head of this group, so he needed to be able to rely on them to keep him safe in the heat of battle. As might be expected the Companion Cavalry rode the very best horses and each man received the finest available weaponry. Each was armed with a xyston, a long spear most probably held with both hands. And then, for close-quarter combat, the Companions had two swords, one for cutting and thrusting and one for slashing.
The Companions were a formidable, often decisive, military force. Under Alexander’s direct command, they were behind most of the Macedon Empire’s victories in Asia, such as at the Battle of Issus. Plus, they were also credited with delivering success in the Balkans. For their service, they received a generous share of the bounty of war, though, since many of them were already wealthy, the honor of serving alongside Alexander and helping him conquer almost all of the known world may well have been reward enough.
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