The Companions

[Rob]

Hey,I've been very interested the Companions (the elite cavalry unit headed by Alexander). I would find it useful if someone could direct me to any resources with relatively in depth information on the Companions - I've tried Googling, and have so far only found small remarks about them. I have found some very useful information on this website however - thanks!I'm interested in things like the number of companions, training they needed to go through, how they became part of the unit, their loyalty to Alexander - and maybe information on a few of the famous ones. Basically I'm interested in everything in relation to them .Your help would be greatly appreciated!~Rob

[susan]

The best resource for individual Companions is Heckel's Marshals of Alexander The Great - not a cheap book but covers a great deal.Susan

[marcus]

Certainly Susan't recommendation of having a look at Heckel is a good one - the 'famous' ones you talk about all get a mention.There have been a few articles in academic journals over the years about the Companions - the problem is that we can't say much for sure, because of the lack of source material. But you could also look for information in NGL Hammond - either of his books about Alexander, or "The Macedonian State", or "A History of Macedonia" (which was originally published in 3 vols and which is now out of print to my knowledge).Not everyone agrees with Hammond, but a lot of what he has said about the Macedonian social structure still bears up under scrutiny. You could also look for the Osprey "Men At Arms" series, which has a volume on "The Army of Alexander the Great" (by Nick Secunda, with great illustrations by Angus McBride (I think)). This doesn't give much on training and recruitment, but it is good on arms, armour and tactics.All the bestMarcus

[Rob]

Hi,Thanks a lot for the input guys, I'm going to see if I can get hold of any of those documents. Your help has been greatly appreciated!Also, maybe something slightly more opinionated, but what kind of influence would the Companions have had on Alexander? Would they have any influence on his descisions? I understand they were probably important to him - does anyone have any theories to what extent they were important to him? Once again, thanks for the help. I have been browsing around the website over the past few days, and have found it very interesting, nice work.~Rob

[marcus]

Well, yes and no."Companions" can refer to two groups of people - the Companion cavalry, of which there were a couple of thousand; and Alexander's companions, who were his friends and a sort of 'council'. The latter group, the council, will have been able to influence Alexander in many ways, although it doesn't seem as if they influenced (or even tried to influence) any major strategic issues. We have examples of them giving him advice (mainly Parmenion), which was sometimes accepted, sometimes rejected. It certainly wasn't a democratic parliament!As far as the Companion cavalry were concerned, their influence, or attempt to influence, has only ever manifested itself in the two mutiny situations (where they weren't the only ones opposing Alexander). In those situation Alexander was only ever influenced at the Hyphasis, where the army as a whole refused to go on. However, the extent to which he was influenced was totally practical - ther was no way he could go on without them. So their real influence was negligible.Having said that, most of the time Alexander's aims aligned with those of his companions. Had he proved to be a rotten general and a poor tactician, it would be interesting to see whether either group would have taken more drastic steps to "influence" him - such as a spear in the back, as Perdikkas got when he tried to invade Egypt in 321BC.All the bestMarcus

[smittysmitty]

Had he proved to be a rotten general and a poor tactician, it would be interesting to see whether either group would have taken more drastic steps to "influence" him - such as a spear in the back, as Perdikkas got when he tried to invade Egypt in 321BC.
The mutiny of an army!, do you think by this stage ATG's army may have had similar thoughts?Interesting that whats applicable to one is not to the another! But then again, Alexander was a King,an Argead, Son of Ammon, descendant of Achilles, how dare an army and its commanders even consider such reckless thoughts. Fortunately the mozzy's found their way into his tent and did the job, a sign from the heavens perhaps!
Sorry Marcus, I know what your thoughts on his death are, just having a bit of fun
cheers!

[marcus]

Ah, Smitty,If only it were that simple. Not only do I *not* ascribe to the poison theory... I also ascribe to no other specific theory - ie. I don't think he was poisoned, but I don't know how he *did* die.:-)M

[smittysmitty]

Sorry Marcus,All in good fun, beats watching Wibeldon (spelling?), although as an Aussie, I should have a look at the tele, I think we have two males,Philipousis and Hewitt or whatever his name is, playing at the moment.C'mon the Aussies!!! LoL

[Rob]

Thanks a lot for the help!~Rob