Macedonian Companion Cavalry

Description

Alexander The Great fought wars of conquest from the shores of Anatolia to the foothills of the Himalayas. As King of Macedonia he defeated his fellow Greeks before invading and overthrowing the old Persian Empire. In the east he led his armies against the Scythian horsemen of the steppes and the mighty rulers of India. In all of his battles he relied upon an elite corps of cavalry called the Companions – hetairoi in Greek.

At the start of Alexander’s reign there were few of these tough, loyal cavalry – based upon the Royal Companions or bodyguard. As new lands were conquered the corps of Companions was expanded into a larger and even more effective fighting force. In battle, Alexander always led the cavalry and used them to deliver the decisive blow once his steady, pike-armed infantry had pinned the enemy. It was like a hammer and anvil – with Alexander wielding the Companion cavalry as the hammer!