Talk:Pezhetairoi
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- About that with the Hetairoi coming under the wars against Persia, no it did not, Alexander III (The Great) led a "unit" of Hetairoi in a gap created by the Thebans (Or was it Athenians? Maybe both...) at the battle of Chaeronia. I believe that it was Phillip II who first "created" the Hetairoi
80.217.145.164 15:27, 20 February 2007 (UTC)
No... there is no evidence of that. We know specifically that Phillip II entrusted Alexander with the left flank/wing of his army during the Battle of Chaeronea. We also know that Alexander annihilated the Sacred Band. We are not however, left with any specifics as to how he did so or with what formation.
Many historians have surmised that he led heavy cavalry against them, and some have even suggested a frontal charge against a hoplite phalanx, of all things. That's just jumping to conclusions, though. Furthermore, it ignores the example that DOES survive to us, of Alexander fighting alongside his hypaspists at Issus before riding with the heavy cavalry.
The fact of the matter is that no extant source mentions where in Chaeronea the cavalry operated--left flank, right flank, or both--and in what capacity it fought. We know little more than the results and some of the military gambits (eg, Phillip's feigned withdrawal and subsequent assault) employed.
Phoebus Americanos (talk) 07:12, 8 January 2008 (UTC)