Blog discription

What will you find here? Ramblings from an aging gamer-miniature painter. When I first started out in this hobby computers were in their infancy and finding other gamers could only be done by going to conventions or as in my case bumping into somebody who happened to see me reading "Panzer Leader" on the school bus. Look how far we have come! The internet has allowed our small community to be able to connect on a level I never dreamed of when I was but a small lad. What I do hope you will find here is something interesting from one wargamer/miniature painter to another. I paint miniatures somewhat decently, so I will be posting some pictures of my work, and perhaps a review or two of games and/or miniatures. Most of all this is just about having fun and anything I post here is meant to be for that reason.

Thursday, June 27, 2024

Macedonian Companions

 I've finished some Companion for my commission. Still have a bit more to go before I complete the whole thing, but I am coming along.

The consensus on the research I have done on the Companions has them equipped as follows:

"Companion cavalry would ride the best horses, and receive the best weaponry available. In Alexander's day, each carried a xyston (long thrusting spear), and wore a bronze muscle cuirass or linothorax, shoulder guards and Boeotian helmets, but bore no shield. A kopis (curved slashing sword) or xiphos (cut and thrust sword) was also carried for close combat, should the xyston be lost or broken."

Having done my research on dress and equipment I based the Companions I have done off of Alexander's Persia Campaign. It wasn't until he conquered Persia that he bestowed lavish gifts and equipment to the Companions. 

The paint job I used was based off of this painting.


Of course minus Alexander himself as in the Rule set Saga he is on a Warlord base and isn't leading the charge of his Companions like he would in history.

Here are some fun facts about how many and who the Companions were:

The Companion cavalry was composed of the Hetairoi of the king, mainly upper class citizens who were able to acquire and maintain armour and horses. In the age of Philip II and Alexander they were organized into 8 territorial squadrons, termed ilai. Each ile numbered between 200 and 300 horsemen. They were originally commanded by a single leader, Philotas under Alexander the Great, but following his execution would see the leadership split between two men, Cleitus the Black and Hephaestion. Arrian claims this would be because, Alexander "did not want anyone, not even his intimate friend, to be the centre of attention". After receiving reinforcements in Susa, Alexander established two companies in each squadron. They were referred to by the name of the territory they were mustered in or by the name of its captain. The Royal Ile was commanded by Alexander himself and contained twice the number of soldiers the other units contained, c. 400. These cavalry squadrons would sometimes be combined in groups of two, three or four to form a hipparchy, which was commanded by a hipparch, though the whole Companion force was generally commanded by Alexander.

In Alexander's Balkan campaigns, we find mention of Companions from upper Macedonia, the central Macedonian plain and Amphipolis. During the advance on Granicus, a squadron commanded by Socrates of Macedon (not to be confused with the philosopher) hailed from Apollonia on Lake Bolbe. During the Battle of Issus, Arrian names the ile of Anthemus (modern Galatista),; another, from the unidentified land of Leuge (likely Pieria), is also mentioned.

Theopompus describes the Companions, probably of around the mid 4th century BC, as being made of "no more than 800 at this time" and mustered "some from Macedonia, some from Thessaly and still others from the rest of Greece". By 338 BC, Alexander is reported to have had around 2600 in his Companion Cavalry As Alexander's force campaigned towards India, barbarians played an increasing role in the Companion Cavalry and the Macedonian mutiny at Opis may have been partially caused by this. At one point, there were four hipparchies made up of entirely oriental forces and one that was a mix of Macedonians and orientals.

In battle, Alexander the Great personally led the charge at the head of the royal squadron of the Companion cavalry, usually in a wedge formation. In a pitched battle, the Companions usually fought on the right wing of the Macedonian army, next to the shield-bearing guards, the hypaspists, who would guard the right flank of the phalanx. Other cavalry troops would protect the flanks of the Macedonian line during battle. Under Alexander's command, the Companions' role was decisive in most of his battles in Asia

...and now some pretty pictures of my interpretation of the Companions.









As always thanks for looking.

Cheers
Kevin





9 comments:

  1. Nice work Kevin, the Foundry Companions are excellent figures. The cloaks can also be purple and yellow which looks good with all the bronze helmets and armour.

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  2. Awesome looking Companions, Kevin. BTW, I wonder what they meant by "shoulder guards"?

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    1. Thank you Dean, and your answer....

      Body armour in the Macedonian army was derived from a repertoire found throughout the Greek-speaking world. The most common form of armour was the spolas or linothorax, which was a cuirass of stiff linen built up of glued or stitched layers of textile; though it is possible that linen was used as a facing material over leather.[94] It was composed of the 'girdle' a tubular section, often of four vertical panels, that enclosed the torso. A shoulder-piece was attached to the upper rear section of the girdle, this element was split into two wings which were pulled forward over the top of each shoulder and laced to the chest-section of the girdle. Ancient representations show the shoulder pieces standing vertical when not laced down to the chest of the corselet. This suggests that the linothorax as a whole was very stiff and inflexible. Pteruges, strips of linen or leather, protected the upper arms and hips of the wearer. The linothorax could be reinforced with plate bronze or bronze scale elements. Defences of a similar appearance composed of quilted textile are also described.

      Cheers
      Kevin

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    2. Ah, okay, so basically the "straps" that go over the shoulders that secured the cuirass-proper.

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  3. These look GREAT!! Z should be delighted! That 8 figure group photo looks outstanding. You have captured the feel. As always... NICE PAINT!!

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    1. Thanks Skip! He has indeed seen them and says that he is.

      Cheers
      Kevin

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  4. Very nice job! I like the horse's eyes. The eyes give the horses a fierce look. Your painting really enhances the energy of those excellent castings.

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    1. Thanks Dave, kind words indeed!

      Cheers
      Kevin

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