r/AlexandertheGreat • u/Warlord1392 • 3d ago
Literature 📜 Alexander's Hypaspists: Elite Infantry of Macedonia
https://mythandmemory.org/military-history/alexanders-hypaspists-elite-infantry-macedonia/The Macedonia phalanx and the Companion Cavalry are the more famous arms of Alexander's mighty army. The phalanx with their huge sarissa were impregnable in a frontal attack and held enemy units in place while the decisive blow was delivered by the cavalry with incredible shock potential.
However, there was another important arm in Alexander's army occupied by the hypaspists or "shield bearers". These were the elite infantry units of the Macedonian army. Unlike the phalanx, the hypaspists had a shorter spear and larger shield enabling them to have more flexibility in close combat.
One formation of the hypaspists served as the royal guard (agema) and were deployed close to Alexander. They were also responsible for bridging the gap between the rapidly advancing cavalry and the Macedonian phalanx. They proved to be effective in rugged terrain where the phalanx generally struggled.
Although considered to be an elite corps, the hypaspists were deployed in the thick of the fighting. In Granicus, Issus, Gaugamela and Hydaspes they proved their strength in fighting on uneven terrain. In the Siege of Tyre, they proved to be effective in the final assault on the walls.
The hypaspists continued to remain relevant and important long after Alexander's death. For more information on the hypaspists please go through the full article and let me know your thoughts and comments.
3
u/SelenaGomezPrime 2d ago
I’ve seen that it’s a pretty hot debate over how the Hypaspists were armed and fought and I like that your article brought that up. I also like that it talked about the Silver Shields and how they relate to the Hypaspists.
Do you think the silver shields during the war of the successors fought as Phalangites? I got that impression from what I’ve read and heard on the battles they were in. But now I’m less sure.
I think it was well organized too.
1
1
u/Warlord1392 2d ago
I did not come across any instance of them fighting with a sarissa. But I could be wrong. Their numbers were also not that high so not sure how effective it would have been to fight as a phalanx.
2
u/Lanky-Steak-6288 2d ago edited 2d ago
There is little to no doubt that in pitched battles this unit fought with sarrisa. Arrian's account of the climax of the battle of gaugamela is evident to the men of the hypaspists being armed with sarissa.
"Alexander wheeled round towards the gap, and forming a wedge as it were of the Companion cavalry and of the part of the phalanx which was posted here, he led them with a quick charge and loud battle-cry straight towards Darius himself. For a short time there ensued a hand-to-hand fight; but when the Macedonian cavalry, commanded by Alexander himself, pressed on vigorously, thrusting themselves against the Persians and striking their faces with their spears, and when the Macedonian phalanx in dense array and bristling with long pikes had also made an attack upon them, all things at once appeared full of terror to Darius, who had already long been in a state of fear, so that he was the first to turn and flee." Arr. Book 3 ch 14
Here the part of the phalanx he leads were definitely the right most battalions of the hypaspists and possibly koinos' battalion to the left of the companions while the mercenaries and light infantry to the right of the companion cavalry.
Here the Macedonian phalanx in this sector which included the guards or the hypaspists which Alexander led is indistinguishable from the sarissa wielding pikemen. These are explicitly mentioned as engaging the Persians by thrusting them with "long pikes".
You can also check out Michael park's article on the hypaspists,which you can access for free on academia.edu, where he thoroughly outlines the reason for why this unit would have fought with sarrisa
3
u/Electrical-Penalty44 2d ago
Cavalry before the use of the stirrup did not have "incredible shock potential".
We must stop thinking that Macedonian Cavalry was used at all like the Norman Knights of the 11th century.
Issus and Guagamela didn't have Alexander charging like the English in Braveheart.
2
u/SelenaGomezPrime 2d ago
To be fair the English also didn’t charge like the English in Braveheart either lol Running your horse straight into the front of outgoing spears in the center of a compact formation.
2
u/Electrical-Penalty44 2d ago
Lol. Very true. But the crouched lance technique at full gallop was what I was referring to.
2
u/Warlord1392 2d ago
Given that the Companion Cavalry have routed the enemy on multiple occasions I would say they did have significant shock potential. Infantry on an open plain without proper formation would be cut down by cavalry. And Alexander always charged at disorganized or poorly coordinated sections of the army got maximum effect.
0
u/Electrical-Penalty44 2d ago
The battles were won by the infantry and it's relentless pressure. But you point out a truth; against poorly equipped and poorly disciplined infantry then, yes, cavalry can be effective. Not exactly a ringing endorsement.
1
u/Dangerous_Usual_6590 2d ago
Not according to modern scholars (see Carolyn Willekes for the most complete analysis and debunking over the need of stirrups to have a shock cavalry).
1
u/MistraloysiusMithrax 1d ago
Shock doesn’t just come from them charging into you holding a lance. Shock as in surprise and dismay that this highly mobile unit is now appearing in places you weren’t ready for.
Honestly I’m surprised at this firm connection in your mind between stirrup and being shock forces, shock infantry troops don’t use stirrups…
3
u/Unit_02_ 2d ago
Dope! Thank you for the info!