The Argyraspides ( Ancient Greek : Ἀργυράσπιδες , lit. 'Silver Shields') were elite Macedonian soldiers who carried silver-plated shields, hence their name. The original unit were hypaspists serving in the army of Alexander the Great . During the Wars of the Diadochi , they initially served Eumenes , but betrayed him to Antigonus I Monophthalmus at the Battle of Gabiene in 316. After their dispersal under Antigonus, later units of the Seleucid Empire and Roman Empire would be modeled after them.
20-733: They were a division of the Macedonian army of Alexander the Great. They were picked men commanded by Nicanor , the son of Parmenion , as well as Seleucus , and were held in high honor by Alexander. They were hypaspists , having changed their name to the Argyraspides whilst in India under Alexander. After the death of Alexander in 323 BC, they followed Eumenes . They were veterans, and although most of them were over sixty, they were feared and revered due to their battle skills and experience. At
40-517: A cavalry squadron to commander of the Companions , the corps of Macedonian cavalry that also provided bodyguards and attendants to the King. In battle, Alexander rode with and led this cavalry corps; they were, literally, his "companions," hence the name. Philotas, though a highly capable officer, was widely perceived as arrogant and pompous; he was never able to master the role of courtier, was often
60-754: A center of conflict, and often earned the King's disfavour. He would serve alongside Alexander in numerous battles, fighting at the Battle of the Granicus , the Siege of Miletus , and the Siege of Tyre . In the latter part of 330 BC, while with Alexander in the area of today's Afghanistan during the conquest of the Achaemenid Empire , Philotas was accused of conspiring against Alexander, due to being aware of Dimnus's plot and not informing Alexander. He had been subject to similar reports previously, though
80-406: A royal cohort in the army of Antiochus III the Great at Magnesia. The Roman Emperor Alexander Severus , among other ways in which he imitated Alexander the Great, had in his army men who were called argyraspides and chrysaspides (i.e. "golden shields"). Nicanor of Macedonia Nicanor ( / n aɪ ˈ k eɪ n ər / ; Greek : Nικάνωρ Nīkā́nōr ; died 330 BC), son of Parmenion ,
100-736: Is played by Lyndon Brook ; and in the film Alexander the Great (1956), Philotas is played by Rubén Rojo. The German dramatist and critic Gotthold Ephraim Lessing also adapted the story; his play Philotas dates to 1759. It was written during the Enlightenment and when Prussia was a major player in Germany . The drama was also written during the Seven Years' War (1756–1763) between Prussia and Hannover , against France , Austria , Switzerland , and Spain for control over regions such as Silesia and Saxony . The play tells
120-451: Is seen by Parmenio, his father's messenger, who asks him about when the exchange of prisoners will take place. Philotas pleas with Parmenio for more time, and requests an extra day prior to the exchange. Philotas then begins a heavy monologue, filled with moral and ethical questions, about whether remaining alive would better serve his father's interests, especially considering that he is in possession of Arideus' son. Philotas concludes that
140-400: The Battle of Gabiene in 316 BC, they settled with Antigonus I Monophthalmus after he managed to take possession of their baggage train (consisting of their families and the result of forty years of plunder). One of their commanders, Teutamus , negotiated with Antigonus to obtain the return of their possessions, but in exchange delivered their general Eumenes to him. Antigonus soon broke up
160-407: The Argyraspides were 5,000 strong. However, the corps of men described by Polybius as being armed and dressed in the "Roman fashion" numbered 5,000, and Bar-Kochva suggests that these men, who are described as being in the prime of life, might have also been a division of the Argyraspides, putting the number of the corps back up to 10,000 strong. Livy mentions a cavalry corps called argyraspides as
180-556: The Argyraspides who brought him Eumenes as prisoner. But, in order to protect himself from future acts against him, he ordered a thousand of the Argyraspides to serve under Sibyrtius, while he isolated others by having them remain in garrisons in remote, uncultivated countries, eventually managing to get rid of them all this way. Plutarch wrote that after Antigonus killed Eumenes, he sent the Argyraspides to Sibyrtius and ordered him to destroy them in every possible way. The Seleucid kings of Syria employed an infantry phalangite corps of
200-414: The advance of Alexander into Bactria . His death at this juncture was considered a fortunate event, as it prevented him from participating either in the designs or the fate of his brother Philotas . Satrap at Partition of Babylon; possibly Nicanor of Stageira Satrap at Partition of Babylon Philotas Nikanor and Hector (brothers), Philotas ( Greek : Φιλώτας ; 365 BC – October 330 BC)
220-404: The case against him in 330 BC was more serious; his accusers included the commander Coenus , who was married to Philotas' sister. Philotas was tried and convicted, tortured to reveal the extent of the conspiracy, implicating his father, then stoned or speared to death with other convicted plotters. The execution of Philotas necessitated the removal of Parmenion, who, while innocent of any plotting,
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#1732765485860240-800: The corps, finding it too turbulent to manage, also executing their other commander, Antigenes . Over the course of the Wars of the Diadochi , Antigonus had developed a severe hatred of the veteran unit due to almost dying in a mutiny caused by them, and also being crushed in battle by them multiple times. He sent them to Sibyrtius , the Macedonian satrap of Arachosia , with the order to dispatch them by small groups of two or three to dangerous missions so that their numbers would rapidly dwindle. However, others may have been retired to live in Macedonian settlements in Asia. Polyaenus write that Antigonus liberally rewarded
260-416: The most appropriate thing to do is to kill himself, to preserve his father's dominion over the lands in dispute. He then manages to obtain a sword from Arideus, claiming it would 'fit him better' before meeting the squadron, something Arideus has asked him to do. The legitimacy of Philotas' suicide is a subject of discussion in modern theatre and ethics education. A common question is whether Philotas' suicide
280-594: The same name. At the Battle of Raphia in 217 BC, the 10,000 men-strong Argyraspides took up positions opposite the Ptolemaic phalanx. They were men chosen from the whole kingdom and armed in the Macedonian manner. Their position beside the king at the Battle of Magnesia in 190 BC suggests that they were the premier infantry guard unit in the Seleucid army. At the Daphne parade held by Antiochus IV Epiphanes in 166 BC,
300-402: The story of prince-commander Philotas, a young and impulsive heir, who is made prisoner during his first battle. While captive, Philotas is visited by King Arideus, a former friend of his father. While in warm dialogue with Philotas, Arideus tells him that his own son has also been made captive by the other side, and that both kings are planning an exchange of prisoners. Soon afterwards, Philotas
320-581: The unwelcome scrutiny of the Privy Council , because of a perceived resemblance between the play's protagonist and Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex , executed for rebellion and treason in 1601. In 1731 a second play about his life Philotas was written by Philip Frowde and performed in London. In the film Alexander (2004), Philotas is played by Joseph Morgan ; in the 1961 television version of Terence Rattigan 's play Adventure Story , Philotas
340-464: The εταιρoι, or horse-guards. We find him mentioned, as holding this post, in the three great battles of the Granicus , of Issus , and of Gaugamela . He afterwards accompanied Alexander with a part of the troops under his command, during the rapid march of the king in pursuit of the king Darius III Codomannus in 330; which was probably his last service, as he died of disease shortly afterwards, during
360-626: Was a distinguished officer in the service of Alexander the Great . He is first mentioned at the passage of the Danube river, in the expedition of Alexander against the Getae , 335, when he led the phalanx . But during the expedition into Asia he appears to have uniformly held the chief command of the body of troops called the Hypaspists (υπασπισται) shield-bearers or foot-guards, numbering three units of 1,000 men. As his brother Philotas did that of
380-519: Was judged unreliable once his son and heir had been put to death. Alexander sent assassins to kill Parmenion before the news of his son's execution reached him. Following his execution, command of the Companions was split between two officers. The story of Philotas was dramatized in 1604 by the English poet and playwright Samuel Daniel . A performance of the eponymously named play earned Daniel
400-471: Was the eldest son of Parmenion , one of Alexander the Great's most experienced and talented generals. He rose to command the Companion Cavalry , but was accused of conspiring against Alexander and executed. When Alexander became king of Macedonia (336 BC) with Parmenion's support, he and his relations were rewarded with offices and commissions. Philotas was promoted, from a commander of
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