Bodyguards

[Sandra]

Hello, Companions! Just wanted to know if there somewhere is available information on the Philip's bodyguards? How many from Alexander's bodyguards were his as well? (have heard of Leonnatus and Perdiccas, but were there some else?)

[beausefaless]

This is not an answer to any of your questions, please forgive me but I've always wanted to say this.
To me the most important was the {Captain of Philip's bodyguard}, thank you for the correction I should mean a young Macedonian noble, Pausanias, was he mad for a violation that Philip ignored, bought off by the Persians, seduced by Olympias or none of the above. Because of Pausanias Alexander got the opportunity to become the world's first superstar.

[marcus]

Off the top of my head I can't answer you, but if you have access to Heckel's "Marshals of Alexander's Empire" you'll find a really good section on the bodyguards. Heckel divides them up into those who were definitely appointed by Alexander and those which were (probably) inherited from Philip.All the bestMarcus

[s.andra]

For the sorry, i do not have this book:( It is damned expensive... And we do not have library, where it could be:(

[marcus]

That's a shame, Sandra. I wish I could give you a definitive list from memory!I do know that when Alexander began the expedition the captain of the bodyguards was Balacrus, and he was probably a Philip appointment. When Balacrus was made satrap of Phrygia(?) he was replaced by Menes... and there was also Demetrius, who was demoted (or executed) after the Philotas affair, being replaced by Ptolemy. Other than that, I'd have to refer to my books and notes, unfortunately.All the bestMarcus

[agesilaos]

By Bodyguards I assume you refer to the Seven named for 325 at Arrian VI 28 iv; Both Perdikkas and Leonnatos were Alexandrian appointments, under Philip they were ordinary hypaspists as was Pausanias.Menes succeeded Balakros in 333 (Arr II 12 ii), Leonnatos replaced Arrhybas 332/1(Arr III 5 v), Ptolemy Lagou replaced Demetrius (III 27 v). The death of a royal bodyguard (somatophylax basilikos) ,Ptolemy, is noticed at the seige of Halicarnassos (Arr I 22 iv) and Heckel includes him in his 'Originals' but I think he is another hypaspist, he is associated with the hypaspists and a named chiliarch, Adeas; also there is no mention of his replacement which I count unusual for this part of Arrian. Another Ptolemy, the son of Seleukos, is mentioned as dying at Issos but he is clearly a phalanx commander as his replacement is Polyperchon.(II 12 ii).Menes was promoted to hyparch of Kilikia,Syria and Phoenicia 331 (III 16 ix) with no replacement named.Of the Seven named by Arrian that leaves five, Hephaistion, Peithon, Aristonous, Perdikkas and Lysimachos whose appointments are not noted.Heckel thinks Hephaistion was appointed to replace the Ptolemy who fell at Halikarnassos, since I dont think he was one of the Seven that makes Hephaistion one of Philip's originals. Heckel makes a good case for Perdikkas replacing Menes which is sound as he was only an Hypaspist when Philip was assassinated he cannot have been a Somatophylax.So a tentative list would be Balakros, Arrhybas, Demetrios, Hephaistion (Ptolemy if you prefer Heckel), Peithon, Aristonous and Lysimachos.