Mounted Battalion Commanders (pt 1)

[smittysmitty]

The only value in Arrian is that he corroborates the trial of Amyntas, and I doubt Ptolemy is used to furnish this information. According to Arrian, Ptolemy who replaced Demetrius as Bodyguard occurred whilst among the Ariaspians; Curtius more accurately places this at the time of the trials held at Zarangia. We also find two versions of the proceedings at AmnytasGÇÖ trial; Arrian has Amyntas bring his brother Polemon back to camp whereas Curtius has soldiers bringing Polemon back in chains. My suggestion is, there were at least two recorded versions of the trials, of which neither originate from Ptolemy.More likely than not, the trials were recorded by Callisthenes (known not to be a flatterer of Parmenio) and a corrupt second version which post dates Callisthenes as used by Arrian. This explains ArrianGÇÖs use of *It is said*, or as in BruntGÇÖs version *they say*. The plural form is employed not because it pertains to Ptolemy and Aristobulus but rather to the multiplicity of versions on the trials. The context, in my opinion, of which Artobulus/Ptolemy[3.26.1] are used, cease there, followed by PtolemyGÇÖs (in the singular) account of the Philotas trial [3.27.1] Arrian then surmises the events. The commencement of AmyntasGÇÖ trial introduces new source/s of information and its representation is evidenced by the words *It is said* or *They say*But of course, this is just my opinion!Cheers!

[agesilaos]

Your opinion on Arrian introducing the account of Amyntas' trial relying on other authors is perfectly possible just looking at the Greek BUT the preservation of 'gramattea de ton hippon' in the Curtius account does point to an account existing in either Ptolemy or Aristoboulos, and given that one of his sources must have an account I interpret the 'They also relate..' to mean that their accounts were the same.Arrian does not seem to have used Kallisthenes, other than via Ptolemy. The differences come from a dramatic re-writing by Kleitarchos. Whilst it may seem logical that Demetrios met his fate alongside Philotas it is just as likely that his part, real or supposed did not come to light until later as Arrian has it almost certainly on Ptolemy's evidence

[smittysmitty]

Your interpretation has merit, and worthy of further analysis, however I would be a little hesitant associating the usage/reference of a term/name to a specific source. If the usage of *cavalry clerk* in anyway reflects the confusion, in my mind at least, of words such as hetairoi, somotophylakes, philoi, agema, hypaspist etc, and which source is identified with there usage, all I can say is good luck! However this may simply be a case of ignorance on my behalf due to my inability to read sources in there original form ¦Æ-+ In any event, good luck ¦Æ-¦Getting back to the original point of this thread, Battalion commanders on horseback, I think that this was indeed the case and perhaps reflects the changing nature of commands in general as the campaign progressed. It is evidenced on numerous occasions, the army fragmenting to perform various roles, i.e. on at least one occasion Amyntas is assigned to a command function on his own, that of taking over the fortress at Susa. Although the sources are not forthcoming with information, it can be assumed a composite of troop types were used rather than specifically Amyntas-í-ª battalion alone. Similarly, on many occasions ATG left numerous troops behind and it must be assumed whichever commanders where left behind would not take the field as Battalion commanders should the need arise, but rather -í-ÑArmy-í-ª commanders. There battalion would be commanded by the next in line. Ultimately however, if the entire army was positioned together and prepared for a set battle, I would imagine then, Battalion commanders would once again take their place in the phalanx.
Just my thoughts
Cheers!

[agesilaos]

I can see no objection to the officers being mounted in the march, indeed this is the purport of the passage as Amyntas clearly had horses to requisition and as far as I know the Macedonians had not adopted French culinary practise! But in battle the phalanx commanders would have been on foot; consider Antigonos Monopthalmos dying with his phalanx at Ipsos and he was the army commander.Also consider the style of this sort of warfare; it is notably inflexible the officers are there to inspire from the front,this is how Ptolemy the taxiarch dies at Issos, there is little to be gained from being behind the action as the phalanx never seems to have deployed as a reserve.You must be right that officers would ride when on detached duty but even then there were separate officers for any cavalry present, look at the debacle on the Polytimetos Arr IV 5ff.Ascribing sources on the basis of the translation of two words is as you say fraught with problems but when you have a direct translation of a Greek term with a Roman equivalent which is nothing like it it would be fair to assume that the author has found it in his source. Since only two sources seem to use such technical terms it must come from one of them, though in this case via an intermediary due to the differences in the account. Not written in stone but what is in ancient history? Even the inscriptions can be misleading! Consider the controversal Themistokles Decree from Troezen.

[beausefaless]

I believe Alexander lead by example and expected no less from his commanders. When he took command of the phalanx in one battle in the Danube area.
(335 BC Spring - Campaign to the Danube; Battle of the Lyginus: Alexander defeats Triballians
May - Alexander crosses river Danube: establishment of northern frontiers
Summer - Attack on Pelium: Alexander defeats Illyrians
September - Alexander ends revolt at Thebes
Other events - Persian commander Memnon stops advance force of Parmenion and Attalus )
It was a brilliant deceptional move for the primitive enemy was dug in the hillside with good cover. Alexander had to emulate the enemy into a calvary crossfire to accomplish the slaughter which he did.There were at least four commanders covering within the Phalanx and I guaranty if one of em was on horse they would have been easy targets for Darius's archers.