Silver Shields

[Ann K]

Hello everyone out there,
Two fiction writers here in Sweden tell a tale of a
regiment of Alexander's, called the Hypaspists,
the Argyraspids or, in our language Silver
Shields. They are said to have perished in
Gedrosia after having betrayed Eumenes to
Antogonos after the Battle of Ipsos. It is an
intriguing tale of horrors and hardships - but I
can't find it in any of my real history books about
Alexander and ancient Greece.
Is there anyone who knows more about this?
Best wishes
Ann K

[smittysmitty]

Read Pltarch's Eumenes, best account.

[nickw]

See: http://www.pothos.org/alexander.asp?paraID=78 or read the brief overview here:Without doubt the hypaspists are the most mysterious units of the Macedonian army. Historians still lack clues about what they exactly looked like and how they were armed. Adding to the controversy are the various names attached to them: Guards, Shield-Bearers and, after the invasion of India, Silver Shields (or argyraspids; their origin is equally disputed). What is certain is that the hypaspists were outstanding infantry troops who were capable of performing a wide range of tasks. During battles they served in close combat as an extension of the phalanx, protecting its right flank, and they were also well equipped for skirmishing, fast marches, storming walls and rapid advances supporting the cavalry.
Common sense indicates the hypaspists must have been, in one way or another, a flexible and mobile adaption of the original Greek hoplite. Philip had developed the hypaspists from his original body of Foot Guards. When Alexander crossed into Asia the hypaspists numbered 3,000 men divided in three divisions, one of which was the +¬lite unit, the Royal Foot Guards or agema. This agema unit had the same role as its cavalry counterpart.
(Before the invasion of India Alexander is said to have added gold and silver to the armor of his troops; probably during this time the name Silver Shields came into being. It may have been that the hypaspists adopted this new name, or that the argyraspids were veteran units recruited from both hypaspist and phalanx battalions. What is practically for sure is that the Silver Shields were 3,000 seasoned warriors, boasting an undefeated record under Alexander. After Alexander's death they were hardly controllable: they betrayed their general Eumenes and killed their commander Antigenes by burning him alive. In the end they were dispatched to distant Arachosia where the local satrap had secret orders to wear them out.)Regards ---Nick

[agesilaos]

The best account is in Diodoros, Plutarch's Life contains some howlers whereas Diodoros is abbreviating Hieronymous of Kardia, who was Eumenes nephew (probably). The battle in question was Pareitkene, where Antigonos took their baggage so they refused to fight on, even though the battle was drawn and handed Eumenes over in exchange. Antigonos had Antigenes burned alive and only the most cantankerous were sent to Arachosia to perish.

[abm]

check the chapter "The campaign in Iran" in A.B. Bosworth, The Legacy of Alexander. Politics, Warfare, and Propaganda under the Successors, Oxford 2002.

[Ann K]

Hello Nick and all!
Thank you very much for all your replies. I'll look
closely in Plutarch and Diodorus et al. You have
been most helpful to me because it is important
for me to know more about the fate of all those
men.
With best regards
Ann K