Hegemon: Philip of Macedonia

Introduction and His Army

by Thomas K. Sundell

Morning of the Battle

In the morning's false dawn, with its refreshing coolness, Philippos Amuntou Makedonon (Philip of Macedon) conducts the sacrificial rites. He follows the ancient Argeadai ritual, as his forefathers have done since one was first chosen basileos - chieftain and priest - of the Makedones (Macedonians). Leading the rites is the king's obligation to his ancestors Herakles (Hercules) and Zeus. This morning the king and his people are especially needful of the gods' blessings for around the king his army is moving into final position before the attack. The king does not doubt the blessings for he is defending the god Apollo.

The army marched to the field two days before. On facing his opponents, the king sent heralds to them again, not yet ready to make them implacable enemies. And again the city leaders of Thebai (Thebes) and the assembly of Athenai (Athens) turned down his plea for peace.

So this morning in the month of Metageitnion, as the Athenians call it, or Gorpiaios as named by the Makedones (August, 338 BC), Philippos sets his army in motion.

The Makedones Army

The army assembled by the king stretches from the shallow south bank of the River Kephissos to the slope below the Khaironea acropolis - a distance of about 16 stade (c. 3 km, c. 1.9 miles). In formation along that length is 30,000 foot and 2,000 horsemen, of which the vast bulk are his Makedones.

As Philippos joins his men, he takes direct command of the right. The army's left is commanded by the pragmatic Antipatros, an older, reliable general - steady but not brilliant. All the heavily armed horsemen are under the king's son, the charismatic Alexandros, who is just 18 years old.

Around Philippos is his foot guard, about 500 men from the heartland of his kingdom. He also has two 1,000-man units of hypaspistai, a force of specially trained younger men. Further to his right are peltai (peltasts) and psiloi, all lightly armed foot drawn from his allies - Thessaliotes, Aenianes, Dolopes, and Phthiotes - as well as some mercenaries, mostly archers.

Across the center of the king's line and stretching to the left are the Makedones phalangists. Fourteen brigades standing in ranks 16 deep. Each brigade numbers about 1,500 men. The lowland or heartland brigades are termed pezhetairoi (foot companions) and comprise half the units. These units are named after their brigade commanders. The other half of the brigades are termed asthetairoi, their ranks filled with highlanders from the small chiefdoms that the king joined to the heartland through war and diplomacy nearly 20 years earlier. They are named for their territorial origins: Elimiotis, Tymphaia, Orestis, Lynkestis.

To the left of the phalangists are the horsemen. The cavalry are in squadrons of 200 men each, except for the agema, the royal squadron, which has 300 men. Perhaps 1,700 are heavily armed horse men. The remaining 300 or so are light horsemen, either Makedones scouts or allied Paiaones and Thessaliotes. They occupy the far left, mixed with additional light foot.

The Allied Army

Opposite the king's army are the forces of Athenai and Thebai and their allies. Thebai and other Boiotians hold the king's left front, anchored on the river. Athenai holds the king's right front, with her flank protected by the acropolis. Between these contingents are the allied hoplites, principally from Akhaia, Korinthos, and Megara but with detachments from Euboia, Akarnania, Kerkyra (Corfu), and Leukas. All together, the opposing force outnumbers the king's as they total 35,000 foot and 2,000 horsemen.

The strategoi -- generals -- commanding the Allied line are confident of victory. The man most responsible for this fight is not a general, but he stands in the ranks of the Athenian hoplites. He is Demosthenes, orator and politician and obsessive foe of King Philippos.

Hegemon: Philip of Macedonia

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