Historical Themes

The Imperial army is largely a theoretical construct, indicating the direction Alexander was taking the army as he gradually replaced Greek and Macedonian elements with Asian ones. Most of the Greek elements are gone from the army, and the ranks of the ostensibly "Macedonian" units are brought up to strength with Asians, including the Hetairoi and the Argyraspistss. Morale is downgraded in the elite units. The experimental Persian mixed arms phalanx (not unlike the old sparabara formation), and elephants debut in this army.

One may speculate that over time surviving veteran Macedonians were collected into the ranks of the Argyraspists, as this unit continued on for many years after Alexander's death, and the veterans passed into their 70's.

Alexandrian Imperial (32,000/160 stands)

Selected References

1. Arrian, The Anabasis of Alexander. Loeb, 1986 Brunt Excellent introductory material, including sections on the Macedonian and Persian armies.
2. Arrian, Indica. Loeb, 1986 Brunt Excellent introductory material, including sections on the Macedonian and Persian armies.
3. Berg, Richard, and Mark Herman. The Great Battles of Alexander: Deluxe Edition Great Battles of History. GMT Games. 1995. This game is a great source for OB information. Berg and Herman are skilled designers and thorough researchers. Currently, it is out of print, but GMT may reprint it if the demand is high enough.
4. Billows, Richard A., Antigonos the One-Eyed and the Creation of the Hellenistic State (Hellenistic Culture and Society, No 4). California UP. 1990.
5. Bosworth, A.B., Conquest and Empire. 1990
6. -------------------, Alexander and the East. Oxford1996
7. Davis, Victor Hanson, The Western Way of War. First appearance of Davis's reoccuring theme re: the Greek's invention of the decisive battle.
8. --------------------------, The Wars of the Greeks , 2000. Long rant about the horrific nature of Alexander the Great and his legacy.
9. --------------------------, Culture and Carnage, 2001. Strange little book on a selection of battles that demonstrate the superiority of the western way of war over the rest of the world. There is a chapter on the battle of Gaugamela. Rambling and unfocussed, frequently losing sight of its theme, it is nonetheless an interesting book. Once again, Alexander is characterized by his surpassing cruelty and monstrous ambition.
10. Devine, Albert, "Alexander the Great", in Warfare in the Ancient World, General Sir John Hackett (editor), Facts on File, 1989.
11. Ellis, J.R. Philip II and Macedonian Imperialism.. Princeton UP. 1976.
12. Engels, Donald, Alexander the Great and the Logistics of the Macedonian Army
13. Fox, Robin Lane. In Search of Alexander
14. Green, Peter, Alexander of Macedon: A Biography. 1990
15. Hammond, NGL Alexander of Macedon .
16. -------------------, The Macedonian State. Oxford UP. 1989. This is probably the best summation of Hammond's life-long research into Alexander and Macedonia.
17. -------------------, The Genius of Alexander.
18. Sekunda, Nick, The Army of Alexander the Great. Osprey.
19. SOA, 35 Years of Slingshot. 2001
20. Warry, John, Alexander the Great 335-320. Osprey
21. Wood, Michael, In the Footsteps of Alexander.

More Armies of Alexander the Great

Introduction and Technical Terms
Philip the Barbarian to 336 BC
Alexander Invades Persia 335-330 BC
Pursuit to the East 330-327 BC
India 326-323 BC
The Alexandrian Imperial Army, 323 BC