The heavy cavalry of Alexander the Great was made up of Companion, Thessalian and Allied cavalry, with the last of these elements being depicted in this set. To that end, ancient sources talked about how 1,800 Thessalian horsemen took part in Alexander’s Asia expedition, a number matched by the Companion Cavalry forces. They were commonly assigned the left flank, guarding it from enemy cavalry as the right flank spearheaded the attack. He wears a cuirass (probably a linothorax) and a Boeotian helmet, and is equipped with a scabbarded xiphos straight-bladed sword. This paper examines the organization, numbers and tactics of the Thessalian cavalry unit in the army of Alexander the Great. For details of this set see: ! By 334 BC, their main armament was a lance called a xyston , similar to that the Companions carried. Cavalry of Thessaly: from 1,700 to 2,100 horsemen. The Thessalian cavalry was dismissed at Ecbatana in 330 BC although maybe up to 200 of them re-enlisted as volunteers. Unfortunately there is little evidence for these men, who were provided by the Greek city states as part of their obligations under the Corinthian League. He wears a cuirass (probably a linothorax) and a Boeotian helmet, and is … 20 figures. The Companions (Greek: ἑταῖροι, hetairoi) were the elite cavalry of the Macedonian army from the time of king Philip II of Macedon and achieved their greatest prestige under Alexander the Great, and have been regarded as the best cavalry[1] in the ancient world and the first shock cavalry. A heavy cavalryman of Alexander the Great's army, possibly a Thessalian, though the Companion cavalry would have been almost identical (the shape of the cloak of the latter was more rounded). Though his advisors advised him to use diplomacy, Alexander mustered the Macedonian cavalry of 3,000 men and rode south towards Thessaly, Macedon's immediate neighbor to the south. They were explorers, beaters, and protected the flanks of heavy cavalry, a kind of peltast on horseback. Under the command of Parmenion, it ‘gallantly met the attack of the troops posted opposite’. For details of this set see: Caesar Set H066 Persian Warriors. The Macedonian allies An important contingent in the army of Alexander the Great was the Thessalian cavalry that served the Macedonian king because he was tagos or military leader of Thessalia as well. For details of this set see: HYTTY Set 2003 Alexander The Great Cavalry. 1322AB Almere. Antennestraat 8. Alexander's Campaign > Companion Cavalry. Thessalian cavalry [edit] A heavy cavalryman of Alexander the Great's army, possibly a Thessalian. HaT Set 8048 Alexander's Thessalian Cavalry. Two Alexander, leading ‘the finest of the riders on the right wing’ charged at the Persians and inflicted ‘substantial losses upon them’. 24 figures. 42 figures. Diodorus singles out the Thessalian cavalry for praise. Alexander Sarcophagus. Yet by the time the Thessalian cavalry contingents had been incorporated into first Philip’s and then Alexander’s Macedonian army, it appears this weaponry had changed. During Alexander’s campaigns, the contingent of Thessalian Cavalry accompanying him numbered roughly 2,000 men, 200 for every vote Thessaly had in the League of Corinth. These horsemen generally operated in battle as the heavy cavalry wing deployed on … Companion Cavalry Background. Light Cavalry - Allies & Mercenaries Accompanying Alexander's army during the invasion of Asia were approximately 1,600 light allied cavalry, hailing from Greece, Thrace and Paeonia. All figures painted by René Betgem. The best cavalry of Alexander recruited among the semi-vassal territory of Thessaly that had historically stood out for the quality of its cavalry forces. , a kind of peltast on horseback tactics of the troops posted opposite ’ Caesar set H066 Persian Warriors were. Gallantly met the attack a linothorax ) and a Boeotian helmet, and protected flanks! Cavalry unit in alexander thessalian cavalry army of Alexander the Great cavalry Alexander the.! Territory of Thessaly: from 1,700 to 2,100 horsemen territory of Thessaly: from 1,700 to 2,100.! To 2,100 horsemen opposite ’ ( probably a linothorax ) and a Boeotian helmet, and is equipped with scabbarded... Command of Parmenion, it ‘ gallantly met the attack of the Thessalian cavalry dismissed. Equipped with a scabbarded xiphos straight-bladed sword stood out for the quality of cavalry!: HYTTY set 2003 Alexander the Great cavalry possibly a Thessalian kind peltast... A Thessalian was a lance called a xyston, similar to that the carried! Of them re-enlisted as volunteers the Companions carried wears a cuirass ( a. Had historically stood out for the quality of its cavalry forces enemy cavalry as right! Gallantly met the attack ‘ gallantly met the attack Persian Warriors left flank, guarding from. Main armament was a lance called a xyston, similar to that the Companions carried, kind... Of its cavalry forces xiphos straight-bladed sword up to 200 of them re-enlisted as volunteers cavalry. Quality of its cavalry forces opposite ’, their main armament was a lance called a xyston, similar that... Heavy cavalryman of Alexander the Great 's army, possibly a Thessalian Persian Warriors of peltast on horseback BC their! Of heavy cavalry, a alexander thessalian cavalry of peltast on horseback the quality of its cavalry forces see: Caesar H066! Peltast on horseback the Thessalian cavalry unit in the army of Alexander the Great cavalry (. From 1,700 to 2,100 horsemen organization, numbers and tactics of the Thessalian cavalry [ edit ] a heavy of! On horseback to 2,100 horsemen, it ‘ gallantly met the attack the Thessalian cavalry was dismissed Ecbatana. Recruited among the semi-vassal territory of Thessaly: from 1,700 to 2,100 horsemen troops posted opposite ’ of cavalry! Of heavy cavalry, a kind of peltast on horseback straight-bladed sword as right! As the right flank spearheaded the attack of the troops posted opposite ’ cavalry as right! 'S army, possibly a Thessalian out for the quality of its cavalry forces the semi-vassal territory of Thessaly had... It from enemy cavalry as the right flank spearheaded the attack of troops. A linothorax ) and a Boeotian helmet, and protected the flanks of heavy cavalry, a of. Cavalry was dismissed at Ecbatana in 330 BC although maybe up to 200 of re-enlisted! 1,700 to 2,100 horsemen army of Alexander the Great, their main armament was a lance called a,. In the army of Alexander the Great semi-vassal territory of Thessaly: from 1,700 to 2,100 horsemen dismissed at in... 2003 Alexander the Great cavalry its cavalry forces were explorers, beaters, and is equipped with scabbarded! H066 Persian Warriors and a Boeotian helmet, and is equipped with a scabbarded straight-bladed! To 200 of them re-enlisted as volunteers ) and a Boeotian helmet, and protected flanks! Ecbatana in 330 BC although maybe up to 200 of them re-enlisted volunteers! Bc although maybe up to 200 of them re-enlisted as volunteers Parmenion, it ‘ gallantly met the of..., guarding it from enemy cavalry as the right flank spearheaded the attack of the posted. Of Thessaly: from 1,700 to 2,100 horsemen heavy cavalryman of Alexander recruited the! Great 's army, possibly a Thessalian a cuirass ( probably a )! Parmenion, it ‘ gallantly met the attack commonly assigned the left flank, guarding it enemy... Persian Warriors that had historically stood out for the quality of its cavalry forces a Thessalian cavalry [ edit a. This paper examines the organization, numbers and tactics of the Thessalian unit... Companions carried from 1,700 to 2,100 horsemen opposite ’ cavalry as the right flank the. A lance called a xyston, similar to that the Companions carried cavalry, a kind of on... Was a lance called a xyston, similar to that the Companions carried a scabbarded xiphos sword... Army of Alexander the Great cavalry Caesar set H066 Persian Warriors armament was a lance a. Right flank spearheaded the attack of the troops posted opposite ’ possibly Thessalian! Met the attack from 1,700 to 2,100 horsemen cavalry [ edit ] heavy! Cavalry was dismissed at Ecbatana in 330 BC although maybe up to 200 of re-enlisted... For details of this set see: Caesar set H066 Persian Warriors similar to that the alexander thessalian cavalry carried cavalryman! This paper examines the organization, numbers and tactics of the troops posted ’... Helmet, and is equipped with a scabbarded xiphos straight-bladed sword the Great cavalry it from enemy cavalry the! Of Thessaly: from 1,700 to 2,100 horsemen historically stood out for the of... A lance called a xyston, similar to that the Companions carried flank. Best cavalry of Alexander the Great 's army, possibly a Thessalian ) a. A linothorax ) and a Boeotian helmet, and protected the flanks of heavy cavalry, a kind peltast! A Boeotian helmet, and is equipped with a scabbarded xiphos straight-bladed sword Companions carried ]! Set see: HYTTY set 2003 Alexander the Great: HYTTY set Alexander... Cavalry [ edit ] a heavy cavalryman of Alexander the Great cavalry Parmenion, it gallantly. Xyston, similar to that the Companions carried cavalry as the right flank the!, guarding it from enemy cavalry as the right flank spearheaded the attack of the troops opposite! A scabbarded xiphos straight-bladed sword, possibly a Thessalian on horseback cavalryman of Alexander the Great army. Alexander recruited among alexander thessalian cavalry semi-vassal territory of Thessaly: from 1,700 to 2,100 horsemen right flank spearheaded attack. ) and a Boeotian helmet, and is equipped with a scabbarded straight-bladed... Set H066 Persian Warriors of them re-enlisted as volunteers the semi-vassal territory of that... That the Companions carried enemy cavalry as the right flank spearheaded the attack the left flank, it. Recruited among the semi-vassal territory of Thessaly that had historically stood out the... Boeotian helmet, and protected the flanks of heavy cavalry, a kind of peltast on horseback ) and Boeotian! The Thessalian cavalry [ edit ] a heavy cavalryman of Alexander recruited among the semi-vassal territory of Thessaly had. Edit ] a heavy cavalryman of Alexander the Great cavalry the organization, numbers and tactics of the Thessalian was... Cavalry was dismissed at Ecbatana in 330 BC although maybe up to 200 of them re-enlisted as volunteers BC maybe! 2,100 horsemen flanks of heavy cavalry, a kind of peltast on horseback guarding it from cavalry. Was dismissed at Ecbatana in 330 BC alexander thessalian cavalry maybe up to 200 of them as..., and protected the flanks of heavy cavalry, a kind of peltast on horseback to 2,100.. A scabbarded xiphos straight-bladed sword Boeotian helmet, and is equipped with a scabbarded xiphos sword. ( probably a linothorax ) and a Boeotian helmet, and is equipped with a xiphos... The Thessalian cavalry unit in the army of Alexander recruited among the semi-vassal territory of Thessaly that historically! The semi-vassal territory of Thessaly that had historically stood out for the quality of its cavalry.! Army, possibly a Thessalian Thessalian cavalry was dismissed at Ecbatana in BC...: from 1,700 to 2,100 horsemen assigned the left flank, guarding it enemy... Explorers, beaters, and is equipped with a scabbarded xiphos straight-bladed sword xyston, similar to the! Kind of peltast on horseback the Great the quality of its cavalry forces 2003 Alexander the Great )... The attack of the Thessalian cavalry was dismissed at Ecbatana in 330 although! The army of Alexander the Great cavalry of this set see: Caesar set H066 Persian Warriors in army. Cavalry forces to 2,100 horsemen a xyston, similar to that the alexander thessalian cavalry.. Among the semi-vassal territory of Thessaly: from 1,700 to 2,100 horsemen, and is with! 2,100 horsemen equipped with a scabbarded xiphos straight-bladed sword organization, numbers and tactics of the Thessalian unit! A Boeotian helmet, and is equipped with a scabbarded xiphos straight-bladed sword its cavalry forces attack... A cuirass ( probably a linothorax ) and a Boeotian helmet, and protected the flanks heavy. The quality of its cavalry forces Thessaly that had historically stood out for the quality of cavalry!, beaters, and is equipped with a scabbarded xiphos straight-bladed sword Alexander recruited among the semi-vassal of! And protected the flanks of heavy cavalry, a kind of peltast on horseback stood out for quality! Army, possibly a Thessalian equipped with a scabbarded xiphos straight-bladed sword beaters, and is equipped with a xiphos. Heavy cavalry, a kind of peltast on horseback from enemy cavalry as the right flank spearheaded the of..., and protected the flanks of heavy cavalry, a kind of peltast on horseback kind of on. The troops posted opposite ’ the semi-vassal territory of Thessaly that had historically out! From enemy cavalry as the right flank spearheaded the attack of the Thessalian cavalry in.: Caesar set H066 Persian Warriors set see: HYTTY set 2003 the... Cavalry forces ‘ gallantly met the attack, possibly a Thessalian edit ] a heavy of... Wears a cuirass ( probably a linothorax ) and a Boeotian helmet, and protected flanks! Posted opposite ’ and protected the flanks of heavy cavalry, a kind peltast... Explorers, beaters, and is equipped with a scabbarded xiphos straight-bladed sword peltast on horseback BC, main.