History Question: Philip II

[Teacher]

Who were Philip II's bodyguards, or where could that information be found? Alexander's bodyguards are pretty well documented, but Philip's do not seem to be.

thanks

[keravnos]

Your best resource would be N.G.L. Hammond's "Phillip of Macedon".

Hetairoi were the royal Horse Bodyguards.

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

Who were Philip II's bodyguards, or where could that information be found? Alexander's bodyguards are pretty well documented, but Philip's do not seem to be.

thanks

What do you mean by "bodyguards"? The Hetairoi were Philip's Council, his loyal friends and supporters. The most famous of them are probably Attalus and Parmenion. However, Philip also massively expanded his cavalry corps and these also seem to have become known as Hetairoi by the end of his reign. Philip was the one to institute the school of Pages and these young men were the ones later responsible for guarding Alexander while he slept. Finally, there were the Hypaspists, or Shieldbearers, who would seem to have been Philip's personal Foot Guards, whether they were a small group or a larger formation during his time is unknown.