Alexandros Preview 1: Macedonia

This is the first preview of my upcoming mod Alexandros for the Alexander add-on for RTw. It will be released in 2 parts: a macedonian, persian, greek and indian unit pack, then the 2nd pack featuring a new map, new recruitment system and new barbarian unit list.

For the first preview of my mod, i give you the units and officers of Macedonia that will be featured in the first part of the mod. Some units are not shown here such as Persian Levys as they will be in the 2nd pack and not the first one.(ingame pics use the minimal ui setting, hence why only unit cards are shown)

Note: i have used artistic licence in some places eg leaving out the blue paint on the infantry helms, and with my depiction of the Hypaspists as different sources depict them differently. And the banner is likely to change.

Also, most descriptions and information are taken from Osprey books i own.

Cavalry

Philip, Alexanders father, created a large force of heavily-armed cavalry to act as the corps de rupture of his army. The number of Companions greatly increased during his reign, and he made them more heavily armoured. When Alexander came to the throne he replaced the phyrgian helm introduced by Philip for the cavalry with the boeotian. The cavalry was at the heart of Alexanders tactics. He would use succesive charges of light cavalry to keep flanking Persian cavalry on the right at bay, forcing them to move further to the right and lose touch with their main battle line. As soon as this was observed Alexander would lead the decisive charge of heavy cavalry, using the wedge formation, a new cavalry formation developed in the 4th century.

Alexandros Hetairoi

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The great man himself with his bodyguard of Companions. Alexanders(alexandros is the greek form of his name) bodyguards are armoured like most Companions with boeotian style helmet, bronze greaves, and white linen cuirass. This is warn over a long sleeved tunic. They are aremd with the xyston spear and a sword for close combat.Alexander became King of Macedon in 336bc after his father Philip had been assassinated at the age of 46. Alexander was just 20 when he became king. Alexander expanded on the extensive army reforms his father had implemented in the Macedonian army. With this army he would eventually go on to defeat the huge Persian army after a series of epic battles, defeat the Kingdom of Porus, have to deal with a rebellious army before dieing in 323bc aged 32. His empire was divided up amongst his generals, and this divison led to the wars of the Diadochi or Successor states.

Basilike Ile

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The Royal Squadron of the Compaion Cavalry. It was always maintained at double strength compared to the other squadrons of the Companions. It held the position of honour in the batte line. The Personal Compaions fought in the ranks of the Royal Squadron. They wear a long sleeved tunic and cape. Armoured in a bronze cuirass, bronze greaves, the bronze boeotian helmet with a horse tail to signify their signifcance, and with the xyston cavalry spear and a sword, the Basilike Ile are some of the best cavalry in the world.

Hetairoi

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The Companion(Hetairoi) cavalry, the senior regiment of the army, was recruited from the noble youth of Macedonia. The regiment was formed of 8 squadrons including the Basilike Ile. The other seven squadrons, at the strength of 200 lances each, formed up on the left of the Royal Squadron in the battle line. The squadrons were names after the territory they came from. They wear long sleeved tunics, a bronze boeotian style helm, bronze greaves, and a white linen cuirass. They are armed with the xyston cavalry spear which is held overhand and used to thrust, and a sword for close combat.

Thessalians

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The finest horsemen in the greek world. Despite this, for political and social reasons the Companions were the senior regiment and so the Thessalians fought to the left of the Companions in the order of battle. The Thessalian cavalry was organised in a similar way to the Companions, being split into 8 squadrons. They were also basically equipped the same as the Companions. Wearing a red tunic with a long sleeved purple tunic over the top, they also have a purple cloak with a white trim on the bottom. Their armour consists of bronze greaves, white linen curiass, and a bronze boeotian stlye helm. They fight using the xyston cavalry spear and a sword for close combat.

Prodomoi

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Prodomoi or "scouts" is the name given to the four squadrons of Thracian light cavalry with the Royal Army. The Prodomoi were probably recruited from inside the Thracian provinces annexed by Philip that are now part of Macedonia. The primary role of the Prodomoi was to scout ahead of the advancing army. Wearing a phyrgian style helm, long sleeved tunic, cloak and xyston cavalry spear as well as a sword, they can fight in the main battle line. But they are no match for heavy cavalry, and should be mainly used for flanking attacks.

Thracian Prodomoi

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Thracian Prodomoi are the squadrons of Thracian Auxiliary Cavalry which served with the Royal Squadron. The Prodomoi were probably recruited from inside the Thracian provinces annexed by Philip that are now part of Macedonia. The primary role of the Prodomoi was to scout ahead of the advancing army. Wearing a phyrgian style helm, long sleeved tunic, javelins as well as a sword, they can fight in the main battle line. But they are no match for heavy cavalry, and should be mainly used for skirmishing with enemy cavalry forces.

Infantry

The infantry formed the backbone of Alexanders army. His father Philip had organised and equipped the infantry, making them a very effective fighting force. Philip used money from the mines at Pangaeum to equip his infantry, and the reorganised infantry helped defeat the Greeks at Chaeronea in 338bc. The infantry would form the solid centre of Alexanders army in battle, holding the Persian infantry in place before the decisive cavalry charge was made.

Agema

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The elite of the Foot Companions. Whilst the Hypaspists were hand picked soldiers from the Foot Companions, the Agema were an elite amongst the elite. The Agema fight like the Pezhetairoi, unlike the Hypaspists who fight in a different style. They have a feathered phyrgian and bronze greaves to distinguish them from the rest of the Foot Companions. Apart from that they wear and fight in exactly the same way as the Foot Companions.

Hypaspists

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Hypaspist means "shield-bearer" in Greek. The hypaspists acted as a flexible link between the Companion cavalry and Foot Companions. Whenever Alexander detached a "flying column" from his army, he always took the Hypaspists with him. They do not fight as a phalanx to make them more manouverable, but in the older Greek hoplite style. They are also armed with javelins and so can act as skirmishers as needed. The wear a bronze muscle curiass over a short sleeved tunic, bronze greaves and a boeotian helmet instead of the normal Phyrgian infantry helmet as it provides more protection against sword strikes at the shoulders which is needed as they do more close combat fighting. They also use the hoplite shield.

Pezhetairoi

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The Foot Companions or Pezhetairoi were divided into six battalions(taxeis). Some of the battaltions were termed Asthetairoi, denoting the fact they were recruited from Upper Macedonia. They wear a linen cuirass over a tunic, and have a phyrgian style helmet. They use the peltai shield that they also used during the first years of Philips reign, the shield being strapped to the left forearm. They are armed with the sarissa spear, around 12 cubits(18 feet) in length, though possibly shorter. The spear is used with both hands underarm.

Agrianoi

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The Agrianian javelinmen were the crack light unit of the army. They are armed with javelins and a sword, have a thuros style shield and phyrgian style helmet. They were probably supplied for the expedition by the client king of the Agrianians, Langarus, out of his household troops.

Akontistai

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Akontistai are light infantry supplied by client kings. They were divided into a number of taxeis. Simply dressed in a tunic, and armed with javelins and a sword they are cheap but relatively effective troops.

Toxotai

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The corps of archers(toxotai) was under the overall command of a Strategos. It was divided into companies of 500 men each. Each company was commanded by a toxarch. Armed with a simple hunting bow, a small sword so they can fight in close combat(though not very well), and with no armour, toxotai are very simple cheap missile troops.

I hope you've enjoyed this preview. All models and textures done by me, apart from the phyrgian helmet which is by LaCa.