Companion Hipparchy

These are Old Glory 28mm Companions. They are fairly well done models and aren't too difficult to paint. However, there is the typical leg gap problem that many OG figures have, I had to squeeze the legs in with pliers to get them close to looking like they are riding the horse..I hate that! The spears are plastic rod which are easily worked and fairly sturdy to handle.

These represent Alexander's Companions in his later campaigns. They are dressed as described by Arrian after Alexander's campaign in India...chances are before that purple and bright saffron would not have been common. Also th euse of standards firts appears duirng this later period as the regiments or "hipparchies" were reorganized from territorial squadrons. The hipparchy would take the name of its commander as its title, and could carry a standard with his likeness on it. Hephaestion's troops carried such a imago style banner as we are told that upon his death his hipparchy would continue to carry his banner as a tribute.

The great debate continues... is this a "Heavy" armored horseman for WAB, or is this light armor? Playing them as light armor makes them very brittle...but the interesting thing is you can see why Alexander held them in reserve behind layers of screening light troops. Accurate archery mows them down.

I prefer the 1-3-5 wedge formation myself...it's actually based on Aelian's tactical diagrams (shown in the Osprey book on Alexander by Sekunda). Also, since I believe this formation is more effective for maneuvering than combat I like the more compact space this "wedge" occupies on the table.....also if I ever had 49 figures I could build and actual Ala (troop)! (But alas I went with the normal wedge in AtG for simplicity... or less complexity!)