Alexander I, pezetairoi in tens, and the origins of the Macedonian army

[RichT]

Yes I can go with that - so we might have:

Archelaus - improved central supply of equipment
Alexander I - created a state-equipped and organized hoplite force, which he named 'Foot Companions'
Philip II - re-armed the Foot Companions 'in the Macedonian fashion'

Others (like Alexander II) might have tinkered too, but without lasting impact. Though I'm just reading Juhel (Autors de l'Infanterie) now so should really keep quiet till I've done so...

[Imperial Dave]

I'll go back and reread An Invincible Beast for the alternate viewpoint (Alex 2) but so far am liking the logical and synergistic reasons for Alex 1

[RichT]

Incidentally I'm not totally convinced that dekas = Achaemenid - there's a Homeric precedent too (for example Iliad 2.124-129 "For should we be minded, both Achaeans and Trojans, to swear a solemn oath with sacrifice, and to number ourselves, and should the Trojans be gathered together, even all they that have dwellings in the city, and we Achaeans be marshalled by tens, and choose, each company of us, a man of the Trojans to pour our wine, then would many tens lack a cup-bearer; so far, I deem, do the sons of the Achaeans outnumber the Trojans that dwell in the city."

Not that that need alter the Alexander I argument, just a passing thought.