Somatophylakes

Coin of Balacrus, somatophylakes of Alexander, as Satrap of Cilicia, with letter "B" next to the shield, standing for B[AΛAKPOI]. Tarsos. 333-323 BC.

Somatophylakes (Greek: Σωματοφύλακες; singular: somatophylax, σωματοφύλαξ,) in its literal English translation from Greek, means "bodyguards."

The most famous body of somatophylakes were those of Philip II of Macedon and Alexander the Great. They consisted of seven men, drawn from the Macedonian nobility, who also acted as high-ranking military officers, holding command positions such as general or chiliarch. Alexander the Great appointed Peucestas as eighth somatophylax after the siege of Malli.

Somatophylakes of Alexander the Great

336–334

• Aristonous of Pella, Lysimachus, Peithon, Arybbas, Balacrus, Demetrius, Ptolemy.

333,

• Aristonous, Lysimachus, Peithon, Arybbas, Balacrus, Demetrius, Hephaestion.

332

• Aristonous, Lysimachus, Peithon, Arybbas, Menes of Pella, Demetrius, Hephaestion.

331

• Aristonous, Lysimachus, Peithon, Leonnatus, Menes, Demetrius, Hephaestion.

330–327

• Aristonous, Lysimachus, Peithon, Leonnatus, Perdiccas, Ptolemy of Lagus, Hephaestion.

326–324

• Aristonous, Lysimachus, Peithon, Leonnatus, Perdiccas, Ptolemy of Lagus, Hephaestion, Peucestas

323

• Aristonous, Lysimachus, Peithon, Leonnatus, Perdiccas, Ptolemy of Lagus, Peucestas.

See also

• Companion cavalry

External links

• Livius.org - Somatophylax