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Short description

For convenience, Kleomenes trained some of his bodyguards to fight as horsemen in the style of Alexander’s Hetairoi.

Description

The military reforms of Kleomenes III during the 220s BC also seem to have included the introduction of a cavalry bodyguard for the king. For convenience, Kleomenes trained some of his bodyguards to fight as horsemen in the style of Alexander’s Hetairoi.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

At the Battle of Sellasia in 222 BC, Polybios mentions horsemen on the Lakedaimonian side (Polyb. II, 67, 2), and some of these are charged by the Achaian horsemen led by the young Philopoimen of Megalopolis (II, 67, 6). It is unlikely that the Tarentine cavalry, which was present as mercenaries (Plutarch, Life of Kleomenes 6, 3), would not have skirmished in face of such an attack by the enemy’s melee cavalry, so these men, whom Polybios explicitly calls “Kleomenes’ cavalry” (In II, 67, 2), must have been heavy cavalry. Though Kleomenes apparently stood with the phalanx on his hill and did not fight with the horsemen at Sellasia (Polyb. II, 69, 6), it is likely that they would have directly accompanied the king in other situations.

Kleomenes must have modelled his own elite cavalry on the famous example of the Macedonian Hetairoi. Heavily armoured and equipped with the long xystos, these men could deliver a lethal charge to the enemy. They will probably have been recruited from the 300 Hippeis who had traditionally supplied the foot guard of the kings, and now finally lived up to their name (hippos meaning horse).