Somatophylakes

      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 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
      333,
      332
      • Aristonous, Lysimachus, Peithon, Arybbas, Menes, Demetrius, Hephaestion.
      331
      • Aristonous, Lysimachus, Peithon, Leonnatus, Menes, Demetrius, Hephaestion.
      330–327
      326–324
      • Aristonous, Lysimachus, Peithon, Leonnatus, Perdiccas, Ptolemy I Soter, Hephaestion, Peucestas
      323
      • Aristonous, Lysimachus, Peithon, Leonnatus, Perdiccas, Ptolemy I Soter, Peucestas.
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      See also

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      External links
      Philip II's Generals
      The Somatophylakes
      (Alexander's bodyguards)
      Satraps at the
      Partition of Babylon
      Satraps at the
      Partition of Triparadisus
      Cavalry Generals
      Infantry Generals
      Other or unknown
      command

      (1) Son of Parmenion, d. 330 BC; to be distinguished from (2)
      (2) Satrap at Partition of Babylon; possibly Nicanor of Stageira
      (3) Satrap at Partition of Babylon

      (4) Son of Parmenion, d. 330 BC; to be distinguished from (3)
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      Last modified on 15 March 2013, at 11:28