Silver Shields: Alexander the Great’s Legendary Elite Troops

The Argyraspides, which can be translated as “Silver Shields,” were the elite soldiers of Philip II of Macedon and Alexander the Great. The prowess of these veterans during Macedon’s Greek and Asian campaigns contributed to the profound long-term transformation of the ancient Middle East.

These battle-hardened Macedonian soldiers, after the conquest of Greece and more than half of the Balkan Peninsula with King Philip, marched under Alexander into Persia, Egypt, and crossed into India. Upon their return to Babylonia, after Alexander’s death, many chose to continue fighting for fame and riches during the Wars of the Diadochi. In the course of their decades-long military careers, the Silver Shields remained undefeated.

“Beware of an old man in a profession where men usually die young. Old warriors did not get old by accident; they got old by being wise, having the right knowledge, and being tough.” —Bohdi Sanders, Bushido: The Way of the Warrior.

In the winter of 316-315 BCE at Gabiene, on the plains of modern Iran, two Hellenistic armies faced off. Antigenes, the leader of the Argyraspides, dispatched an emissary to the opposite phalanx fighting for Antigonos the One-eyed (Antigonos Monophthalmos) taunting them: “Wicked men, you are sinning against your fathers, who conquered the whole world under Philip and Alexander!” Antigonos’ young soldiers vacillated as the Silver Shield phalanx serving under the command of Eumenes of Cardia raised a thundering cheer. Eumenes gave the order to advance against the enemy.

As some of the Silver Shields had been serving in the ranks of the Macedonian phalanx since the 350s BCE, by the time of the Battle of Gabiene, the youngest of the band were about 60, and most of their companions about 70, and some were even older. The gap between the Silver Shields and their younger opponents was at least a full generation. Regardless of their age, they remained the uncontested, “masters of war without a defeat or a reverse,” through sheer skill and experience. That day, once more, their adversaries, some young enough to be their grandsons, stood no chance.

“The Silver Shields in close order fell heavily upon their adversaries, killing some of them in hand to hand fighting and forcing others to flee. They engaged the entire opposing phalanx, showing themselves so superior in skill and strength that of their own men they lost not one, but of those who opposed them they slew over five thousand and routed the entire force of foot soldiers, whose numbers were many times their own.” —Diodoros Siculus, Book XIX

The legendary Argyraspides were a division of the Macedonian army of Philip II and his heir Alexander III, who were so called because they carried silver-plated shields. Philip used to call the phalangites pezhetairoi (“foot-companions”).

Philip’s main campaign in Greece was concluded by 336 BCE. By then, men who had joined in their 20’s were in their 40’s. While many armies had long periods of idleness. In the case of the Silver Shields, Philip and Alexander kept them on campaign continuously. 20 years in the corps were indeed 20 years of truly active service, living under the constant threat of losing life and limbs, without the relative safety of an eventual pension plan.

That Alexander’s 11-year campaign against Persia eventually reached the Indian subcontinent is almost unbelievable. The Silver Shields accomplished more great feats than any army before or since. After crossing the Indus River, having already served 30 to 40 years since the time of King Philip, they had more than earned the right to return home as wealthy and respected veterans.

The prospects of renewed campaigns eastward brought on the army mutiny in northwestern India, ending Alexander’s ambitions of further conquests. But their epic did not come to an end when Alexander died in 323 BCE.

Under the Command of Eumenes of Cardia

At the Partition of Babylon, the first meeting to divide the Macedonian empire following Alexander’s sudden demise, Eumenes of Cardia, Philip II’s former secretary, was made satrap of both Kappadokia and Paphlagonia, two regions yet to be conquered.

During the First War of the Diadochi (321 CE), he faced an army led by Neoptolemos and Krateros, Alexander’s most respected generals. In one sweep, to everyone’s astonishment, he eliminated both his adversaries at the Battle of the Hellespont. Eumenes even killed Neoptolemos in single combat.

Already despised by the Macedonians because of his singular Greek origin, he came from Thracian Khersonesos (the Gallipoli Peninsula), Eumenes became hated for the death of Krateros. The loyalty of the core Macedonian troops under his command remained fickle. After the Silver Shields from Krateros’ army agreed to come to his side, many of them deserted him in favor of Antipatros. In an attempt to preserve the allegiance of his remaining Macedonian veterans, Eumenes encouraged a cult of Alexander, holding councils in the presence of Alexander’s regalia.

Ten days after Eumenes’ unexpected triumph at the Battle of the Hellespont, the assassination of Perdikkas turned the entire situation upside down. Antipatros, the new regent, appointed Antigonos the One-eyed as supreme commander of the Macedonian forces in Asia. His main task was to eliminate Eumenes. The latter besieged with a handful of men in the fortress of Nora, managed to escape and raised a new army.

Two more of Alexander’s generals, Peithon and Seleukos, attempted to detach the Silver Shields from his command. But Eumenes managed to regain Antigenes’ Silver Shields allegiance. During the next three years, the Greek general skillfully battled Antigonos, Seleukos, and Peithon throughout Syria and Mesopotamia.

The last two pitch battles of the Silver Shields, at Paraitakene (317 BCE) and Gabiene (316 BCE), were rather indecisive. Nevertheless, during both encounters, the Silver Shields in Eumene’s ranks demonstrated their overwhelming superiority.

The core phalangites of Eumenes’ army were made up of the Macedonian veterans. All the Diadochi (Alexander’s successors) tried to recruit from Macedonia or the Greek city-states. For heavy infantry and phalanx warfare, the last of Alexander’s companions valued men from the Greek mainland above all. At Paraitakene, some 3,000 veteran Silver Shields crushed Antigonos’ 11,000 new infantry, without losing a man.

Having already served 35-45 years and participated in countless battles, they were feared due to their battle skills, experience, and flawless score. When new recruits were facing these highly-esteemed veterans, they were systematically defeated. The phalanx-style warfare needed perfect training and discipline, which these old warriors mastered like no one else. Drilling was essential. Their main weapon, introduced during the military reforms of King Philip II, was the sarissa, an extended pike that could reach up to 5 to 7 meters. These lengthened pikes improved the traditional strength of the phalanx, extending the rows of overlapping thrusting polearms projecting towards the enemy.

“And indeed they were the oldest soldiers of Philip and Alexander, war’s athletes as it were, without a defeat or a fall up to that time, many of them now seventy years old, and not a man younger than sixty.” —Plutarch, Life of Eumenes

Longevity of the Fighting Men During the Hellenistic Period

It was not uncommon for soldiers to fight until their old age. Boys would start the career of arms very young and go on fighting their entire life. The Macedonian generals who did not suffer a violent death also enjoyed astonishing long lives, considering the incredible hardships they went through.

Antipatros died at age 81 in 319 BCE, Antigonos was killed in action at Ipsos at age 80 in 301 BCE,  Ptolemaios Sôter (“The Savior”) died peacefully at Alexandria at age 84-85 in 282 BCE, Lysimachos was also killed in action at age 80 at the Battle of Corupedion in 281 BCE, and Seleukos was assassinated by Ptolemaios Keraunos (Thunderbolt) seven months later when Seleukos was 77. Polyperchon faded away from history but he lived at least until age 91!

Others died younger of course. Perdikkas was about the same age as Alexander and was assassinated in Egypt at age 35. Krateros, killed at the Battle of the Hellespont in 321 BCE, was about 50 when he died in action against Eumenes. Kassandros is the only one who died from a sickness (of oedema) at age 53. Eumenes, executed after the Battle of Gabiene was about 46. Demetrios I Poliorketes, who drank himself to death in captivity, died at age 53-54. Given the high number of generals and successors who met a violent death, this suggests that they could have lived even longer.

The concept of retirement was unknown to soldiers at the time. That they lived so long says a lot about their hygiene, the level of medical treatment available at the time, and their food. Staples of the ancient Greek diet were eaten by campaigning soldiers depending on availability. These likely included barley and other cereals and legumes, as well as onions, garlic, salted fish, cheese, and olives, ideally suited for soldiers in the field. The life expectancy of a man who remained healthy was not that different to what it is today. The lower average takes account of those who died of what are now treatable illnesses and injuries.

At the Battle of Gabiene in 316 BCE, once again the Silver Shields routed Antigonos’ phalanx. But then, they made a fatal mistake by betraying their commander. While Eumenes had won the battle on the field, Antigonos had stormed his adversary’s camp with his superior cavalry. Until the conclusion of the battle, the victorious phalanx was unaware of what was going on in their rear. With their wives, young children, baggage, and loot all in the hands of Antigonos, the Silver Shields did not hesitate long before entering into negotiations with their adversaries.

The Argyraspides conveniently blamed Eumenes for drawing them into endless wars with empty promises, and with the risk of depriving them of everything they had gained during countless campaigns. “This pest from the Khersonesos should come to grief for having harassed Macedonians with infinite wars!” Led by Antigenes, they made a deal with Antigonos, obtaining the return of their family members and possessions in exchange for delivering Eumenes to his arch-enemy. After some hesitation, Eumenes was eventually strangled by order of Antigonos. His remains were later devolved to his friends for a proper burial.

“For that famous phalanx of Alexander the Great, which had overrun Asia and conquered the Persians, after a long career of glory as well as of license claimed the right to command its leaders instead of obeying them.” —Cornelius Nepos, Eumenes

The Remnants of the Silver Shields Vanish Into the East

Off the battlefield, the Silver Shields proved proud, undisciplined, and corrupt. Up to that point, the Diadochi had not been able to get rid of them. They had fought ridiculously dangerous battles but the wealthy veterans always managed to return victorious and had to be paid. Antigonos, apprehensive of such a powerful group of heroes, eventually broke up the corps, finding it too turbulent to manage. He also executed their commander Antigenes by burning him alive.

He sent the decapitated unit to Sibyrtius, the Macedonian satrap of Arachosia, who was instructed to dispatch them in small groups to dangerous missions, to finally dispose of the troublesome immortals. Far away in the far east of the empire, they finally vanished from the historical records. The betrayal and death of Eumenes sealed the fate of the Silver Shields and ended the Second War of the Diadochi.