Alexander : a history of the origin and growth of the art of war from ...

THE KING'S GUARDS. 139ried the one-handed pike (xyston), sword and large shield.They are sometimes called agyraspides, though this name isalso given to another body of peltasts.In the early armies what might be calledthe aristocracy had served as hetairai, companions,comrades-in-arms, already knownin the times of Homer. They were thedescendants of the few who had clusteredabout the original conqueror, and weremore properly a class bred of wealth acquiredby ancient service near the courtKausia.than one of hereditary title ; and in Philip'sarmy included probably many of those families which hadbeen reigning ones in their own uplands until subjugatedGreek Helmets.by Macedonia. The pezetaeri, or ^^Joot companions," hadoriginally been the infantry body-guard of the king, but hadgradually been expandedinto a much more extensivebody and had become, underPhilip, the ordinary heavyinfantry.In similar fashionthe word " guard " is inmany countries stillappliedto ordinary infantry regiments.The pezetaeri areCoat of Scale Armor.said by some authorities to have worn the hereditary kausia,or broad-brimmed felt hat ;but by others the kausia is statedto have been later adopted by the king as a distinguishing