Hetaire riding
The Companion cavalry was one of the Hetairen supported riders department in the army of Alexander the Great and the Diadochi . They were first dug by Alexander's father, Philip II , and later mainly by Alexander, who used them to turn the battle in Issus and Gaugamela, as well as in many other battles. The original equipment consisted of a bronze breastplate, a helmet, greaves and bracers, a Kopis sword and a xyston lance up to three meters long .
After the fall of the Alexander Empire , the Hetairenreiterei was incorporated into the armies of the Diadoch Empire and further specialized. Their horses were given armor made of lamellas and larger bronze plates, and their own armor was replaced by iron specimens, which were supplemented with chain mail.
The name of these riders is derived from the Greek hetairoi (= companion), as this division of the army contained nobles and farmers. It was not formed by parentage, but by skill.