Companion cavalry

The Hetairenreiterei was supported by the Department Hetairen riders in the army of Alexander the Great and the Diadochi. They were first excavated by Alexander's father, Philip II, and later mainly from Alexander, who scored with them the battle turnaround in both Issus and Gaugamela in and in many other battles. The original equipment consisted of a bronze breastplate, a helmet, leg and arm splints, a Kopisschwert and up to 3 meters long Xystonlanze.

After the fall of Alexander's empire the Hetairenreiterei was incorporated into the armies of the successor kingdoms and further specialized. Thus, their horses had armor plates and larger bronze plates, and their own armor was replaced by iron specimens, which were supplemented by chain mail.

The name of this tab is derived from the Greek hetairoi ( = companion ) because nobles were in this department of the army alongside farmers. It was shaped not by descent but skill.