The "Fred thread": the Argead Macedonian Army

[Paralus]

I have edited a post twice that adresses the many points raised by Paul Mac but, unfortunately, it still resembles a 2,000 word paper! A final series of ruthless cuts may yet reduce it to a decent fit if not incomprehensibility! Meantime we can sort the below...

Also, as Paralus relates, Antigenes demands that the right to appoint a commander should be that of the ‘Silvershields’ alone. That would hardly be necessary if they comprised the bulk of the Macedonians present, since they would have a majority of votes (3,000+)at a ‘Macedonian Assembly’ – but would be necessary if they could be outvoted by Eumenes' Macedonian cavalry and infantry together.

This is to misread the text. Rezpka (along with Hammond) too asserts this is an "assembly of the Makedones" and whilst it would likely be churlish to suggest such, they do so as it suits their view of Argead Macedonia as a federal constitutional monarchy of some nature. The text of Diodorus clearly indicates that this is a meeting of the hegemones, strategoi and satraps. They debate not only the command but also a procedure for so deciding it: there is nothing to put to an "assembly of the Makedones". Peukestas asserts that he should command "because of the number of soldiers who followed him on the campaign and because of his high rank under Alexander". His soldiers are not in the meeting; he claims his right on the basis of the fact that he commands the satrapal coalition. Antigenes points out that he commands the Macedonians who actually matter and so are a better basis for the decision: he speaks for them for they have already backed Eumenes' royal appointment of strategos autokrator. In the end they resolve that the "satraps and generals who had been selected by the mass of the army" should meet in the Alexander tent. These are the notables already in these positions for it is hardly likely that the army is about to review the satrapal appointments of Triparadeisos.

As an aside, it is most likely that this is the first appearance of the "Alexander tent" device. Although Diodorus places it originally in Cilicia, this is likely an anticipatory doublet as there was no contested command in Cilicia as Diodorus' narrative makes plain. The first instance of serious agitation and contest for his command is here in Susiane.