CHAPTER VI.

AN ARMY OF ASIATICS TRAINED UNDER THE MACEDONIAN DISCIPLINE.

The viceroys from the newly-built cities and the rest of the territory

subdued in war came to him, bringing with them youths just growing into

manhood to the number of 30,000, all of the same age, whom Alexander

called Epigoni (successors).[852] They were accoutred with Macedonian

arms, and exercised in military discipline after the Macedonian system.

The arrival of these is said to have vexed the Macedonians, who thought

that Alexander was contriving every means in his power to free himself

from his previous need of their services. For the same reason also

the sight of his Median dress was no small cause of dissatisfaction

to them; and the weddings celebrated in the Persian fashion were

displeasing to most of them, even including some of those who married,

although they had been greatly honoured by the king putting himself on

the same level with them in the marriage ceremony. They were offended

at Peucestas, the viceroy of Persis, on account of his Persianizing

both in dress and in speech, because the king was delighted by his

adopting the Asiatic customs. They were disgusted that the Bactrian,

Sogdianian, Arachotian, Zarangian, Arian, and Parthian horsemen, as

well as the Persian horsemen called the Evacae, were distributed

among the squadrons of the Companion cavalry; as many of them at

least as were seen to excel in reputation, fineness of stature, or

any other good quality; and that a fifth cavalry division was added

to these troops, not composed entirely of foreigners; but the whole

body of cavalry was increased in number, and men were picked from

the foreigners and put into it. Cophen, son of Artabazus, Hydarnes

and Artiboles, sons of Mazaeus, Sisines and Phradasmenes, sons of

Phrataphernes, viceroy of Parthia and Hyrcania, Histanes, son of

Oxyartes and brother of Alexander’s wife, Roxane, as well as Autobares

and his brother Mithrobaeus were picked out and enrolled among the

foot-guard in addition to the Macedonian officers. Over these Hystaspes

the Bactrian was placed as commander; and Macedonian spears were given

to them instead of the barbarian javelins which had thongs attached

to them.[853] All this offended the Macedonians, who thought that

Alexander was becoming altogether Asiatic in his ideas, and was holding

the Macedonians themselves as well as their customs in a position of

contempt.[854]