ABSTRACT
The Macedonian heavy infantry was clearly inspired by the Greek hoplites. The key of the Macedonian army would eventually be the delicate balance between the different types of soldiers and especially the fine complement of cavalry and heavy infantry. Yet though the emphasis on horsemen had been a constant of Macedonian history, the same apparently could not be said of the heavy infantry before Philip II. The army that Alexander inherited from Philip was the product of a number of traditions; the importance of each component is difficult to assess. Although all the Macedonians could probably claim a higher position than the rest of the force, there were also gradations of prestige within the ranks of the Macedonian troops. The Macedonians could claim neither the cultural achievements of their Greek cousins to the south nor the memory of their military glories against the Persians.
