Chiliarque

The chiliarque term (in Greek old χιλιάρχης / khiliarkhês , of χίλιοι / khilioi , “thousand” and of ἀρχή / arkhê , “the command”, in the beginning a command of thousand men) indicates a military and/or administrative function, initially in the Persian Empire, then in the Royaume of Macedonia and hellenistic monarchies .

In the Persian Empire

About the Persia of the Achéménides, the term is used by Greek writers to indicate several elements. Initially, the chiliarchie is a military district like tributary. The term is also used to translate the Iranian hazarapatiš , “commander of thousand”, is known Greeks in the exact form (Hésychios of Alexandria) or under that of azabaritēs (Ctésias, §46). As its name indicates it, it is about an officer ordering 1000 men, located in the hierarchy above the lochages (ordering a loach ), and below the myriarque one, person in charge of a Myriade men (10 000).

At the Persian court, the chiliarque one is the chief of the thousand man of the personal guard of the Large King, the Immortal ones or Mélophores (literally “carrying apples”). It is with him that it is necessary to ask audience near the king. He is also used of introducer of the ambassadors or messenger of the latter near the king, this is why he often appears in the Greek accounts. During its discussion with the foreign envoys, it must ask them to achieve the proskynèse , i.e. a prostration, in front of the Large King. Thus, at the fourth century BC, chiliarque Tithraustès declares with Isménias, ambassador of Thèbes:

“Host thébain (…), the indigenous habit of Persians wants that arrived at the sight of the king, it is not possible to obtain the word before being prostrate. If you want to meet it in person, day before to respect this habit”.

These prerogatives give to chiliarque big role. Cornélius Népos does not hesitate to indicate, while speaking about Tithraustès, which it “held the second rank in the State” ( Conon , III, 2). From there, historiography often believed to see in chiliarque kind of Vizier. In fact, the functions at the Persian court always depend on goodwill Large King. The dignitaries are not charged with such or such prerogative that according to the circumstances. Under these conditions, it appears not very probable that the Large King delegates part of his capacities to only one “Prime Minister”.

Moreover, several people can carry the title of chiliarque at the same time, that Hésychius defines more simply as “the introducers ( eisaggeleis ) at Persians”. It is supposed that the dignitary represented on the low-reliefs of Persépolis, inclined towards the throne, is chiliarque. Moreover, one knows that other dignitaries could, on the occasion, to fulfill a similar role near the ambassadors. In comparison, Xénophon indicates that at the court Astyage, last king of the Mèdes, it is a wine waiter, Sakas, which manages the audiences.

Under the reign of Alexandre

Aulic and chiliarque Chiliarque equestrian

This revêt term of the time of Alexandre Large the and of the Diadoque S of the different significances and sometimes complexes. One can from the start distinguish the equestrian chiliarchie (command of the cavalry of the Compagnons) and the aulic chiliarchie (from aulos : “throne”), equivalent according to the wish of Alexandre of the Vizier achéménide, that only Héphaistion and Perdiccas (after the death of the conqueror) exerted. It is not rare that the sources confuse the terms “chiliarque of the Companions” and “hipparque of the Companions”.

Little before forwarding in India towards 327, Alexandre offers to Héphaistion the title of chiliarque. This load gives him to the authority on the hipparchies Companions (one counts after the reform of 330 up to four hipparchies Companions). This load also corresponds, in the case of Héphaistion, with that of the vizier achéménide, which makes of it the second in the hierarchy Macedonian.

Arrien affirms that Alexandre did not indicate with not died of his favorite again chiliarque. However Plutarque affirms that Perdiccas succeeds Héphaistion in its command, without specifying which, and to add to confusion Diodore of Sicily estimates that Séleucos receives in 323 the title of hipparque of the Companions following Perdiccas. One can with final considering that with dead of Héphaistion, Perdiccas exerts in fact the equestrian chiliarchie, under hipparque of the Companions, without truly receiving the title of chiliarque because Alexandre does not rely in Perdiccas same as on his late favorite.

With died from Alexandre, Perdiccas receives, or allocates themselves, the title of chiliarque, in addition to that of épimélète (protective or governor) of the kingdom, which makes the regent of the imperial administration of it, while Séleucos becomes hipparque cavalry. At the time of the council of Triparadisos which follows the death of Perdiccas in 321, Cassandre is indicated chiliarque equestrian (and nonhipparque or chiliarque of the empire like writes sometimes) to replace Séleucos.

Other chiliarques

Apart from the aulic and equestrian chiliarchie, there exist other meanings of this term. One indeed knows eight names of chiliarques mentioned at the time of the countryside of Asia, but without precision of their attributions or their bodies of origin. It is mentioned chiliarque as of the seat of Halicarnasse in 334. But this rank does not correspond to the command created, above the pentacosiarque , towards 331 - 330 at the time of the reform of the army Macedonian and the integration of the Eastern epigones. Part of the reform precisely consists in gathering the 6 lochoi of Hypaspistes into 3 chiliarchies according to the organization in progress in the battalions of Immortels. But the rank of chiliarque would not be specific to Hypaspistes, although Arrien mentions only the chiliarques ones of Hypaspistes.

In hellenistic monarchies

August 1st

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