The Affective Nature of Command

Several episodes from the reigns of Philip and Alexander and of their successors stress the impact of personal ties in and on the army. It was due to affective resentment that a member of the royal bodyguard, Pausanias, perhaps a jealous lover, murdered Philip II. Similarly, personal bitterness was behind at least two conspiracies perpetrated against Alexander by soldiers and officials of his army. As a matter of fact, the long-lasting military campaigns engendered affective ties between the commanders and their subordinates who spent most of their time side by side, sharing experiences, goals, aspirations, visions. Although the debate on the affective nature of war command takes place off the official record, when describing the character of the rulers, the ancient literary sources indulge on some military incidents, which unveil the personal and affective nature of the relations tying the soldiers and their leader. The affective ties of Philip II and Alexander III nurture the interest of the ancient authors, as well as the audience, in the personal life of the most famous men and women of the time. Based on these accounts, it is possible to single out a number of paradigmatic case-studies that exemplify the functioning of the personal relations among the highest ranks of the army. By analysing the behaviour of the commander and his soldiers during the campaigns the chapter eventually sheds a light on the roots and impact of the affective component of the military life and war politics.