Editing Peltast (section)

==In the Antigonid army==

In the [[Hellenistic period]], the [[Antigonid]] kings of Macedon had an [[elite corps]] of native Macedonian ''peltasts''. However, this force should not be confused with the skirmishing ''peltasts'' discussed earlier. The ''peltasts'' were probably, according to F.W. Walbank, about 3,000 in number, although by the [[Third Macedonian War]], this went up to 5,000 (most likely to accommodate the elite ''[[agema]]'', which was a sub-unit in the ''peltast'' corps). The fact that they are always mentioned as being in their thousands suggests that, in terms of organization, the ''peltasts'' were organized into ''[[chiliarchies]]''. This elite corps was most likely of the same status, of similar equipment and role as Alexander the Great's ''[[hypaspists]]''. Within this corps of ''peltasts'' was its elite formation, the [[Agema]]. These troops were used on forced marches by [[Philip V of Macedon]], which suggests that they were lightly equipped and mobile. However, at the [[battle of Pydna]] in 168 BC, [[Livy]] remarks on how the Macedonian ''peltasts'' defeated the [[Paeligni]] and of how this shows the dangers of going directly at the front of a phalanx. Though it may seem strange for a unit that would fight in phalanx formation to be called ''peltasts'', ''pelte'' would not be an inappropriate name for a Macedonian shield. They may have been similarly equipped with the Iphicratean hoplites or ''peltasts'', as described by Diodorus.<ref name="autogenerated1"/>