Agema

The Agema are the elite guards of the Macedonian king. One of the three regiments of the Hypaspistoi were designated to be the Agema, which means they numbered 1,000 men. These were the most elite soldiers in the Macedonian army with years of battle experience and training. Apart from fighting in battles, their duties also included protecting the king often serving as his royal guard.

The word Agema was also used for other military units among other greek kingdoms and states. The Macedonians also had a hetairoi regiment of Agema, which was the regiment that the king would lead into battle. Similar regiments existed in the other successor states.