Automedon is Achilles’s extremely young charioteer; Peleus places Automedon at Achilles service for the Trojan War. Patroclus notes that Automedon’s skills grow during the war, and he remains extremely loyal to Achilles, serving as his second during battle and often bringing Achilles messages from the other generals, or gossip related to him. He accompanies Patroclus into battle while Patroclus pretends to be Achilles. Achilles forced Patroclus to swear that he wouldn’t really fight, but Patroclus disobeys him—this which makes Automedon nervous, but he reluctantly helps. He eventually witnesses Patroclus’s death from afar.