Hector, oldest child of Priam and Hecuba, presumed heir to the throne of Troy, and devoted husband of Andromache and father of Astyanax, was the greatest Trojan hero of the Trojan War, the main defender of Troy, and a favorite of Apollo. With Apollo's help Hector killed Patroclus, the best friend of Achilles, who had been standing out of the fray. When Hector killed his friend, Achilles became enraged and so agreed to join the other Greeks in fighting against the Trojans.

Achilles avenged the death of his friend by fighting and then killing Hector, after which, to disgrace the Trojan prince and to let off some of his steaming madness, he dragged Hector's corpse around the grave of Patroclus three times.