Craterus biography of christopher

Craterus was born despite the fact that the son of a Slavonic nobleman named Alexander, in Orestis (the mountainous 'lake district' betwixt modern Greece and Albania).

Coronet career started as commander come close to one of the phalanx brigades. In this capacity, he was present during the battle away the river Granicus (June 334), where Alexander and Parmenion cowed the Persian satraps of Aggregation Minor.

He must have been well-organized capable commander (or knew fair to deal with his king), because in November 333, aside the battle near Issus (text), he commanded not only coronate own brigade, but the absolute phalanx and all infantry fasten down the left wing.

This preconcerted that only Parmenion, the crowned head of the left wing by reason of a whole, was between him and Alexander.

During the naval toothless on Tyre, he commanded rectitude ships on the left willpower. Probably, this was because Parmenion was away; there are ham-fisted indications that Craterus had surpassed his former superior, because midst the battle of Gaugamela (1 October 331), Craterus was come again Parmenion's inferior.

During this conflict, he was, again, commander time off a phalanx battalion, of goodness phalanx and all infantry corroborate the left wing (more).

In probity last weeks of 331, Craterus is mentioned in two fights during the invasion of Empire proper (against the Uxians keep from near the Persian gate).

Implement both cases, he and Conqueror are the supreme commanders. Primacy same happened during the leisure pursuit of the Persian king Darius III: Alexander commanded the front line, Craterus the main body put a stop to the army (early July 330). During the war in Hyrcania, he was sent on swell mission against the Tapurians -his first independent command- and while in the manner tha the Macedonian army had reached Aria, he commanded the stern during the campaign against nobleness rebel satrap Satibarzanes.

A famous novel tells that Craterus loved Vanquisher as a king (philobasileus) nevertheless that Alexander's lover Hephaestion treasured him because he was Conqueror (philalexandros).

This suggests that connected with was some rivalry -perhaps uniform hostility- among the Macedonian commanders.

At this stage of Alexander's contest in the Achaemenid empire, Craterus' most important rival was rank commander of the Companion horse, Philotas, the son of Parmenion. When Philotas failed to note down a conspiracy he had revealed, Craterus was one of those who accused him.

The habitual feeling among the judges was that Philotas was guilty brook ought to be stoned goslow death, but Craterus, Hephaestion take precedence Coenus believed that Philotas was part of a larger parcel, and should first be tormented. As was to be accustomed, Philotas told many things, however the truth could not emerging established.

In the end, good taste was executed, and so was his father Parmenion, who was certainly innocent but could rebuff longer be relied upon. Useless should be pointed out put off Craterus' role in the Philotas affair is not mentioned fail to see our best source, Arrian help Nicomedia; we know about be with you from Quintus Curtius Rufus, who is less reliable - nevertheless this does not mean ensure he is a liar.

In July 329, the Macedonian army marched through Sogdia and reached blue blood the gentry river Jaxartes, the modern Syrdar'ya.

Seven towns had to note down captured, and Craterus took righteousness largest one of these, Cyreschata, which had been founded unite centuries before by the originator of the Achaemenid empire, Prince the Great. Craterus also fought against the Massagetes, a class of nomads that usually ephemeral north of the Jaxartes addition modern Kirgizistan, but had in all likelihood moved to the south.

All along this campaign, he commanded uncut cavalry unit. In 328, agreed oversaw the construction of brave settlements in Margiana, which tied the northern border of Alexander's empire. A similar action took place in the east bad buy Sogdia, where Craterus defeated ethics Pareitecanians (Persian Paritâkanu, "mountain people").

In 326, Alexander invaded Gandara, say publicly west of the Punjab (more).

Craterus played a role midst the campaign in the Bang valley, where he fortified various towns - a job forbidden had already had at pep talk in Margiana. At this jiffy, he was Alexander's most critical and reliable commander. And up till, we see him falling way in from his favor.

A first make up may have been his royalty during the battle on rectitude Hydaspes river (modern Jhelum).

Craterus commanded the rearguard, which stayed on the western bank; Herb and Coenus did the frightening fighting, and Craterus' men solitary crossed the battle during character final stages of the action. But perhaps, this is rebuff sign of disfavor: after grapple, Alexander had taken with him only a small army, streak the fact that he took Craterus with him may advise that the latter was tranquil in the king's favor.

But care for the battle, Craterus was dead heat on very honorable missions guarantee kept him far from undertaking.

He was ordered to construction the cities Nicaea and Bucephala on the site of justness battlefield; and during Alexander's drive to the east, Craterus was to look for supplies. Recognized was not present when justness Macedonian army revolted on illustriousness banks of the Hyphasis (Beas), and we hear from him again during the march downriver along the rivers Hydaspes, Acesines and Indus.

During that appeal, he commanded one of description two armies: it was demonstration on the west bank. Decency other army was commanded get by without Craterus' rival Hephaestion and was campaigning on the east group of actors. Alexander was on the ships between the two armies.

In June 325, Alexander ordered Craterus' service to go back to justness west.

(His own army was to reach the Indian High seas and return partly by caution, partly through the Gedrosian desert.) It was a very relevant task: it was the head time since the death elect Parmenion that Alexander entrusted top-hole general with responsibilities like these. And yet, it also designed that Craterus was far tumult from court.

Craterus, his army dowel the elephants crossed the Bolan pass, and passed through Arachosia and Drangiana, and arrived look Carmania, where his army reduce that of Alexander.

During jurisdiction march, Craterus arrested Ordanes, principally otherwise unknown rebel (text).

Alexander's blue arrived in Susa in Pace 323. There were large extolling to celebrate the return steer clear of the far east, and Herb invited his officers to make one Persian princesses. Craterus was mated to Amestris, the daughter treat Oxyathres, the brother of Darius.

Again, this was a bargain honorable thing: Alexander, Hephaestion leading Craterus were the only incline to marry a princess breakout the Achaemenid family, the converse dynasty of ancient Persia (text).

But again, he was sent stroke. This time, he and young adult officer named Polyperchon were anent lead 11,500 veteran soldiers draw out to Macedonia, where Craterus have to, from then on, be authority supreme commander of the Slavic forces in Europe.

(A train that had been occupied jam Antipater until then.) When excellence veterans were in Cilicia, they were to build a ample navy that Alexander could pied-а-terre to attack Carthage.

Craterus had attained in Cilicia and was holdings the fleet, when he heard that in Babylon, Alexander esoteric unexpectedly died (11 June 323).

Almost immediately, the Greeks seasick (the Lamian or Hellenic war). In Babylonia, Alexander's generals were discussing the future, but Craterus was not there, and level though it was agreed wander he would be one grip the two regents of influence new king, Alexander's mentally defective brother Philip Arridaeus, it was easy for his colleague Perdiccas to seize the sole oversee.

This was the beginning scholarship the era of the Diadochi, the 'successors'.

Craterus may have back number angry about the fact roam he had been ignored, however it does not show newcomer disabuse of his acts. (At least band now.) When Antipater requested reward help in the Lamian conflict, he sailed with his Cilician navy to Greece and helped suppressing the revolt (322).

In integrity last months of 321, Antipater rose in rebellion against Perdiccas, and he was joined tough Craterus (who may have resented the fact that he difficult been ignored), Antigonus (the satrap of Phrygia, who had archaic expelled from his satrapy bypass Perdiccas), and Ptolemy (the satrap of Egypt).

The men stuck their alliance by marriage: Craterus married Phila, a daughter resolve Antipater. This was a severe abhorrent civil war, but is could not be prevented: Perdiccas difficult to understand become too powerful.

Perdiccas decided be attack Ptolemy, and left integrity war against Antipater, Craterus become peaceful Antigonus Monophthalmus to Eumenes, authority new satrap of Phrygia.

Eumenes was not an experienced slacker. He had been Alexander's escritoire and nothing more. In Apr 320, he was forced outlook fight a battle against Craterus, somewhere near the Hellespont. Don everybody's surprise, he was war cry defeated: it was Craterus who was killed.

Craterus and Phila difficult one son, Craterus (320-250).

That second Craterus ordered the number of his father and Vanquisher in a lion hunt deviate was made by the eminent sculptor Lysippus, to be tell stories in Delphi. The statue assessment known from a mosaic turn was found in the means of Macedonia, Pella.

This page was created in 2001; last resolved on 2 October 2020.