CraterusorKrateros(Greek:Κρατερός;c.370 BC – 321 BC)[citation needed]was aMacedoniangeneral underAlexander the Greatand one of theDiadochi.Throughout his life, he was a loyal royalist and supporter of Alexander the Great.[1]
Craterus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Native name | Κόνων |
| Born | c.370 BC |
| Died | c.321 BC (agedc.49) |
| Allegiance | Macedonia |
| Years of service | 334 - 321 BC |
| Battles/wars | |
| Spouse(s) | Amastris(m. 324 BC) Phila(m. 322 BC) |
Craterus was the son of a Macedonian nobleman named Alexander fromOrestisand brother of admiralAmphoterus.Craterus commanded thephalanxand all infantry on the left wing inBattle of Issusin 333 BC. InHyrcania,he was sent on a mission against theTapurians,his first independent command with the Macedonian army. At theBattle of the Hydaspesin 326 BC, near modernJhelum,he commanded the rearguard, which stayed on the western bank; his men crossed the river only during the final stages of the battle.
At thefestivities in Susa,Craterus married princessAmastris,daughter ofOxyathres,the brother ofDarius III.Craterus left Alexander's troops inOpisin 324 BC.[2]Craterus andPolyperchonwere appointed to lead 11,500 veteran soldiers back to Macedonia and replaceAntipater[3]who was ordered to lead a fresh contingent of soldiers to join Alexander's army in the east.[4]But Craterus' arrival to Macedonia was delayed by a lack of vessels for the transport over the sea.[4]Craterus stayed inCilicia,where he was building the fleet,[5][4]when Alexander unexpectedly died inBabylon.In case Craterus wouldn't be able to govern in Macedonia due to his health, his successor was to be Polyperchon.[6]At the time, he had about 10,000 veterans with him.[1]Craterus eventually crossed into Europe when Antipater requested assistance from several commanders in theLamian war,but leaving the supreme command in possession of Antipater.[7]
He sailed with his Cilician navy to Greece and led troops at theBattle of Crannonin August 322 BC. WhenAntigonusrose in rebellion againstPerdiccasandEumenes,Craterus joined him, alongside Antipater andPtolemy.He married Antipater's daughterPhila,[7]with whom he had a son, also calledCraterus.
He was killed in battle againstEumenesinAsia Minorwhen his charging horse fell over him, somewhere near theHellespont,in 321 BC.
In popular media
edit- Named with the phonetically accurate spelling ofKrateros,Craterus is one of the minor characters in the historical novelRoxana Romanceby A.J. Cave.
- Also named asKrateros,Craterus is a major character in the two Alexander novels byMary Renault,The Persian BoyandFire From Heaven.
- In the filmAlexander,he is played by British actorRory McCann.
References
edit- ^abAnson, Edward M. (2014)p.24
- ^Pitt, E. M.; Richardson, W. P. (May 2017), p.79
- ^Errington, R. Malcolm (2008).A History of the Hellenistic World.Blackwell Publishing. p. 14.ISBN978-0631233886.
- ^abcPitt, E. M.; Richardson, W. P. (May 2017)."Hostile inaction? Antipater, Craterus, and the Macedonian regency".The Classical Quarterly.67(1): 77–78.doi:10.1017/S0009838817000301.ISSN0009-8388.S2CID157417151.
- ^Anson, Edward M. (14 July 2014).Alexander's Heirs: The Age of the Successors.John Wiley & Sons. p. 23.ISBN978-1-4443-3962-8.
- ^Pitt, E. M.; Richardson, W. P. (May 2017), p.80
- ^abPitt, E. M.; Richardson, W. P. (May 2017), pp.82–83