Antigen (Diadoche)

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Antigenes (Greek: Ἀντιγένης ; * around 380 BC ; † 316 BC ) was a general of Alexander the Great and one of his diadochi . He was best known as the leader of the Argyraspiden , the "silver shields".

Life

Antigen was already a general of King Philip II of Macedonia . During the siege of Perinthos in 340 BC BC he lost an eye.

Asian campaign

As Hypaspist he took part in Alexander's campaign through Asia and was first seen in the Battle of the Hydaspes in 326 BC Mentioned by name. In retreat from India, he joined the Department of Krateros on, with which he Arachosia marched and only Carmania rejoined Alexander. It is said that during this march the “Silver Shields” section was formed, which was composed of the oldest and most experienced Hypaspists of the Alexander army. Antigenes became their commander from the start.

After her return to Persia, Antigenes probably also took part in the revolt of the army in 324 BC. In Opis , which Alexander could bring under control. Alexander then ordered the home march of 10,000 veterans to Macedonia under the command of Krateros, which also included Antigen, Polyperchon and Kleitos the white . They were also entrusted with the transport of the imperial treasure.

Diadoche

The veterans reached 323 BC. BC the province of Cilicia , where they spent the winter and supported the satrap Philotas in fighting the rebellious Pisidians , against whom the satrap Balakros had recently fallen. During this time she received the news of Alexander's death. In the summer of 322 BC BC Krateros, Polyperchon and Kleitos hurried with most of the veterans to Macedonia to help Antipater in the fight against the revolting Greeks. Antigenes stayed behind with the treasure and 3,000 veterans in Cilicia, which probably also marked the more likely date of foundation of the "silver shields".

321 BC The imperial regent Perdiccas came to Cilicia, with whose help the Pisidic cities Isauria and Laranda were destroyed. Then accompanied Antigenic with his "silver shields" the kingdom regent of Egypt to where Ptolemy fight. But after the crossing of the Nile failed, Antigenes, Peithon and Seleukos penetrated Perdiccas' tent and killed him.

At the subsequent conference of Triparadeisos , Antigenes was rewarded for his betrayal by the new regent of the empire, Antipater, with the satrapy Susia. He only stayed until 320 BC. Chr. In Susa , instead moved back to Cilicia with the "silver shields" in order to keep the treasure that was still with him in the fortress of Kyinda . The government in Susa presumably took over the fortress commander Xenophilos in his absence. As early as 319 BC BC Antipater died, his successor as regent was Polyperchon, which, however, triggered the second Diadoch war. In the same year Eumenes of Kardia, allied with Polyperchon, appeared in Cilicia, who had previously been a follower of Perdiccas. Eumenes was appointed strategist (commander-in-chief) of Asia by Polyperchon, who now called on Antigenes, on behalf of the regent and the kings, to join him in the fight against Antigonus Monophthalmos . A king's letter from the regent also empowered Eumenes to use the treasure to recruit new troops. Antigenes and the “silver shields” only obeyed this order, however, after Eumenes had assured them that Alexander had appeared to him in a dream and had given him control over them. Because Eumenes was a born Greek to whom the Macedonian warriors were reserved. In addition, he introduced an Alexander cult, in which a sacrifice was to be made every morning in front of a red tent in which Alexander's armor and diadem were kept. With this religious exaggeration of their idol, Eumenes was able to persuade the “silver shields” to join him.

With Eumenes came Antigenes in 317 BC. BC once again to Susa and then fought against Antigonus in the battle of Paraitakene . Above all, the “silver shields” saved the undecided outcome of this battle by succeeding in routing the opposing phalanx. Eumenes then turned further east to alliance with the local satraps. Antigen left Susa again, who was shortly afterwards besieged by his former murder accomplices Peithon and Seleukos.

In the winter of 316 BC Eumenes and Antigonus met again in the battle of Gabiene . Antigenes and his “silver shields” formed the center of the army of Eumenes. Before the start of the battle, he is said to have walked along the phalanx of Antigonus and exhorted his warriors to reconsider that they were about to fight their fathers. Once again, the “Silver Shields” proved their reputation as the elite of the Macedonian warriors. While Eumenes' left wing was wiped out and the right wing under Peukestas had withdrawn from the field without a fight, their ranks remained closed. As with Paraitakene, they succeeded in breaking through the phalanx of Antigonus and then withdrawing in an orderly formation. The battle ended again with a stalemate, which nonetheless turned into a defeat, as Antigonus had succeeded in seizing the field camp of the "silver shields", including their wives and children. Teutamos, Antigenes' subordinate of the "Silver Shields", persuaded the warriors to hand Eumenes over to Antigonus to save their families. Antigenes' role in this betrayal is unclear, but he was burned alive by Antigonus.

The “silver shields” then followed Antigonus, but after their betrayal of Eumenes he no longer trusted them. Therefore he handed them over in 315 BC. In Persepolis under the command of the satrap Sibyrtios , with the order to lead them deep into the east, where they should gradually wear themselves out in hopeless struggles. After Gabiene, the defenders of Susa had also surrendered. This satrapy was given by Antigonus to the Persian Aspisas, but this led to a break with Seleucus, who had conquered the city.

literature

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Arrian , Anabasis 5,16,3
  2. ↑ Arrian, Anabasis 6, 17, 3
  3. ↑ Justinus , 12:12, 8
  4. ↑ Diodorus , 18,39,6
  5. ↑ Diodorus, 18.59.3 and Plutarch , Eumenes 13
  6. ↑ Plutarch, Eumenes 16. Most of the "silver shields" were already fighting for King Philip II and were old enough for Gabiene to be the fathers of their opponents.
  7. ↑ Diodorus, 19,44,1
  8. ↑ Plutarch, Eumenes 19
personal data
SURNAME Antigen
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Satrap of Susiana, Commander of the Silver Shields
DATE OF BIRTH around 380 BC Chr.
DATE OF DEATH 316 BC Chr.
Place of death Gabiene