Harpalos (Macedonian)

Harpalos (Greek: Ἅρπαλος; † 323 BC ) was treasurer of Alexander the Great during his campaign against the Achaemenid Empire .

The Macedonian Harpalus, son of Machatas and brother of Philip , was already in good contact with Alexander's father, Philip II . He was also a childhood friend of Alexander, 336 BC. He went into exile with him in the course of the “ Pixodaros Affair ” and accompanied him on the Alexanderzug . For an unknown reason, however, he sat down in 333 BC. From Asia Minor to Megara with a sum of money stolen from the royal treasure , but was pardoned by Alexander and after the battle of Gaugamela even appointed administrator of the royal treasure in Ekbatana , while Alexander the Persian great king Dareios III. pursued. Harpalus was also responsible for the continued supply of the troops.

During Alexander's Indian campaign, however, Harpalus had allowed himself too much freedom. He had wasted huge amounts of money, had led a dissolute life in Babylon and had taken the Athenian hetaera Pythionike as his lover. After her death, Harpalus had her elevated to the status of a goddess and worshiped as a ritual. On Alexander's return (324 BC), Harpalus, who this time feared punishment, fled with 5000 talents of silver and 6000 Greek mercenaries to Athens , where he acquired honorary citizenship through bribery and great generosity against the people.

Despite Harpalus' infidelity, Alexander is said to have regretted the loss of his friend. The extradition of the fugitive was demanded from Athens. Harpalus was finally arrested but managed to escape. He now went to Crete , where he was slain by the Spartan Thibron, probably a mercenary leader. In Athens, several of the most respected men, including Demosthenes , were accused of bribing Harpalus. Three speeches written by Deinarchus for this Harpalos trial have survived. Demosthenes and a few others were also actually sentenced.

literature

• Ernst Badian : Harpalus . In: Journal of Hellenic Studies 81, 1961, pp. 16–43.
• Christopher W. Blackwell: In the Absence of Alexander: Harpalus and the Failure of Macedonian Authority . New York 1999, ISBN 0-8204-3987-8 .