Nikanor (satrap)

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Nikanor († 310 BC ) was a Macedonian officer at the time of the Diadochi in the late 4th century BC.

Life

At the conference of Triparadeisos , on the 320 BC When the empire of Alexander the Great was divided up, Nikanor received the satrapy of Cappadocia . In the following years he supported the Diadoch Antigonos Monophthalmos , who controlled the neighboring satrapies. He took 318-316 BC. In Antigonus' campaign against Eumenes and probably accompanied him to Babylon . By Antigonus he was appointed his strategos of the "eastern satrapies", that is, the military commander-in-chief of all provinces east of the Euphrates. Its headquarters became the median ekbatana . Nikanor was named by Appian for the year 311 BC. Chr. Also called "Satrap of the media", but this could be a mistake of the author, since Antigonus originally appointed Orontobates, a native of Medes, as governor there.

When Seleucus , who was expelled from Babylon by Antigonus, in 311 BC Returned there, Nikanor took action against him together with Euagoras . The two armies met on the Tigris . There was a battle. When Euagoras fell, his troops took Seleucus' side. Nikanor tried to flee, which he succeeded at first. However, he was persecuted and defeated by Seleukos to the media . He probably died in combat, the areas he ruled were taken over by his opponent Seleucus.

Family origin

Waldemar Heckel identifies the strategos Nikanor with a Nikanor, son of Balakros listed in the Suda , whereby he continues to identify the father's name with the bodyguard of Alexander the Great, Balakros († 324 BC). Nikanor would have been a son of the bodyguard Balakros from a previous marriage, because his well-known wife Phila was probably too young as his mother. In addition, Nikanor would have had a brother named Philip , who was an officer of Alexander the Great.

In contrast, there is a thesis put forward by AB Bosworth that recognizes Nikanor, son of Balakros, a prominent follower of Kassander , the Admiral Nikanor . He was also a nephew of Kassander through his mother Phila. This thesis is, however, doubted by Heckel, since the Admiral Nikanor in 317 BC. Was executed by Kassander during the Second Diadoch War. Heckel considers it unlikely that Kassander would have executed his own nephew, who at that time would also have been a stepson of Demetrios Poliorketes , who in turn was Kassander's most important ally in the Second Diadoch War with his father Antigonos Monophthalmos . In addition, from the marriage of Phila with Balakros (their first of three) only the sons Antipater, Thraseas and Balakros are known.

Nikanor, son of Balakros, and his possible relatives:

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Antipater
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Nikanor
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Antigonos Monophthalmos
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
?
 
 Balacros
 
 Phila
 
 Demetrios Poliorketes
 
 Cassander
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nikanor
† 310 BC Chr.
(Heckel)
 
 Philip
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Antipater
Thraseas
Balacros
 
 Nikanor
† 317 BC BC
(Bosworth)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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personal data
SURNAME Nikanor
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Nicanor
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Macedonian officer at the time of the Diadochi
DATE OF BIRTH 4th century BC Chr.
DATE OF DEATH 310 BC Chr.