Peithon (son of Krateas)

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Peithon (* around 355 BC ; † 316 BC ), the son of Krateas, came from the Macedonian province of Eordaia and was one of the generals and successors of Alexander the great .

Little is known of Peithon's time as Alexander's officer. He is mentioned for the first time during the Indian campaign, but it is often not entirely clear whether we are talking about him or his namesake Peithon , the son of Agenor. Only after the death of Alexander did he take on an important role.

After Curtius Rufus , it was he who was the first to propose Perdiccas and Leonnatus as regents and guardians of the still unborn son Alexander. He also excelled in the conflict between cavalry and infantry, so that he received the important satrapy media from Perdiccas . A short time later he was tasked with suppressing the revolt of the Greek mercenaries. Peithon defeated them on the battlefield and gave the survivors free retreat. But Perdiccas gave the order to put down all rebels.

Peithon accompanied Perdiccas in 320 BC. On his campaign against Ptolemy . After he suffered a heavy defeat and was about to launch another futile attack, Peithon was one of the leaders of the uprising that ended in the assassination of Perdiccas. Thereupon Peithon and Arrhidaios were proclaimed as regents by Ptolemy. But a short time later, at the Triparadeisus conference, at the instigation of Eurydice Antipater was appointed regent. With the distribution of the provinces Peithon received media again.

318 BC He ousted Philip , the satrap of Parthia , and gave the province to his brother Eudamos . But all the neighboring satrapies moved against Peithon and expelled him from Parthia. He fled to Seleucus in Babylon . This promised him his support. In the meantime Eumenes had advanced with his army. All measures to prevent him from crossing the Tigris failed. Therefore they asked Antigonus , who had also arrived with his army, to support them. So it happened in the autumn of 316 BC. At the Battle of Paraitakene , in which Peithon commanded the left wing. Also at the Battle of Gabiene in the winter of 316 BC. He took part, in which Eumenes was finally defeated.

Antigonus had now expanded his empire to include media, the satrapy of Peithon. Peithon feared being robbed of his power and forged intrigues against Antigonus. This was not hidden from Antigonus and he invited Peithon to his winter quarters in Ekbatana on the pretext of a further briefing . When Peithon arrived, however, he was tried, sentenced to death, and immediately executed.

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predecessor Office successor
Perdiccas Regent of the Alexander Empire
together with Arrhidaios
320 BC Chr. 		Antipater
personal data
SURNAME Peithon
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Son of Krateas
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Satrap of media
DATE OF BIRTH around 355 BC Chr.
DATE OF DEATH 316 BC Chr.
Place of death Ekbatana