Neoptolemus (general)
Encyclopedia
For other uses, see Neoptolemus (disambiguation)
Neoptolemus (in Greek
Νεoπτόλεμος; died 321 BC) was a Macedon
ian officer of Alexander the Great.
According to Arrian
he belonged to the race of the Aeacidae, so he was probably related to the family of the kings of Epirus
.
Neoptolemus is mentioned as serving in the Macedonian royal guards
(εταιρoι) and distinguished himself particularly at the siege of Gaza
, 332 BC, of which he was the first to scale the walls.
Little has been written about him during the subsequent campaigns of Alexander, however he appears to have earned a reputation as an able soldier. In the division of the provinces after Alexander the Great's death, Neoptolemus obtained the government of Armenia
, 323 BC. However, as he had a reputation of being restless and unsettled, Perdiccas
regarded him with suspicion. So in 321 BC, when the Perdiccas set out for Ptolemaic Egypt
, he placed Neoptolemus under the command of Eumenes
, who was told to exercise particular vigilance regarding Neoptolemus .
Perdiccas' suspicions turned out to be well founded: Neoptolemus immediately entered into correspondence with the hostile Macedonian leaders, Antipater
and Craterus
, and, on being ordered by Eumenes to join him with his contingent, refused to comply. In response, Eumenes immediately marched against him, defeated his army, and compelled all the Macedonian troops in his service to take the oath of fidelity to Perdiccas.
Neoptolemus managed to escape with a small body of cavalry and joined Craterus, whom he persuaded to march immediately against Eumenes, while the latter was still celebrating his victory and unprepared for a fresh attack. But their cautious adversary was not taken by surprise and met his enemies in a pitched battle. During this battle, Neoptolemus commanded the left wing, on which he was opposed to Eumenes himself; and the two leaders, who were bitter personal enemies, sought each other out during the battle and engaged in single combat, in which, after a desperate struggle, Neoptolemus was slain by Eumenes.
Neoptolemus (disambiguation)
-People:*Neoptolemus, son of Achilles and the Deidamea in Greek mythology*Neoptolemus , a general of Alexander the Great*Neoptolemus I of Epirus, king of Epeirus, son of Alcetas I, father of Alexander I of Epirus & Olympias, grandfather of Alexander the Great*Neoptolemus II of Epirus, king of...
Neoptolemus (in Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
Νεoπτόλεμος; died 321 BC) was a Macedon
Macedon
Macedonia or Macedon was an ancient kingdom, centered in the northeastern part of the Greek peninsula, bordered by Epirus to the west, Paeonia to the north, the region of Thrace to the east and Thessaly to the south....
ian officer of Alexander the Great.
According to Arrian
Arrian
Lucius Flavius Arrianus 'Xenophon , known in English as Arrian , and Arrian of Nicomedia, was a Roman historian, public servant, a military commander and a philosopher of the 2nd-century Roman period...
he belonged to the race of the Aeacidae, so he was probably related to the family of the kings of Epirus
Epirus
The name Epirus, from the Greek "Ήπειρος" meaning continent may refer to:-Geographical:* Epirus - a historical and geographical region of the southwestern Balkans, straddling modern Greece and Albania...
.
Neoptolemus is mentioned as serving in the Macedonian royal guards
Companion cavalry
The Companions were the elite cavalry of the Macedonian army from the time of king Philip II of Macedon and reached the most prestige under Alexander the Great, and have been regarded as the best cavalry in the ancient world and the first shock cavalry...
(εταιρoι) and distinguished himself particularly at the siege of Gaza
Gaza
Gaza , also referred to as Gaza City, is a Palestinian city in the Gaza Strip, with a population of about 450,000, making it the largest city in the Palestinian territories.Inhabited since at least the 15th century BC,...
, 332 BC, of which he was the first to scale the walls.
Little has been written about him during the subsequent campaigns of Alexander, however he appears to have earned a reputation as an able soldier. In the division of the provinces after Alexander the Great's death, Neoptolemus obtained the government of Armenia
History of Armenia
Armenia lies in the highlands surrounding the Biblical mountains of Ararat. The original Armenian name for the country was Hayk, later Hayastan , translated as the land of Haik, and consisting of the name Haik and the suffix '-stan' ....
, 323 BC. However, as he had a reputation of being restless and unsettled, Perdiccas
Perdiccas
Perdiccas was one of Alexander the Great's generals. After Alexander's death in 323 BC he became regent of all Alexander's empire.Arrian tells us he was son of Orontes, a descendant of the independent princes of the Macedonian province of Orestis...
regarded him with suspicion. So in 321 BC, when the Perdiccas set out for Ptolemaic Egypt
Ptolemaic Egypt
Ptolemaic Egypt began when Ptolemy I Soter invaded Egypt and declared himself Pharaoh of Egypt in 305 BC and ended with the death of queen Cleopatra VII of Egypt and the Roman conquest in 30 BC. The Ptolemaic Kingdom was a powerful Hellenistic state, extending from southern Syria in the east, to...
, he placed Neoptolemus under the command of Eumenes
Eumenes
Eumenes of Cardia was a Thracian general and scholar. He participated in the wars of the Diadochi as a supporter of the Macedonian Argead royal house.-Career:...
, who was told to exercise particular vigilance regarding Neoptolemus .
Perdiccas' suspicions turned out to be well founded: Neoptolemus immediately entered into correspondence with the hostile Macedonian leaders, Antipater
Antipater
Antipater was a Macedonian general and a supporter of kings Philip II of Macedon and Alexander the Great. In 320 BC, he became Regent of all of Alexander's Empire. Antipater was one of the sons of a Macedonian nobleman called Iollas or Iolaus and his family were distant collateral relatives to the...
and Craterus
Craterus
Craterus was a Macedonian general under Alexander the Great and one of the Diadochi.He was the son of a Macedonian nobleman named Alexander from Orestis and brother of admiral Amphoterus. Craterus commanded the phalanx and all infantry on the left wing in Battle of Issus...
, and, on being ordered by Eumenes to join him with his contingent, refused to comply. In response, Eumenes immediately marched against him, defeated his army, and compelled all the Macedonian troops in his service to take the oath of fidelity to Perdiccas.
Neoptolemus managed to escape with a small body of cavalry and joined Craterus, whom he persuaded to march immediately against Eumenes, while the latter was still celebrating his victory and unprepared for a fresh attack. But their cautious adversary was not taken by surprise and met his enemies in a pitched battle. During this battle, Neoptolemus commanded the left wing, on which he was opposed to Eumenes himself; and the two leaders, who were bitter personal enemies, sought each other out during the battle and engaged in single combat, in which, after a desperate struggle, Neoptolemus was slain by Eumenes.