Rhoesaces
Encyclopedia
Rhoesaces was the brother of Spithridates
, a satrap
of Ionia
, both who fought and died against Alexander the Great at the Battle of Granicus in 334. Alexander had claimed the life of his brother Spithrobates in the battle just moments before Rhoesaces could get there to help his brother. According to Diodorus of Sicily the fight between Alexander and Spithridates happened like this:
Diodorus of Sicily goes on to describe Rhoesaces behavior:
Thus ending Rhoesaces attempted revenge for his brother's death. This act from Cleitus (Clitus
), would lead to his demise later on in life. It is said that Clitus openly mocked Alexander of how he saved his life at Granicus, and that it was a reason he could not be a god. Alexander, in a drunken rage, stabbed his friend Clitus and ended up going into a crazed frenzy, even going as far as trying to impale himself on the spear he stabbed Clitus with.
Spithridates
Spithridates was a satrap of Lydia and Ionia under the high king Darius III Codomannus and was one of the Persian commanders at the Battle of the Granicus, in 334 BC, in which engagement, while he was aiming a blow from behind at Alexander the Great, his arm was cut off by Cleitus, son of Dropides...
, a satrap
Satrap
Satrap was the name given to the governors of the provinces of the ancient Median and Achaemenid Empires and in several of their successors, such as the Sassanid Empire and the Hellenistic empires....
of Ionia
Ionia
Ionia is an ancient region of central coastal Anatolia in present-day Turkey, the region nearest İzmir, which was historically Smyrna. It consisted of the northernmost territories of the Ionian League of Greek settlements...
, both who fought and died against Alexander the Great at the Battle of Granicus in 334. Alexander had claimed the life of his brother Spithrobates in the battle just moments before Rhoesaces could get there to help his brother. According to Diodorus of Sicily the fight between Alexander and Spithridates happened like this:
- "He threw his javelin first at Alexander with so might an impulse and so powerful a cast that he pierced Alexander's shield and drove through the breastplate. Alexander shook the weapon off as it dangled by his arm, then applying his spurs to his horse and using the momentum of his charge, he drove his lance squarely into the satrap's chest. At this the adjacent ranks in both armies cried out at the amazing display of manhood. The point, however, snapped off against the breastplate and the broken shaft recoiled. The Persian drew his sword and drove at Alexander; but he king recovered his grip on his lance just in time to stab at the man's face and drive the blow home."
Diodorus of Sicily goes on to describe Rhoesaces behavior:
- "The Persian fell, but just at this moment his brother Rhosaces galloped up and brought his sword down on Alexander's head so hard that he split his helmet and wounded his scalp. As Rhoesaces aimed another blow at the same break in the helmet, Cleitus (Clitus), known as "the Black," dashed up and cut off the Persian's arm."
Thus ending Rhoesaces attempted revenge for his brother's death. This act from Cleitus (Clitus
Clitus
Cleitus, is the English form of the personal name Kleitos . It has been adopted as an English personal name in modern times mainly in the U.S., and usually with a modern spelling Claitus. Classical scholarship uses the traditional spelling.It may refer to:* In ancient history:**Cleitus the Black...
), would lead to his demise later on in life. It is said that Clitus openly mocked Alexander of how he saved his life at Granicus, and that it was a reason he could not be a god. Alexander, in a drunken rage, stabbed his friend Clitus and ended up going into a crazed frenzy, even going as far as trying to impale himself on the spear he stabbed Clitus with.