Spithridates
Spithridates | |
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![]() Coin of Spithridates, Achaemenid Satrap of Sparda (Lydia and Ionia), circa 334 BC | |
Satrap of Lydia | |
In office 365 – 334 BC | |
Preceded by | Autophradates |
Succeeded by | position abolished |
Personal details | |
Died | 334 BC At the Granicus in the Troad region (modern-day Biga River, Turkey) |
Military service | |
Allegiance | ![]() |
Battles/wars | |
Spithridates (Old Persian: *Spiθradātaʰ; Ancient Greek: Σπιθριδάτης Spithridátēs; fl. 365–334 BC) was a Persian satrap of Lydia and Ionia under the high king Darius III Codomannus. He was one of the Persian commanders at the Battle of the Granicus, in 334 BC. In this engagement, while he was aiming a blow from behind at Alexander the Great, his arm was cut off by Cleitus the Black and he subsequently died.[1]
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e5/Spithridates_attacking_Alexander_from_behind_at_the_Battle_of_Granicus.jpg/220px-Spithridates_attacking_Alexander_from_behind_at_the_Battle_of_Granicus.jpg)
Diodorus calls him Spithrobates (Σπιθροβάτης Spithrobátēs), and appears to confound him with Mithridates, the son-in-law of Darius, whom Alexander slew in the battle with his own hand; while what Arrian records of Spithridates, Diodorus accounts it for his brother Rhosaces.[2][3]
Spithridates was replaced by the Hellenistic satrap Asander in his territories.
- ^ Arrian, Anabasis Alexandri, 1.12.8, 15.8, 16.3
- ^ Diodorus, Bibliotheca historica, XVII. 19, 20
- ^ Plutarch, Parallel Lives, "Alexander", 16 ; Moralia, "On the Fortune or the Virtue of Alexander", I. 2
Sources
[edit]- Smith, William (editor); Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology, "Spithridates (2)", Boston, (1867)
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Smith, William, ed. (1870). "Spithridates". Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology.
Rulers in the Achaemenid Empire | ||
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Family tree - Achaemenid Kingdom | ||
Kings of Kings of the Achaemenid Empire | ||
Satraps of Lydia | ||
Satraps of Hellespontine Phrygia | ||
Satraps of Cappadocia | ||
Greek Governors of Asia Minor cities | ||
Dynasts of Lycia | ||
Dynasts of Caria | ||
Kings of Macedonia | ||
Kings of Tyre | ||
Kings of Sidon |
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Satraps of Armenia | ||
Satraps of Egypt | ||
Satraps of Bactria | ||
Satraps of Media | ||
Satraps of Cilicia | ||
Other known satraps | ||
In most territories, Achaemenid rulers were succeeded by Hellenistic satraps and Hellenistic rulers from around 330 BC |
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