Craterus Craterus

Craterus - Definition and Overview

Craterus (c. 370 BC - 321 BC), a Macedonian general under Alexander the Great and one of the Diadochi.

Alexander and Craterus in a lion hunt, mosaic in Pella

He was the son of a Macedonian nobleman named Alexander. Craterus commanded with the complete phalanx and all infantry on the left wing in battle of Issus (333 BC). In Hyrcania Craterus was sent on a mission against the Tapurians and this was his first independent command with the Macedonian army. In Battle of the Hydaspes River (326 BC (modern Jhelum), Craterus commanded the rearguard, which stayed on the western bank; Craterus' men crossed the battle only during the final stages of the battle.

At large festivites in Susa Craterus married princess Amestris, the daughter of Oxyathres, the brother of Darius III, from the Achaemenid dynasty. Craterus and Polyperchon were appointet by Alexander to lead 11,500 veteran soldiers back to Macedonia. Craterus was in Cilicia and was building the fleet when Alexander had unexpectedly died in Babylon.

In 322 BC Craterus helped Antipater in Lamian War against Athens. He sailed with his Cilician navy to Greece and helped suppressing the revolt in battle of Crannon in 322 BC. When Antigonus rose in rebellion against Perdiccas and Eumenes, he was joined by Craterus, Antipater, and Ptolemy. Craterus married Phila, a daughter of Antipater. Craterus was killed in battle against the Eumenes in Asia Minor, somewhere near the Hellespont, in 321 BC.

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