Nicanor (Antipatrid general)
Nicanor (
Career
According to A.B. Bosworth (Professor of Classics and Ancient History,
During the
When the
Nicanor deluded the Athenians with false hopes. Instead of surrendering Munychia, he took the opportunity to surprise the inhabitants of Piraeus, occupying it with a strong garrison. Nicanor declared his intention to hold both fortresses for Cassander.[2] Alexander the Great's mother, Olympias, at this time on friendly terms with the regent, commanding Nicanor to withdraw his troops, but with no success. Similarly, Alexander, the son of Polyperchon, who arrived in Attica the following spring (318 BC), at the head of a considerable army, was ineffective in persuading Nicanor to withdraw from the fortresses. Polyperchon accused Phocion of being a traitor and he was sentenced to death along with his supporters in May 318 BC. An assault on Pireaus by Polyperchon was repelled.[3]
Shortly afterwards, Cassander arrived with a fleet of ships given to him by his ally
Death
After these events, Nicanor's influence grew to the extent that he incurred Cassander's suspicion that he was aiming to take power for himself. As a result, Cassander decided to rid himself of Nicanor. Cassander succeeded by treachery in capturing Nicanor. Cassander then arranged to have Nicanor put to death, after undergoing a form of trial before the Macedonian Army.[5]
Notes
- ^ Habicht 1998, pp. 73–74, 54.
- ^ Diodorus Siculus, Bibliotheca, xviii. 64; Plutarch, Parallel Lives, "Phocion", 31, 32; Cornelius Nepos, Lives of Eminent Commanders, "Phocion", 2
- ^ Habicht 1998, pp. 75–77.
- ^ Habicht 1998, pp. 78–80.
- ^ Plutarch, 33; Diodorus, xviii. 65, 68, 72, 75; Polyaenus, Stratagemata, iv. 6, 11; Pompeius Trogus, Prologi, 14
References
- Habicht, Christian (1998). Ελληνιστική Αθήνα [Hellenistic Athens] (in Greek). Athens: Odysseas. ISBN 960-210-310-8.