Peucestas

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Mallian Campaign. André Castaigne
(1898-1899).
Peucestas was named satrap of Persis upon Alexander's return from India in 324 BC.

Peucestas (

Hydaspes.[1] Prior to this he must have distinguished himself for his personal valour and prowess, as he was the person selected by Alexander to carry before him in battle the sacred shield, which he had taken down from the temple of Athena at Troy. In this capacity he was in close attendance upon the king's person in the assault on the capital city of the Malavas (325 BC); and all authors agreed in attributing the chief share in saving the life of Alexander upon that occasion to Peucestas, while they differed as to almost all the other circumstances and persons concerned.[2]

For his services on this occasion he was rewarded by the king with almost every distinction which it was in his power to confer. On the arrival of Alexander at

Persophile.[5]

In the spring of 323 BC, Peucestas joined the king at

Triparadisus, 321 BC.[6] All his attention seems to have been directed to strengthening himself in this position and extending his power and influence as far as possible. In this he so far succeeded, that when he was at length compelled to take an active part in the war between Antigonus and Eumenes (317 BC), he obtained by common consent the chief command of all the forces furnished by the satrapies east of the Tigris
river; and was with difficulty induced to waive his pretensions to the supreme direction of the war. Eumenes, however, by his dexterous management, soothed the irritation of Peucestas, and retained him firmly in his alliance throughout the two campaigns that followed. The satrap was contented to gratify his pride by feasting the whole of the armies assembled in Persis on a scale of royal magnificence, while Eumenes virtually directed all the operations of the war.

But the disaster in the final action at the

Argyraspids, appears to have been due to the misconduct and insubordination of Peucestas, who, according to one account, was himself one of the chief advisers of the treaty. His conduct throughout these campaigns shows that he lacked both the ability to command for himself, and the moderation to follow the superior judgment of others. His vain and ambitious character seems to have been appreciated at its just value by Antigonus, who, while he deprived him of his satrapy, and led him away a virtual prisoner, elated him with false hopes and specious promises, which were never fulfilled.[7]

See also

References

Notes

  1. ^ Arrian, Indica, 18
  2. Anabasis Alexandri, vi. 9-11; Plutarch, Parallel Lives, "Alexander", 63; Diodorus Siculus, Bibliotheca, xvii. 99 BCurtius Rufus, Historiae Alexandri Magni, ix. 5
  3. ^ Arrian, vi. 28, 30, vii. 5
  4. ^ Arrian, vi. 30, vii. 6; Diodorus, xix. 14
  5. ISBN 9781845114060
    .
  6. Justin, Epitome of Pompeius Trogus, xiii. 4
  7. ^ Diodorus, xix. 14, 15, 17, 21-24, 37, 38, 48; Polyaenus, Stratagemata, iv. 6, 8

External links

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Smith, William, ed. (1870). "Peucestas". Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology.

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