Cleitus (Clitus) the White (Greek: Κλεῖτος ὁ λευκός; died c. 317 BC) was an officer of Alexander the Great surnamed "White" to distinguish him from Cleitus the Black. He is noted by Athenaeus and Aelian for his pomp and luxury, and is probably the same who is mentioned by Justin among the veterans sent home to Macedonia under Craterus in 324 BC.[1]
After Alexander's death he reappears as commander of the Macedonian fleet for Antipater in the Lamian War in 323 BC, and defeated the Athenian admiral, Euetion, in the Battle of Amorgos. He then went on to defeat the Athenian fleet a second time in the Battle of the Echinades. These defeats signalled the end of Athenian thalassocracy, and were decisive in the Macedonian victory in the war. In the distribution of provinces at Triparadisus in 321 BC, he obtained from Antipater (the new regent of the Empire) the satrapy of Lydia.
Wars of the Diadochi
In 318 BC, at the start of the Second War of the Diadochi, Antigonus advanced against him from Phrygia; Cleitus garrisoned the principal cities, and sailed away to Macedonia to report the state of affairs to Polyperchon (who had become regent after Antipater’s death). After Polyperchon had been baffled at Megalopolis, he sent Cleitus with a fleet to the Hellespont to prevent any forces of Antigonus from passing into Europe, and also to effect a junction with Arrhidaeus, the satrap of Hellespontine Phrygia, who had shut himself up in the town of Cius. In 317 BC, Nicanor was sent against him by Antigonus and Cassander, a battle ensued near Byzantium, in which Cleitus gained a decisive victory. But his success rendered him overconfident, and, having allowed his troops to disembark and encamp on land, he was surprised by Antigonus and Nicanor, and lost all his ships except the one in which he sailed himself. Having reached the shore in safety, he proceeded towards Macedonia, but was slain by some soldiers of Lysimachus, with whom he fell in on the way.[2]
cleitus, white, cleitus, clitus, white, greek, Κλεῖτος, λευκός, died, officer, alexander, great, surnamed, white, distinguish, from, cleitus, black, noted, athenaeus, aelian, pomp, luxury, probably, same, mentioned, justin, among, veterans, sent, home, macedon. Cleitus Clitus the White Greek Kleῖtos ὁ leykos died c 317 BC was an officer of Alexander the Great surnamed White to distinguish him from Cleitus the Black He is noted by Athenaeus and Aelian for his pomp and luxury and is probably the same who is mentioned by Justin among the veterans sent home to Macedonia under Craterus in 324 BC 1 Contents 1 Life 1 1 Wars of the Diadochi 2 See also 3 References 4 NotesLife EditAfter Alexander s death he reappears as commander of the Macedonian fleet for Antipater in the Lamian War in 323 BC and defeated the Athenian admiral Euetion in the Battle of Amorgos He then went on to defeat the Athenian fleet a second time in the Battle of the Echinades These defeats signalled the end of Athenian thalassocracy and were decisive in the Macedonian victory in the war In the distribution of provinces at Triparadisus in 321 BC he obtained from Antipater the new regent of the Empire the satrapy of Lydia Wars of the Diadochi Edit In 318 BC at the start of the Second War of the Diadochi Antigonus advanced against him from Phrygia Cleitus garrisoned the principal cities and sailed away to Macedonia to report the state of affairs to Polyperchon who had become regent after Antipater s death After Polyperchon had been baffled at Megalopolis he sent Cleitus with a fleet to the Hellespont to prevent any forces of Antigonus from passing into Europe and also to effect a junction with Arrhidaeus the satrap of Hellespontine Phrygia who had shut himself up in the town of Cius In 317 BC Nicanor was sent against him by Antigonus and Cassander a battle ensued near Byzantium in which Cleitus gained a decisive victory But his success rendered him overconfident and having allowed his troops to disembark and encamp on land he was surprised by Antigonus and Nicanor and lost all his ships except the one in which he sailed himself Having reached the shore in safety he proceeded towards Macedonia but was slain by some soldiers of Lysimachus with whom he fell in on the way 2 See also EditSecond War of the DiadochiReferences EditSmith William editor Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology Cleitus 3 Boston 1867 Notes Edit Athenaeus Deipnosophistae xii 55 Aelian Histoires diverses ix 3 Justin Epitome of Pompeius Trogus xii 12 Arrian Anabasis Alexandri vii 12 Diodorus Siculus Bibliotheca xviii 39 52 72 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Smith William ed 1870 Cleitus 3 Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Cleitus the White amp oldid 1084058073, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
