Coenus
Encyclopedia
Coenus a son of Polemocrates
and son-in-law of Parmenion
, was one of the ablest and most faithful generals of Alexander the Great in his eastern expedition. In the autumn of 334 BC, when Alexander was in Caria
, and sent those of his soldiers who had been recently married, to Macedon
ia, to spend the ensuing winter with their wives there, Coenus was one of the commanders who led them back to Europe. In the spring of the year following (333 BC), Coenus returned with the Macedonians, and joined Alexander at Gordium
. He commanded a portion of Alexander's army, and distinguished himself on various occasions. In all of Alexander's major battles, Coenus commanded the right-most battalion of infantry in the massive Macedonian phalanx. In the Macedonian battle tradition, the farther right you were in formation, the more honorable of a position you held. His distinction as commander of the "best" infantry of the phalanx indicates he was tactically reliable, probably extremely intelligent in warfare, and brave in battle; he was probably the epitome of the highly respected "lead-by-example" Macedonian general.
When Alexander had arrived at the river Hyphasis
, and was anxious to push his conquests still further, Coenus was the first who had the boldness to urge the necessity of returning, and the king was obliged to follow his advice. But a short time afterwards, when the Macedonian army had actually commenced its return, Coenus died of an illness (326 BC), and was honoured by the king with a splendid burial. Alexander lamented his death, but is reported to have said, that Coenus had urged the necessity of returning so strongly, as if he alone had been destined to see his native country again.
Polemocrates
Polemocrates or Polemokrates may refer to:*Polemocrates of Elimeia, father of Macedonian general Coenus*Polemocrates , son of Machaon...
and son-in-law of Parmenion
Parmenion
Parmenion was a Macedonian general in the service of Philip II of Macedon and Alexander the Great, murdered on a suspected false charge of treason....
, was one of the ablest and most faithful generals of Alexander the Great in his eastern expedition. In the autumn of 334 BC, when Alexander was in Caria
Caria
Caria was a region of western Anatolia extending along the coast from mid-Ionia south to Lycia and east to Phrygia. The Ionian and Dorian Greeks colonized the west of it and joined the Carian population in forming Greek-dominated states there...
, and sent those of his soldiers who had been recently married, to Macedon
Macedon
Macedonia or Macedon was an ancient kingdom, centered in the northeastern part of the Greek peninsula, bordered by Epirus to the west, Paeonia to the north, the region of Thrace to the east and Thessaly to the south....
ia, to spend the ensuing winter with their wives there, Coenus was one of the commanders who led them back to Europe. In the spring of the year following (333 BC), Coenus returned with the Macedonians, and joined Alexander at Gordium
Gordium
Gordium was the capital city of ancient Phrygia. It was located at the site of modern Yassıhüyük, about 70–80 km southwest of Ankara , in the immediate vicinity of Polatlı district. The site was excavated by Gustav and Alfred Körte in 1900 and then by the University of Pennsylvania Museum,...
. He commanded a portion of Alexander's army, and distinguished himself on various occasions. In all of Alexander's major battles, Coenus commanded the right-most battalion of infantry in the massive Macedonian phalanx. In the Macedonian battle tradition, the farther right you were in formation, the more honorable of a position you held. His distinction as commander of the "best" infantry of the phalanx indicates he was tactically reliable, probably extremely intelligent in warfare, and brave in battle; he was probably the epitome of the highly respected "lead-by-example" Macedonian general.
When Alexander had arrived at the river Hyphasis
Beas River
The Beas River is a river in the northern part of India. The river rises in the Himalayas in central Himachal Pradesh, India, and flows for some 470 km to the Sutlej River in the Indian state of Punjab....
, and was anxious to push his conquests still further, Coenus was the first who had the boldness to urge the necessity of returning, and the king was obliged to follow his advice. But a short time afterwards, when the Macedonian army had actually commenced its return, Coenus died of an illness (326 BC), and was honoured by the king with a splendid burial. Alexander lamented his death, but is reported to have said, that Coenus had urged the necessity of returning so strongly, as if he alone had been destined to see his native country again.
External links
- Livius, Coenus by Jona Lendering
- Wiki Classical Dictionary: Coenus
- Pothos.org, Coenus, son of Polemocrates