Nicanor of Macedonia
Encyclopedia
Nicanor son of Parmenion
, was a distinguished officer in the service of Alexander the Great. He is first mentioned at the passage of the Danube
river, in the expedition of Alexander against the Getae
, 335 BC, on which occasion he led the phalanx
. But during the expedition into Asia he appears to have uniformly held the chief command of the body of troops called the Hypaspists
(υπασπισται) or foot-guards, numbering three units of 1.000 men. As his brother Philotas
did that of the εταιρoι, or horse-guards. We find him mentioned, as holding this post, in the three great battles of the Granicus
, of Issus
, and of Gaugamela
. He afterwards accompanied Alexander with a part of the troops under his command, during the rapid march of the king in pursuit of the king Darius III Codomannus
(330 BC); which was probably his last service, as he died of disease shortly afterwards, during the advance of Alexander into Bactria
. His death at this juncture was considered a fortunate event, as it prevented him from participating either in the designs or the fate of his brother Philotas
.
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 a distinguished officer in the service of Alexander the Great. He is first mentioned at the passage of the Danube
Danube
The Danube is a river in the Central Europe and the Europe's second longest river after the Volga. It is classified as an international waterway....
river, in the expedition of Alexander against the Getae
Getae
The Getae was the name given by the Greeks to several Thracian tribes that occupied the regions south of the Lower Danube, in what is today northern Bulgaria, and north of the Lower Danube, in Romania...
, 335 BC, on which occasion he led the phalanx
Phalanx formation
The phalanx is a rectangular mass military formation, usually composed entirely of heavy infantry armed with spears, pikes, sarissas, or similar weapons...
. But during the expedition into Asia he appears to have uniformly held the chief command of the body of troops called the Hypaspists
Hypaspists
A hypaspist is a squire, man at arms, or "shield carrier". In Homer, Deiphobos advances "ὑπασπίδια" or under cover of his shield. By the time of Herodotus the word had come to mean a high status soldier as is strongly suggested by Herodotus in one of the earliest known uses:"Now the horse which...
(υπασπισται) or foot-guards, numbering three units of 1.000 men. As his brother Philotas
Philotas
Philotas was the eldest son of Parmenion, Alexander's most experienced and talented general. When Alexander became king of Macedonia with Parmenion's support Philotas (in Greek, Φιλώτας, died October 330 BC) was the eldest son of Parmenion, Alexander's most experienced and talented general. When...
did that of the εταιρoι, or horse-guards. We find him mentioned, as holding this post, in the three great battles of the Granicus
Battle of the Granicus
The Battle of the Granicus River in May 334 BC was the first of three major battles fought between Alexander the Great and the Persian Empire...
, of Issus
Battle of Issus
The Battle of Issus occurred in southern Anatolia, in November 333 BC. The invading troops, led by the young Alexander of Macedonia, defeated the army personally led by Darius III of Achaemenid Persia in the second great battle for primacy in Asia...
, and of Gaugamela
Battle of Gaugamela
The Battle of Gaugamela took place in 331 BC between Alexander the Great and Darius III of Persia. The battle, which is also called the Battle of Arbela, resulted in a massive victory for the ancient Macedonians and led to the fall of the Achaemenid Empire.-Location:Darius chose a flat, open plain...
. He afterwards accompanied Alexander with a part of the troops under his command, during the rapid march of the king in pursuit of the king Darius III Codomannus
Darius III of Persia
Darius III , also known by his given name of Codomannus, was the last king of the Achaemenid Empire of Persia from 336 BC to 330 BC....
(330 BC); which was probably his last service, as he died of disease shortly afterwards, during the advance of Alexander into Bactria
Bactria
Bactria and also appears in the Zend Avesta as Bukhdi. It is the ancient name of a historical region located between south of the Amu Darya and west of the Indus River...
. His death at this juncture was considered a fortunate event, as it prevented him from participating either in the designs or the fate of his brother Philotas
Philotas
Philotas was the eldest son of Parmenion, Alexander's most experienced and talented general. When Alexander became king of Macedonia with Parmenion's support Philotas (in Greek, Φιλώτας, died October 330 BC) was the eldest son of Parmenion, Alexander's most experienced and talented general. When...
.