Léonnatos

Léonnatos or Léonnat (in Greek old Λεόννατος / Leónnatos ), born towards 356, died with Lamia in 322 av. J. - C., is one of Sômatophylaques (bodyguards) and of the Diadoque S of Alexandre Large the.

Biography

Under the reign of Alexandre

Léonnatos was born towards 356 in the royal family from Lynceste, a small frontier kingdom of the Macedonia subjected by Philippe II. Companion of childhood of Alexandre, it takes share with the conquest of the Persian empire and becomes one of the seven Sômatophylaques (bodyguard royal) in 331. It is an officer considered for his nobility but introduced by Plutarque like capricious, unstable and prone to sudden impulses. It takes importance during forwarding in India, where it second Alexandre during the descent of the Indus (325). In August 325, it is charged to pacify the area of the mouth of Indus and to prepare the supply of the fleet of Néarque, while Alexandre and Héphaistion subject the two people of the area (Arabites and Orites) before being inserted in the desert of Makran in Gédrosie. It completes the tender of the area and beats definitively Orites in autumn 325. But the area remains not very sure and Néarque was constrained to delay its departure.

Diadoque

With died of Alexandre to Babylon in June 323, the Council of the Sômatophylaques and Philois (Friendly), indicate Léonnatos, in company of Perdiccas, tutor ( prostates ) provisional of the child to be born from Roxane, the future Alexandre IV. At the time of the division of the empire which follows, Léonnatos abondonne the prostasy with Cratère and receives the hellespontic Phrygie. It is about a strategic satrapie because it allows the control of the straits connecting the Euxine Sea to the Aegean Sea; she is regarded as one of most important with the Perse, the Médie and the Egypt. According to Plutarque, Léonnatos would have nourished royal ambitions, legitimated, thinks it, by its relationship with the mother of Philippe II, Eurydice, and the promise of a marriage with Cléopâtre, sister of Alexandre and widow of Alexandre Molosse, king of Épire.

Within the framework of the agreements of Babylon, Perdiccas, the Chiliarque of the empire, requires of Léonnatos to carry out with Antigone One-eyed the the conquest of the Cappadoce to the profit of Eumène de Cardia. Under commander of the army of Cappadoce, it accompanies Eumène by Babylon until in Phrygie, attack in spring 322, and settles with the head of its satrapie.

But at the time of conducting campaign in Cappadoce, Antipater, locked up in Lamia in Thessalie, sends a call to him so that this one comes to its help vis-a-vis the Athenian offensive. The lamiaque Guerre appears in Léonnatos like an aubaine. It indeed gives the opportunity to him to gain a military success from which he hopes to profit to replace Antipater with regency and perhaps to proclaim king de Macédoine. It informs Eumène of its projects and tries to convince it, but the former chancellor of Alexandre flees and warns Perdiccas of which it becomes the main ally. This attempt at alliance appears especially moved by: 5000 talents that the chiliarque one entrusted to Eumène.

Léonnatos thus diverts most of the army intended for the conquest of Cappadoce and intervenes to help Antipater. It has: 25000 infantrymen and of: 2500 riders to face the Greek troops ordered by Antiphile. Its cavalry thessalienne making defection, Léonnatos is overcome and killed during an engagement to the feet of the ramparts of Lamia, nevertheless the essence of its infantrymen manages to join Antipater.

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