Meleager (commander)

Meleager, the son of Neoptolem, most likely was the same age as Alexander the Great, as he is mentioned in the description of mass wedding celebrations in Susa . At the same time, Meleager was not included in the number of veterans who were relieved of service by Alexander the year before his death.

The first Meleager is mentioned in the description of the war against the Getae in 335 BC. e. The following year, at the Battle of Granika, he commanded one of the units of the phalanx , and then in the fall took part in the siege of Halicarnassus . Together with Ken and Ptolemy, the son of Seleucus, Meleager led the recently married soldiers sent by Alexander from Kardia to winter in Macedonia. He participated in the battle of Issus and in the battle of Gaugamela . In the mountains of Zagros, along with the Crater , Arioborzan distracted himself while Alexander the Great made a roundabout maneuver. In 328 BC e. together with Polyperchon and Attal suppressed the uprising in Bactria , while Tsar Alexander with the main forces went to Sogdiana . At the Battle of Gidasp in 326 BC e. Meleager with Attalus was on the riverbank, while the Macedonian monarch made the crossing in another place. From India returned with Crater through Arachosia and Drangiana .

In 323 BC e. Meleager, according to Justin , proposed to elect his half-witty half-brother, Philip Arriday or son of Barsina Hercules , as heir to Alexander the Great, and not wait for Roxanne to be relieved of the burden. However, Perdikka’s initiative was supported to expect the birth of a child at Roxanne, and in case of a boy’s birth, appoint Leonnat , Perdikku, Crater and Antipater as regents. Those present agreed with this proposal and vowed to comply with it.

Diodorus of Sicily reported that the Macedonian officers sent Meleager to calm the worrying infantry, but he himself led the disaffected, who did not want to have a king with Asian blood. Armed soldiers burst into the palace, forcing the riders to flee beyond the walls of Babylon . Reconciliation between the parties was achieved mainly thanks to Eumenes . It was decided that power should be divided between Philip Arriday and the future son of Roxanne, if one is born, and Meleager and Perdicca will become regents.

However, soon Perdiccas managed to get the location of Philip Arriday. During a general gathering of troops, the king unexpectedly demanded the punishment of all the leaders of the recent riots. About 30 people were arrested and trampled by elephants . Meleager himself was able to escape and take refuge in the temple, but was captured and killed.

Primary sources

• Arrian Anabasis Alexandra (book I, chapters 4, 14, 20 and 24; book II, chapter 8; book III, chapters 11 and 18; book V, chapter 12).
• Diodorus of Sicily . Historical Library (Book XVII, Chapter 57; Book XVIII, Chapter 2).
• Quintus Curtius Rufus . (Book III, Chapter 24; Book V, Chapter 14; Book VII, Chapter 27; Book X, Chapters 6-9).
• Photius . Miriobiblion (cod. 92).
• Justin . Epitome of the composition of Pompey Trog (book XIII, chapters 2-4).

Modern research

• Smith W. Meleager // Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology . - Boston, 1870. - Vol. 2. - P. 1016-1017.

In fiction

• One of the heroes of Mary Renault 's funeral novel.