Achaemenid satrap of Lydia and Ionia (died 334 BC)
Spithridates
Coin of Spithridates, Achaemenid Satrap of Sparda (Lydia and Ionia), circa 334 BC
Satrap of Lydia
In office 365 – 334 BC
Preceded by
Autophradates
Succeeded by
position abolished
Personal details
Died
334 BC At the Granicus in the Troad region (modern-day Biga River, Turkey)
Military service
Allegiance
Achaemenid Empire
Battles/wars
Wars of Alexander the Great
Battle of the Granicus †
Spithridates (Old Persian: *Spiθradātaʰ; Ancient Greek: ΣπιθριδάτηςSpithridátēs; fl. 365–334 BC) was a Persian satrap of Lydia and Ionia under the high king Darius III Codomannus. He was one of the Persian commanders at the Battle of the Granicus, in 334 BC. In this engagement, while he was aiming a blow from behind at Alexander the Great, his arm was cut off by Cleitus the Black and he subsequently died.[1]
Spithridates attacking Alexander from behind at the Battle of Granicus. Charles le Brun (detail).
Diodorus calls him Spithrobates (ΣπιθροβάτηςSpithrobátēs), and appears to confound him with Mithridates, the son-in-law of Darius, whom Alexander slew in the battle with his own hand; while what Arrian records of Spithridates, Diodorus accounts it for his brother Rhosaces.[2][3]
Spithridates was replaced by the Hellenistic satrap Asander in his territories.
^Arrian, Anabasis Alexandri, 1.12.8, 15.8, 16.3
^Diodorus, Bibliotheca historica, XVII. 19, 20
^Plutarch, Parallel Lives, "Alexander", 16 ; Moralia, "On the Fortune or the Virtue of Alexander", I. 2
Spithridates (Old Persian: *Spiθradātaʰ; Ancient Greek: Σπιθριδάτης Spithridátēs; fl. 365–334 BC) was a Persian satrap of Lydia and Ionia under the high...
crossing. The army was led by Arsites, the satrap of Hellespontine Phrygia, Spithridates, satrap of Lydia and Ionia, Arsames, satrap of Cilicia, Rheomithres,...
Arrian records Spithridates as the one who lost his arm to Cleitus and thus Diodorus seems to confound Rhosaces with his brother Spithridates. According to...
when Alexander was being assailed by both Rhosaces and Spithridates, Cleitus severed Spithridates's arm before the Persian satrap could bring it down on...
appointed him governor of Lydia and the other parts of the satrapy of Spithridates, and also placed under his command an army of cavalry and light infantry...
although Alexander was stunned by an axe-blow from a Persian nobleman named Spithridates. Before the noble could deal a death-blow, however, he was killed by...
results. Later Arexion is mentioned sacrificing before the battle with Spithridates and Rhathines from Pharnabazus, this time obtaining favorable omens with...
395) Tithraustes (born 395) Tiribazus Struthas Autophradates (c. 365) Spithridates (died before 334) Menander (323-321) Cleitus the White (321-318) Info...
visited there by Spithridates, who may have been trying to interest him in joining in rebellion against the king. Xenophon says that Spithridates put his trust...
from his coinage. Satrap of Lydia Preceded by Tiribazus Succeeded by Spithridates Personal details Born 4th century BC Died 4th century BC Military service...
century BC) Pharnabazus, son of Artabazus Phrataphernes Satibarzanes Spithridates Struthas Thyus Tiribazus Tissaphernes Tithraustes Mithridates VI Eupator...
Global Information
Achaemenid Empire