Craterus

Craterus was among Alexander's most trusted commanders and died fighting his fellow generals. He came from a noble Macedonian family in Orestis and appears in the record commanding a battalion of the phalanx at the Granicus in 334 BC. He rose steadily through the campaigns, commanding the left wing under Parmenion's overall direction at Issus and Gaugamela, and taking independent commands in Bactria, Sogdiana and India. Arrian records the distinction the army drew between him and Hephaestion: that Hephaestion was a friend of Alexander and Craterus a friend of the king. He is described as the most loyal to Macedonian custom, and he objected openly to Alexander's adoption of Persian dress and court ceremonial — which the army valued and which put a limit on his standing. He led the main body of the army back from India along the coastal route with the elephants and the baggage, while Alexander took the harder road through the Gedrosian desert. In 324 BC Alexander appointed him to lead the discharged veterans home to Macedonia and to replace Antipater as regent there — an enormous promotion that was cut short when Alexander died in Babylon in 323 BC while Craterus was still in Cilicia. In the wars of the successors he allied with Antipater, married his daughter, and helped suppress the Greek revolt in the Lamian War. He was sent against Eumenes in Asia Minor in 321 BC. His horse fell in the cavalry engagement and he was trampled; Eumenes, who had served with him, wept over the body. Eumenes sent his remains to his widow in Macedonia.

• Lived: 370 BCE – 321 BCE
• Nationality: Macedonian
• Roles: general