Parmenion

Parmenion was Philip II's leading general and Alexander the Great's second-in-command, and was murdered on Alexander's orders. Born around 400 BC, he was a Macedonian noble who served Philip for two decades and won victories in Illyria and elsewhere; Philip is reported to have said that the Athenians elected ten generals a year and he had found only one, Parmenion. He was sent ahead into Asia Minor in 336 BC with an advance force, and was already there when Philip was assassinated. His support was decisive in securing Alexander's succession, and his relatives held many of the senior commands in the army. He commanded the left wing at the Granicus in 334 BC, at Issus in 333 BC and at Gaugamela in 331 BC — in each case the defensive station, holding while Alexander struck with the Companion cavalry on the right. At Gaugamela his wing came under heavy pressure and his call for help is variously reported as prudent or as a delay that let Darius escape. The sources present him as the voice of caution, and the pattern is suspiciously neat: he advises the safe course, Alexander chooses the bold one and is vindicated. He is said to have advised accepting Darius' peace terms, remarking that he would take them if he were Alexander, and to have been told that he would too, if he were Parmenion. He was left at Ecbatana in 330 BC guarding the treasury. When his son Philotas was accused of concealing a conspiracy, tortured and executed, Alexander sent riders ahead to have Parmenion killed before the news reached him.

• Lived: 400 BCE – 330 BCE
• Nationality: Macedonian
• Roles: general, military_leader