Antigenes (; died 316 BC) served as an officer under

Philip II of Macedon Philip II of Macedon (; 382 BC – October 336 BC) was the king (''basileus'') of the ancient kingdom of Macedonia (ancient kingdom), Macedonia from 359 BC until his death in 336 BC. He was a member of the Argead dynasty, founders of the ...

and continued his service, rising to the rank of general, under

Alexander the Great Alexander III of Macedon (; 20/21 July 356 BC – 10/11 June 323 BC), most commonly known as Alexander the Great, was a king of the Ancient Greece, ancient Greek kingdom of Macedonia (ancient kingdom), Macedon. He succeeded his father Philip ...

. He was a commander of the Argyraspides, or Silver Shields. Antigenes had uncertain origins, but he is said to have been born sometime in 380, possibly in

Pella Pella () is an ancient city located in Central Macedonia, Greece. It served as the capital of the Ancient Greece, ancient Greek kingdom of Macedonia (ancient kingdom), Macedon. Currently, it is located 1 km outside the modern town of Pella ...

or Pallene. He was noted for his bravery in battle, but according to an account by

Plutarch Plutarch (; , ''Ploútarchos'', ; – 120s) was a Greek Middle Platonist philosopher, historian, biographer, essayist, and priest at the Temple of Apollo (Delphi), Temple of Apollo in Delphi. He is known primarily for his ''Parallel Lives'', ...

, he was a slave to pleasure and vice. In 331, he came second in a contest of bravery and was promoted as a

chiliarch Chiliarch is a military rank dating back to antiquity. Originally denoting the commander of a unit of about one thousand men (a chiliarchy) in the Macedonian army, it was subsequently used as a Greek translation of a Persian officer who function ...

of the Silver Shields and in command of 1,000 hypaspists. Antigenes was shot in the face during a battle and lost an eye. He is said to have fought on, with the arrow still lodged in his face, until the battle was won. Plutarch provides several unflattering accounts, including claims that Antigenes fraudulently requested sick leave during Alexander’s campaign in order to return to his wife Telesippa, and subsequently attempted to defraud Alexander during the payment of veteran soldiers' debts at

Susa Susa ( ) was an ancient city in the lower Zagros Mountains about east of the Tigris, between the Karkheh River, Karkheh and Dez River, Dez Rivers in Iran. One of the most important cities of the Ancient Near East, Susa served as the capital o ...

. Antigenes used the testimony of a false witness to put himself on the debtors' list, and was relieved of his command after the fraud was discovered; Alexander pardoned him to prevent him from killing himself. After the death of Alexander in 323 he obtained the

satrap A satrap () was a governor of the provinces of the ancient Median kingdom, Median and Achaemenid Empire, Persian (Achaemenid) Empires and in several of their successors, such as in the Sasanian Empire and the Hellenistic period, Hellenistic empi ...

y of Susiana, taking over from the temporary rule of Peucestas. He was one of the commanders of the Argyraspides and, with his troops, took the side of

Eumenes Eumenes (; ; ) was a Ancient Greece, Greek general, satrap, and Diadoch, Successor of Alexander the Great. He participated in the Wars of Alexander the Great, serving as Alexander's personal secretary and later on as a battlefield commander. Eume ...

. On the defeat of Eumenes in 316, Antigenes fell into the hands of his enemy

Antigonus I Monophthalmus Antigonus I Monophthalmus ( , "Antigonus the One-Eyed"; 382 – 301 BC) was a Ancient Macedonians, Macedonian Greek general and Diadochi, successor of Alexander the Great. A prominent military leader in Alexander's army, he went on to control lar ...

, who had him burnt alive in a pit. Antigenes was executed in this particularly cruel manner because of his Silver Shields' exceptional performance against Antigonus' infantry during the Second War of the Diadochi. He was succeeded as satrap of Susiana by Aspeisas, a native appointee of Antigonus.

References

* Smith, William (editor); ''

Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology The ''Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology'' is a biographical dictionary of classical antiquity, edited by William Smith (lexicographer), William Smith and originally published in London by John Taylor (English publisher), Tayl ...

'', ,

Boston Boston is the capital and most populous city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and Financial centre, financial center of New England, a region of the Northeas ...

, (1867)

Notes

Generals of Philip II of Macedon Generals of Alexander the Great Ancient Macedonian generals Satraps of the Alexandrian Empire 4th-century BC Greek people 316 BC deaths 4th-century BC Macedonians Year of birth unknown Greek people with disabilities {{AncientGreece-bio-stub