Peithon

Peithon (about 355 BC - about 314 BC) was one of the bodyguards of Alexander the Great, later satrap of Media and one of the diadochi.

Peithon was named one of the seven (later eight) bodyguards of Alexander in 325 BC. After Alexander's death in 323 BC Peithon was made the satrap of Media. Because the province was too large for one man to govern, the northern part of Media was given to the Persian Atropates.

The soldiers who remained in the eastern part of Alexander's realm after his death, grew agitated by their lengthy stay abroad, and began spontaneous revolts. The regent Perdiccas sent Peithon to subdue the revolters. He was given a contigent of Macedonians. Peithon easily defeated his opponents and accepted their capitulation. His men, however, having hoped to plunder, massacered their opponents.

After Peithon returned Persia, Perdiccas began to distrust him. In the First War of the Diadochi, Perdiccas ordered Peithon to follow him to Egypt to fight against Ptolemy.

In the summer of 320 BC Peithon, Seleucus, and Antigenes murdered Perdiccas and started negotiating with their opponents. Ptolemy suggested that Peithon be made the new Regent, but the other diadochi would not accept this. Therefore Antipater was chosen to be the new Regent.

After the death of Antipater, Peithon expanded his realm. He invaded the satrapy of Parthia and made his brother the new satrap. However the other eastern satraps united against Peihon and drove him out. The armies of the eastern satrapies were joined by Eumenes who had been appointed by the new regent Polyperchon to subdue Antigonus. Peithon was saved by Antigonus who beat both Eumenes and his new allies at a battle near Susa. Following the Second War of the Diadochi Peithon was among the most poweful diadochi in the eastern part of the Empire and started to rebuild his realm. Antigonus didn't like his new rival and tricked Peithon to come to his court, where he had him executed.