Spitamenes, satrap of Bactria

 Birth: 365 B.C.

Death: 325 B.C.

General Notes

   Satrap Spitamenes of Bactria died 0328 BC.2 Satrap of Bactria, Persian Empire, 0329-0328 B.C.. He married N. N. of Bithynia, daughter of Satrap of Daskyleon Artabazos III Arshâmid, 0341 B.C.2 He was born 0365 BC.2 Sources: 1. Stuart, R.W. 'Royalty for Commoners', line 414. ; 2. Bryan, K. 'Davidic Descents to the House of Plantagenet' Augustan, Vol. XXV, 16-23. ; 3. Green, P. 'Alexander to Actium' pp.734.

Child of Satrap Spitamenes of Bactria and N. N. of Bithynia:
Apama II of Bactria+ b. 0340 B.C.
[S197] Toby Dills, "A Descendant of Antiquity," gedcom file from e-mail address (e-mail address ) to Robert Stewart, 5 Feb 1999. Hereinafter cited as "Descendant of Antiquity".
[S204] Roderick W. Stuart, Royalty for Commoners: The Complete Lineage of John of Gaunt, Son of Edward III, Kings of England, and Queen Philippa (.: ., 3rd Ed., 1998), 414-81. Hereinafter cited as RfC.

When Alexander was founding the new city of Alexandria Eschate on the Jaxartes river, news came that Spitamenes had roused Sogdiana against him and was besieging the Macedonian garrison in Maracanda. Too occupied at the moment to personally confront Spitamenes he sent an army under the command of Pharnuches which was promptly annihilated with a loss of no less than 2000 infantry and 300 cavalry.

The uprising now posed a direct threat to his army, and Alexander moved personally to relieve Maracanda, only to learn that Spitamenes had left Sogdiana, attacking now Bactra, from where he was repulsed with great difficulty by the satrap of Bactria Artabazus (328 BC).

The decisive point came in December 328 BC when Spitamenes was defeated by Alexander's general Coenus at the Battle of Gabai. Spitamenes' wife killed him and sent his head to Alexander, suing for peace and effectively dissolving Spitamenes' army.

Spitamenes had a daughter, Apama, who was married to one of Alexander's most important generals and an eventual Diadochi (successor), Seleucus I Nicator (February 324 BC). The couple had a son, Antiochus I Soter, eventually a ruler of the successor Seleucid Empire. Several towns were named Apamea in her honour.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spitamenes

LINKS

http://www.livius.org/person/spitamenes/

http://www.hippeis.com/spitamenes

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/560554/Spitamenes

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_head_of_Spitamenes_is_pr...