Why did Alexander send Thessalus to Pixodarus?

[adisciplus]

When the Carian prince Pixodarus sent an ambassador with the offer of his daughter's hand in marriage to Philip's son Arrhidaeus, Alexander sends Thessalus offering himself instead.

Why did Alexander not convey this message to the ambassador, but instead goes behind Philip's back to send Thessalus, a separate representative, to Pixodarus? Pixodarus would have to wait for his own ambassador to return before making a reply.

So why did Alexander send Thessalus to Pixodarus?

[Phoebus]

Because... his ambassador was sent as part of an embassy specifically directed to Phillip II. Alexander was acting covertly. Working through the ambassador would have compromised that man's obligation to both royal parties. Phillip could have taken his assistance to Alexander (in relaying proposals that were clearly contrary to what he wished) as an affront to his authority.

[derek]

Also, to have formally approached the ambassador would have meant Philip would hear about it. But Pixodarus would have been unaware until the ambassador returned or sent a messenger, and you can bet Philip would have solved the problem by swiftly arranging an unfortunate accident before he had the chance. No ambassador, no embarrassment. Send another and we'll start over again.

By sending Thessalus secretly to Caria, Alexander ensured his proposal got through. My theory anyway.

Derek

[Paralus]

Personally, I believe it to be a storm in a teacup. I’d view the story as apocryphal and therefore not historical. Any number of things speak against such an approach by Alexander. Indeed I’d think his father approaching the satrap of Caria-Lycia for a marriage alliance a little fanciful.

The story, in full blush, is told only by Plutarch. Arrian, relying on Ptolemy/Aristobulos disagrees with a key consequence of the story: the exiling of Alexander's friends (Ptolemy included) due to Philip’s anger. Arrian/Ptolemy clearly places this exile where it might well make more sense: after the wedding banquet.

More importantly Pixodarus is Artaxerxes’ man in all senses of that term. The Xanthan trilingual indicates that by the time of this supposed marriage alliance the satrapies of Lycia and Caria had been merged into one under the satrap of Caria, in this instance Pixodarus who had – apparently – turfed Ada. There is clear evidence that, after his accession, Ochus was much tasked by Asia Minor and Egypt. By the time of this marriage proposal Ochus had recovered Egypt and had taken a close interest in the stabilisation of and the goings on in south-west Asia Minor. On balance it would appear that this area had undergone a major re-organisation during the later years of Ochus' rule.

Indeed, we are informed (Strabo 14.2.17) that Pixodarus “having espoused the party of the Persians” and having “Persianised” himself by apparently marriying into the Iranian aristocracy “sent for a satrap to share the kingdom with him. After the death of Pixodarus, the satrap became master of Halicarnassus.” The “satrap, of course, being Orontobates Pixodarus' brother-in-law.

We are lead to believe that marriage proposals from first Philip and then Alexander are being entertained by the new satrap of Caria-Lycia, a fellow who has asked (for whatever reason) that Orontobates share the management of the satrapy with him.

I’d find it difficult to believe that these activities were taking place in a vacuum. That either Orontobates or the King will not have got the merest sniff of it. The alliance would be worth something to Philip only if kept tightly secret so as to aid him in the coming invasion or the activities of the advance force. Seems that the proposal had gained widespread coverage in Macedonia as it appears to be known by many players. Perhaps the Pella Times social column had written it up?

All things considered, I don’t think anything occurred in the manner in which we have it retailed by Plutarch.