Alexanders Death Rumor

[pam]

When Alexander was wounded at Multan, it is my understanding that word was sent to Hephestion, Philotas and others in the advance camp that he was dead. I am curious what happened in the camp at that time. How did the generals and the army react to this news? What plans did they make? The limited sources I have only state that news was sent to them later that Alexander was coming to them but they only believed that it was his body. Does anybody have any information about this?Thanks for the help with this matter of my curiosity.Pam

[alejandro]

Hi Pam
Unfortunately, I have no idea of what could have happened in the camp while they waited for his arrival.Just one point: Philotas was already dead by then, so he certainly wasnGÇÖt there. I donGÇÖt remember who were on each camp, but I am almost sure Ptolemy wasnGÇÖt with Alex. I think he was in a different column, as Alex had divided the army in several of them, each one attacking different forts (or am I mistaken and only transposing the Baktrian campaign to Indian soil?).But certainly, the sole idea of the looming crisis and the ambitions and political disputes creeping in, is a very attractive one. Certainly some people would have started looking at some others, trying to elicit from their eyes whether they will be friend or foe GǪHephaistion would have been much more concerned with Alex himself, and giving him a proper funeral if truly dead. But he was important in the army (he was one of the leaders of the Companions since the time of PhilotasGÇÖ execution). He did have some acknowledged GÇ£adversariesGÇ¥ in Krateros and Eumenes, but he is supposed to have been in good terms with PerdikkasGǪThe somatophylakes most likely were with Alexander, so Seleukos and Lisymachos GÇôtwo heavy-weight players in the SuccessorsGÇÖ wars- were not part of the discussion.I wonder who else was in the camp. Anyway, a very interesting scenario. For my own taste, much more interesting to be filmed than trying to narrate AlexGÇÖs entire life in 3 I-would-rather-be-anywhere-else hours. Real character can be shown in key figures of ATGGÇÖs army, while safely avoiding the Great himself and his complexity. ItGÇÖs all a matter of speculation for them, GÇÿcause they donGÇÖt know how reliable the news are, but they have to be prepared for every possibility. And Hephaistion adds some human touch to the ambition-laden actions of the other MarshalsGǪReally an argument quite open for very disparate, though not tooo far-fetched, interpretations. Thanks for having forced me to think about it!BestAlejandro

[marcus]

Hi Alejandro,You're right about Ptolemy - although some sources put him at the Mallian town, Ptolemy himself explicitly stated in his history that he wasn't there.The somatophylakes were definitely there - at least one of them was, anyway - Leonnatus was the third one up the ladder (Peucestas was the second, and Abreas climbed up on another ladder). Lysimachus was, therefore, probably there also.However, I must correct you on one thing - Seleucus was never a somatophylax. However, as commander of the hypaspists I think we can assume that he was still there!All the bestMarcus

[pam]

Oops, I meant Ptolemy, not Philotas.

[alejandro]

Hi MarcusThanks for the correction. I donGÇÖt know why I thought Seleukos was one of the bodyguardsGǪAnyway, thanks.By the way, did he become commander of the Hypaspists immediately after NikanorGÇÖs death?BestAlejandro

[marcus]

We don't know, unfortunately, as his first mention is 3 years after Nicanor's death ... and there's no mention of another commander in the period in between.So perhaps he did, but we can't be sure.All the bestMarcus

[lucian]

At Multan, my guess is that the reaction was what always seemed to have hapenned when Alexander was close to death - chaos. At least the common soldier might have gone temporarily insane at the thought of him dead. As for the generals some might have been concerned with containment of the troops, making it out alive, and then figuring his place in the scheme of things. I don't think for a moment that they fought one another, or conspired right away.
Something tells me Hephaistion's reaction was disbelief fueled by hope, and punched by anger. I see him worried as hell, but willing to finish the fight and check out what hapenned before panicking, and considering his position in the life of Alexander, it would have been wiser to wait and see.
It's possible that there were plots against Alexander at this time, since it began with Philotas, but I think that at the moment most were concerned with going back home, and they needed Alexander. I suppose everyone with a little status were worried but kept quiet until further notice.