Attalus (general)
Key Macedonian general and courtier serving Philip II of Macedon.
Chronology: -400 – -336
Origins & Early Life
Attalus (Greek: Ἄτταλος; c. 390 BC – 336 BC), a Macedonian from Lower Macedonia, was an important courtier and soldier of Philip II of Macedonia. == Family connections to Philip II of Macedon == Attalus was born in Lower Macedonia in 390 BC. In 338 BC, Attalus's adopted niece Cleopatra Eurydice married king Philip II of Macedonia.
Pivotal Works & Achievements
It is said that at the wedding, Attalus made a prayer that Cleopatra might give birth to a legitimate male heir to Philip. This was seen as a direct insult to Alexander the Great. In the spring of 336 BC, Philip II appointed Attalus and Parmenion as commanders of the advance force that would invade the Persian Empire in Asia Minor. == Revenge-rape of Pausanias of Orestis == According to a story of Aristotle's, lengthened by Cleitarchus and Diodorus Siculus, Attalus sexually assaulted Pausanias of Orestis in retribution for besmirching the reputation of Attalus's friend (possibly relation), also named Pausanias, an event that led to the death of Pausanias, the beloved of Philip, while attempting to prove his honour after public humiliation by Pausanias of Orestis. Philip II of Macedon's later assassination by Pausanias of Orestis has been tied to this affair...
Enduring Legacy & Impact
The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.
Source: Wikipedia