Memnon of Rhodes

Memnon
Coinage of Memnon of Rhodes, Mysia. Mid 4th century BC
Native name
Μέμνων
Bornc. 380 BC
Rhodes
Diedsummer, 333 BC (aged c. 47)
AllegianceAchaemenid Empire
Years of service339 - 333 BC
Battles / warsBattle of the Granicus
Siege of Halicarnassus
Spouse(s)Barsine (c. 340 BC)

Memnon of Rhodes (Greek: Μέμνων ὁ Ῥόδιος; c. 380 – 333 BC) was a prominent Rhodian Greek commander in the service of the Achaemenid Empire. Related to the Persian aristocracy by the marriage of his sister to the satrap Artabazus II, together with his brother Mentor he served the Persian king for most of his life, and played an important role during the invasion of Alexander the Great and the decades before that.[1]

Carl Otis Schuster notes that though often inaccurately described as "simply a mercenary", Memnon was arguably the toughest defender of the Persian Empire Alexander had to face, and was nearly successful in putting a halt to him.[1]

  1. ^ a b Schuster 2016, pp. 366–367.