WI : Alexander hired Memnon

GdwnsnHo

Banned
Whilst I don't know if Alexander had the resources to hire Memnon, or if Memnon would defect - info on that is welcome.

What would have been the effect of Memnon working FOR Alexander rather than against?

Doesn't matter if he is hired to assist in the Persian campaigns, hired to go west/south/north to deny him as a resource to the Persians,

I doubt much, but being a greek familiar with persia, he could have been a useful advisor/resource/scapegoat. The most obvious (but I think unlikely) result being Memnon of the Diadochi. Though that would be amusing.

Anyone more familiar with this period have any ideas?
 
Difficult to say. Memnon was opposed to Alexander from the very start of his campaign and kept opposing him because he was never caught. In fact, Demosthenes and other Athenians planned a revolt when they heard of Memnon's efforts, but then he died of disease in the Aegean. Perhaps if he was captured at Granicus or Halicarnassus he might be persuaded to join the winning team. It depends on what Alexander does. To him, he saw Greek mercenaries in Persian employ as traitors and usually either killed them or sent them back to Macedonia as slaves.
 
Difficult to say. Memnon was opposed to Alexander from the very start of his campaign and kept opposing him because he was never caught. In fact, Demosthenes and other Athenians planned a revolt when they heard of Memnon's efforts, but then he died of disease in the Aegean. Perhaps if he was captured at Granicus or Halicarnassus he might be persuaded to join the winning team. It depends on what Alexander does. To him, he saw Greek mercenaries in Persian employ as traitors and usually either killed them or sent them back to Macedonia as slaves.

Well Memnon and his brother were originally in the service of the rebel Egyptian king Nectanebo until they were captured-so he does have a history of going against Persia. But there's little reason for him to defect: He had a lot of influence with Darius it seems and ALexander seemed destined to fail from his eyes.
 
Memnon was also married into the Persian nobility. His wife Barsine was the daughter of a Persian satrap, Artabazus. Artabazus was extremely loyal to Darius III, only joining Alexander after the death of Darius. Memnon would be unlikely I'd imagine to go against both his wife and father-in-law to aid Alexander of all people.
 
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