Craterus
Craterus (ca. 370 - 321 BCE) was a Macedonian general serving under Alexander the Great. He commanded the phalanx and all infantry on the left wing at the Battle of Issus in 333 BCE. His first independent command was in Hyrcania on a mission against the Tapurians. He commanded the rearguard at the Battle of the Hydaspes River in 326 BCE. Just prior to Alexander's death, Craterus had been ordered to lead a force of veterans back from campaign to Macedon. He was in Cilicia, overseeing expansion of the Macedonian fleet, when Alexander suddenly died. According to some sources, on his deathbed Alexander had given his ring to his general Perdiccas, saying that he gave his empire “kratistôi” (“to the strongest”); some have speculated that he actually said he gave his empire “to Craterus.”
Role in the Timeline
Craterus remains a loyal general of Alexander when the Macedonian king escapes a posioning at the hands of Cassander.