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Death of Leonnatus, 15th c. Medieval Manuscript France

Leonnatus (356 BC - 322 BC), Macedonian officer of Alexander the Great and one of the diadochi.

He was a member of the royal house of Lyncestis, a small kingdom that had been included in Macedonia by King Philip II of Macedon. Leonnatus was the same age as Alexander and has been very close to Alexander. Later, he was one of Alexander's seven bodyguards. After Alexander died in 323 BC, new regent Perdiccas made Leonnatus satrap of Hellespontine Phrygia.

Alexander's sister Cleopatra, the widow of King Alexander I of Epirus, offered her hand to Leonnatus. In the meantime, when the Athenians heard that Alexander had died, they revolted against Macedons and regent Antipater. Leonnatus led an army of 20,000 infantry with 1500 cavalry to relieve Antipater from the siege in Lamia (see Lamian War). He intervened probably with the ambition to usurp Antipater's power. A victory in battle against the Greeks would certainly enhance his claim to the throne. Leonnatus was killed in battle against Athenians and the marriage with Cleopatra never took place.

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