Philotas facts for kids

Philotas (Greek: Φιλώτας; 365 BC – October 330 BC) was the oldest son of Parmenion. Parmenion was one of Alexander the Great's most skilled and experienced generals. Philotas became the commander of the Companion Cavalry. However, he was later accused of plotting against Alexander and was executed.

Biography of Philotas

When Alexander became king of Macedonia in 336 BC, Philotas and his family received important roles. This was because his father, Parmenion, had supported Alexander.

Philotas was promoted to lead the Companions. This was a special group of Macedonian cavalry. They also served as bodyguards and helpers for the King. In battles, Alexander himself rode with and led this group. They were truly his "companions," which is how they got their name.

Philotas was a very capable officer. However, many people thought he was arrogant and too proud. He often struggled to fit in at court and caused conflicts. This sometimes made the King unhappy. Philotas fought alongside Alexander in many important battles. These included the Battle of the Granicus, the Siege of Miletus, and the Siege of Tyre.

In 330 BC, Alexander was conquering the Achaemenid Empire in what is now Afghanistan. During this time, Philotas was accused of plotting against Alexander. This was because he knew about a plan by someone named Dimnus but did not tell Alexander. Philotas had faced similar accusations before. However, the case against him in 330 BC was much more serious. One of his accusers was the commander Coenus, who was married to Philotas's sister.

After Philotas was executed, his father Parmenion also had to be removed. Even though Parmenion was not part of any plot, he was seen as unreliable once his son was killed. Alexander sent people to kill Parmenion before he could hear about his son's death. After Philotas's execution, the command of the Companions was split between two other officers.

Philotas in Stories and Movies

The story of Philotas has been told in plays and movies.

In 1604, the English writer Samuel Daniel wrote a play called Philotas. A performance of this play caused trouble for Daniel. Some people thought the play's main character was too much like Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex. Essex had been executed for rebellion in 1601. In 1731, another play about Philotas, also called Philotas, was written by Philip Frowde and shown in London.

You can also see Philotas in films:

• In the movie Alexander (2004), Philotas is played by Joseph Morgan.
• In the 1961 TV version of Terence Rattigan's play Adventure Story, Philotas is played by Lyndon Brook.
• In the film Alexander the Great (1956), Philotas is played by Rubén Rojo.

Lessing's Play: Philotas

The German writer Gotthold Ephraim Lessing also wrote a play about Philotas. His play, titled Philotas, was written in 1759. This was during the Enlightenment, a time when new ideas were popular. It was also when Prussia was becoming a very powerful country in Germany.

The play was written during the Seven Years' War (1756–1763). This war was fought between countries like Prussia and Hannover against France, Austria, Switzerland, and Spain. They were fighting for control over regions like Silesia and Saxony.

Lessing's play tells the story of Prince Philotas. He is a young and eager leader who is captured during his very first battle. While he is a prisoner, King Arideus visits him. Arideus used to be a friend of Philotas's father. Arideus tells Philotas that his own son has also been captured by the other side. He explains that both kings are planning to exchange prisoners.

Soon after, Philotas meets Parmenio, a messenger from his father. Parmenio asks him when the prisoner exchange will happen. Philotas asks Parmenio for more time, requesting an extra day before the exchange.

Philotas then thinks deeply about his situation. He wonders if staying alive would be better for his father's interests, especially since he has Arideus's son as a captive. He manages to get a sword from Arideus, saying it would "fit him better" before meeting a group of soldiers, which Arideus had asked him to do.

See also

In Spanish: Filotas para niños