Andronicus ( el, Ἀνδρόνικος) of

Olynthus Olynthus ( grc, Ὄλυνθος ''Olynthos'', named for the ὄλυνθος ''olunthos'', "the fruit of the wild fig tree") was an ancient city of Chalcidice Chalkidiki (; el, Χαλκιδική , also spelled Halkidiki, is a peninsula and ...

was a Macedonian nobleman and general in the 4th century BCE. This Andronicus is probably the same as the son of Agerrhus mentioned by

Arrian Arrian of Nicomedia (; Greek: ''Arrianos''; la, Lucius Flavius Arrianus; ) was a Greek historian, public servant, military commander and philosopher of the Roman period. ''The Anabasis of Alexander'' by Arrian is considered the best ...

and

Diodorus Siculus Diodorus Siculus, or Diodorus of Sicily ( grc-gre, Διόδωρος ; 1st century BC), was an ancient Greek historian. He is known for writing the monumental universal history ''Bibliotheca historica'', in forty books, fifteen of which su ...

, ''

Bibliotheca historica ''Bibliotheca historica'' ( grc, Βιβλιοθήκη Ἱστορική, ) is a work of universal history by Diodorus Siculus. It consisted of forty books, which were divided into three sections. The first six books are geographical in theme, ...

'' xix. 69, 86 that is, the same Andronicus who accompanied

Alexander the Great Alexander III of Macedon ( grc, wikt:Ἀλέξανδρος, Ἀλέξανδρος, Alexandros; 20/21 July 356 BC – 10/11 June 323 BC), commonly known as Alexander the Great, was a king of the Ancient Greece, ancient Greek kingdom of Maced ...

on his expedition in Asia, and was the father of

Proteas of Macedon Proteas ( el, Πρωτέας), son of Andronicus of Olynthus and Lanike, was a '' syntrophos'' and '' hetairos'' of Alexander the Great. Antipater sent him with fifteen ships to protect the Greek islands and mainland against Persian attack. Puttin ...

and husband to

Lanike Lanike or Lanice pronounced (Lan iss) (Ancient Greek, Greek: ), also called Hellanike or Alacrinis, daughter of Dropidas, who was son of Critias, was the sister of Cleitus the Black, and the nurse of Alexander the Great. She was born, most likely, ...

. If this is indeed the same Andronicus, he would also be the father of two sons, whose names are lost to us now, who died at

Miletus Miletus (; gr, Μῑ́λητος, Mī́lētos; Hittite transcription ''Millawanda'' or ''Milawata'' (exonyms); la, Mīlētus; tr, Milet) was an ancient Greek city on the western coast of Anatolia, near the mouth of the Maeander River in a ...

in 334. This conflation is unclear, however, and this Andronicus may have been distinct from another Andronicus of Macedon. In 330, Andronicus was sent by Alexander to take command of 1500 Greek mercenaries who had served under

Darius III Darius III ( peo, 𐎭𐎠𐎼𐎹𐎺𐎢𐏁 ; grc-gre, Δαρεῖος ; c. 380 – 330 BC) was the last Achaemenid King of Kings of Persia, reigning from 336 BC to his death in 330 BC. Contrary to his predecessor Artaxerxes IV Arses, Dar ...

before the latter's death; he was accompanied by former Darius loyalist

Artabazos II of Phrygia Artabazos II (in Greek Ἀρτάβαζος) (fl. 389 – 328 BC) was a Persian general and satrap of Hellespontine Phrygia. He was the son of the Persian satrap of Hellespontine Phrygia Pharnabazus II, and younger kinsman (most probably ...

. Andronicus was then sent against the rebellious

Persian Persian may refer to: * People and things from Iran, historically called ''Persia'' in the English language ** Persians, the majority ethnic group in Iran, not to be conflated with the Iranic peoples ** Persian language, an Iranian language of the ...

satrap A satrap () was a governor of the provinces of the ancient Median and Achaemenid Empires and in several of their successors, such as in the Sasanian Empire and the Hellenistic empires. The satrap served as viceroy to the king, though with consid ...

Satibarzanes Satibarzanes (Old Persian: ; Ancient Greek: ; died 330 BC), a Persian, was satrap of Aria under Darius III, king of Persia. In 330 BC, Alexander the Great, marching through the borders of Aria on his way from Hyrcania against the Parthians, was ...

, along with Artabazos, Caranus, and

Erigyius Erigyius (in Greek Ἐριγυιoς; died 328 BC), a Mytilenaean, son of Larichus, was an officer in Alexander the Great's army. He had been driven into banishment by Philip II, king of Macedon, because of his faithful attachment to Alexander, and ...

. Andronicus was one of the four generals appointed by

Antigonus I Monophthalmus Antigonus I Monophthalmus ( grc-gre, Ἀντίγονος Μονόφθαλμος , 'the One-Eyed'; 382 – 301 BC), son of Philip from Elimeia, was a Macedonian Greek nobleman, general, satrap, and king. During the first half of his life he serv ...

to form the military council of Antigonus' son, the young

Demetrius I of Macedon Demetrius I (; grc, Δημήτριος; 337–283 BC), also called Poliorcetes (; el, Πολιορκητής, "The Besieger"), was a Macedonian nobleman, military leader, and king of Macedon (294–288 BC). He belonged to the Antigonid dynast ...

, in 314. He commanded the right wing of the army of Demetrius at the Battle of Gaza in 312, and after the loss of the battle, and the subsequent retreat of Demetrius, was left in command of the city of Tyre. He refused to surrender the city to

Ptolemy I Soter Ptolemy I Soter (; gr, Πτολεμαῖος Σωτήρ, ''Ptolemaîos Sōtḗr'' "Ptolemy the Savior"; c. 367 BC – January 282 BC) was a Macedonian Greek general, historian and companion of Alexander the Great from the Kingdom of Macedon ...

, and in response to Ptolemy's requests sent Ptolemy insulting and contemptuous messages. Andronicus later lost the city due to a popular insurrection of its inhabitants as the city's provisions ran low during the long siege. Ptolemy captured Andronicus, but spared his life, treating him as a friend, despite Andronicus having treated him with such insolence, turning the general from a stubborn enemy into a partisan. He may have ended his career as one of Ptolemy's ''

philoi ''Philoi'' ( grc, φίλοι; plural of φίλος ''philos'' "friend") is a word that roughly translates to "friend." This type of friendship is based on the characteristically Greek value for reciprocity as opposed to a friendship that exists as ...

'' (that is, a trusted friend and advisor).

Notes

{{authority control Ancient Macedonian generals 3rd-century BC Greek people 3rd-century BC Macedonians Ancient Olynthians