Role Antipatrid general Name Nicanor Nicanor | Died Piraeus, Greece | |
Nicanor (Greek: Nικάνωρ Nikā́nōr; executed 318 BC) was a Macedonian officer under Cassander, who secretly despatched Nicanor immediately on the death of Antipater in 319 BC to take the command of the Macedonian garrison at Munychia in Attica. Nicanor arrived at Athens before the news of Antipater's death, and thus was readily able to gain possession of the fortress. He then refused to give up possession of the fort, not withstanding orders from the Macedonian regent, Polyperchon.
In the meantime, Nicanor developed friendly relations with Phocion. He used this relationship to begin negotiations with the Athenians, who demanded the withdrawal of the Macedonian garrison from Munychia, according to the decree that had been issued by Polyperchon. Nicanor deluded the Athenians with false hopes. Instead of surrendering Munychia, he took the opportunity to surprise the inhabitants of Piraeus, occupying it with a strong garrison. Nicanor declared his intention to hold both fortresses for Cassander.
Alexander the Great's mother, Olympias, at this time on friendly terms with the regent, commanding Nicanor to withdraw his troops, but with no success. Similarly, Alexander, the son of Polyperchon, who arrived in Attica the following spring (318 BC) at the head of a considerable army, was ineffective in persuading Nicanor to withdraw from the fortresses. Shortly afterwards, Cassander arrived with a fleet of thirty-five ships, and Nicanor gave him possession of Piraeus, while he himself retained the command of Munychia.
Nicanor was quickly despatched by Cassander with a fleet to the Hellespont, where he was joined by the naval forces of Antigonus. Nicanor was initially defeated by Clitus, Polyperchon's admiral. However, he soon after retrieved his fortune, and gained a complete victory, destroying or capturing almost the whole of the enemy's fleet. On his return to Athens he was received by Cassander with the utmost distinction, and reinstated in his former command of Munychia.
However, Nicanor's recent successes elated him to the extent that he incurred the suspicion that he aiming to take power for himself. As a result, Cassander determined to rid himself of Nicanor who was beginning to give him umbrage. Cassander succeeded by treachery in decoying Nicanor into his power. Cassander then arranged to have Nicanor put to death, after undergoing a form of trial before the Macedonian army.