Attalus (390-336 BC) was a Macedonian general during the reign of King Philip II of Macedon and an early rival of Alexander the Great.
Biography[]
Attalus was born in Macedon in 390 BC to an aristocratic family, and he becmae a courtier under King Philip II of Macedon. In 338 BC, his niece Cleopatra Eurydice married King Philip, and, at their wedding, Attalus made a prayer that she give birth to a legitimate heir to Philip, directly insulting Philip's young son Alexander and his mother, Olympias. In 336 BC, Philip appointed Attalus and Parmenion as commanders of the advance force that would invade the Persian Empire in Asia Minor. Attalus created a scandal when he raped Pausanias of Orestis as revenge for Pausanias causing the humiliation and death of Attalus' lover, another Pausanias, and Philip decided not to punish Attalus. As revenge, Pausanias of Orestis assassinated Philip in 336 BC. Alexander became the new king, and he had Eurydice and her two children killed. Attalus received an invitation from Athens to ally against Alexander, but Attalus had the letters sent to Alexander to prove his loyalty. However, Alexander saw Attalus as a threat and a rival, so he had Attalus executed as well.
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