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Cleitus (Clitus) the White died c. 317 was an
officer of Alexander the Great surnamed "White" to distinguish him
from Cleitus the Black. He is noted by Athenaeus and Aelian for his pomp and
luxury, and is probably the same who is mentioned by Justin among the veterans
sent home to Macedonia under Craterus in 324. After
Alexander's death he reappears as commander of the Macedonian fleet for
Antipater in the Lamian
War in 323, and defeated the Athenian admiral, Euetion, in the Battle of
Amorgos. He then went on to defeat the
Athenian fleet a second time in the Battle of the
Echinades. These defeats signalled the
end of Athenian thalassocracy, and were decisive in the Macedonian victory in
the war. In the distribution of provinces at Triparadisus in 321, he obtained
from Antipater (the new regent of the Empire) the satrapy of Lydia. In 318, at
the start of the Second War of the Diadochi, Antigonus advanced against him
from Phrygia; Cleitus garrisoned the principal cities, and sailed away to
Macedonia to report the state of affairs to Polyperchon (who had
become regent after Antipater’s death). After Polyperchon had been baffled
at Megalopolis, he sent Cleitus with a fleet to the Hellespont to prevent any
forces of Antigonus from passing into Europe, and also to effect a junction
with Arrhidaeus, the satrap of Hellespontine Phrygia, who had shut himself up
in the town of Cius. In 317, Nicanor was sent against him by Antigonus and
Cassander, a battle ensued near Byzantium, in which Cleitus gained a decisive
victory. But his success rendered him overconfident, and, having allowed his
troops to disembark and encamp on land, he was surprised by Antigonus and
Nicanor, and lost all his ships except the one in which he sailed himself.
Having reached the shore in safety, he proceeded towards Macedonia, but was
slain by some soldiers of Lysimachus, with whom he
fell in on the way.
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