MENTOR OF RHODES

This is an extract from the Wikipedia entry

Mentor of Rhodes (c.?385 – c.?340) was a Greek mercenary and later Satrap of the Asiatic coast. He fought both for and against Artaxerxes III of Persia. He is also known as the first husband of Barsine, who later became mistress to Alexander the Great. In 358, Mentor, along with his brother Memnon, were hired to provide military leadership by a rebel Persian satrap, Artabazus. Despite Mentor's capable leadership, the rebellion failed, and Artabazus, Barsine and Memnon fled to Macedon, where they were welcomed by Philip II. Mentor fled to Egypt. Pharaoh Nectanebo II immediately enlisted the aid of the Greek mercenary, as he expected a Persian invasion was imminent. The pharaoh sent Mentor, at the head of 4000 mercenaries, to support Sidon, which had rebelled from Persia. Although Mentor won significant victories against some of the satraps, he was unable to defeat Artaxerxes' army, and was captured in 346. Upon his capture, Artaxerxes evidently recognized Mentor's skills, and pardoned him. Immediately, Mentor was sent to aid in the invasion of his former refuge, Egypt.
During the Egyptian campaign Mentor led one of three divisions of the great kings Hellenic army he shared the command with Bagoas a Persian of some note whom Diodorus of Sicily describes as the man 'whom the King trusted most, a man exceptionally daring and impatient of propriety.' the pair had some success in Egypt taking Bubastus amongst other cities by one cunning device, garrisoning the cities were both native Egyptians and Greek mercenary troops. Mentor offered one side or the other a favourable surrender creating stasis and infighting within the garrisons weakening the defensive troops and making it far more easy for the Persians to gain the city by subterfuge. This tactic proved critical in the battle for Egypt, Nectanebo preserving the loss of so many of his fortified towns and cities withdrew from Memphis towards the south choosing not to contest his kingship in pitched battle.
After the defeat of Egypt, "Artaxerxes, seeing that Mentor the general had performed great services for him in the war against the Egyptians, advanced him over and above his other friends." The king appointed Mentor his commander in the west in 342 and satrap of the Asiatic coast; he was also given a vast wealth of silver. One of his actions during his short tenure at this post was to pardon Artabazus, whom he allowed to return home, along with Barsine and Memnon. Mentor died after just four years in his post. His daughter later married Nearchus, and Barsine remarried, to Memnon. Memnon received Mentor's command after his brother's death.

MENTOR OF RHODES

How to cite this article: Rickard, J (14 April 2017), Mentor of Rhodes (385-340 BC) , http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/people_mentor_of_rhodes.html

Mentor of Rhodes (385-340) was a Greek mercenary who fought for and against Artaxerxes III and played a part in the final major Persian military success, the reconquest of Egypt of 343. Mentor was the son of the Greek Timocrates of Rhodes. Timocrates worked for the Persians and helped trigger the Corinthian War in the 390s. This came at a time when the Spartans were campaigning in Asia Minor, and forced them to reduce their efforts in order to cope with the new crisis in Greece. Mentor first appears during the 350s, when he supported Artabazus, satrap of Phrygia, in his revolt against Artaxerxes III of Persian (Satrap's Revolt). Mentor was supported by his younger brother Memnon, while their sister married Artabazus. The details of the revolt are somewhat unclear, but Artabazus revolted in around 358, and by 354 loyal Persian forces had reoccupied Phrygia. Memnon fled to Macedon, while Mentor escaped to Egypt, where he entered the service of Pharaoh Nectanebo II. In 350 Mentor commanded a force of 4,000 Greek mercenaries, and repulsed an attack on Sidon in Phoenicia by a Persian satrap. However in 346/5 Artaxerxes III raised a much larger army and attacked the city for a second time. This time Mentor realised that he couldn't defend the city. Instead he betrayed it to the Persians. After his capture he was pardoned, and taken into Persian service.

In 343 Mentor took part in Artaxerxes III's successful invasion of Egypt, the last major military success for the Persian Empire. As reward he was made supreme commander of the Western Satrapies, and helped restore Persian authority in the recently rebellious areas, working closely with Bagoas, eunuch and chief minister to Artaxerxes III. Diodorus gives one example of his methods. He was given the task of defeating Hermias, tyrant of Atarneus, who had gained control over a number of other cities and fortresses. He promised Hermias that he could arrange a pardon for him, but then arrested him at a meeting. He then used Hermias's seal to send messages to his cities informing them that Mentor had arranged a reconciliation with Artaxerxes. As a result Hermias's men accepted Imperial authority without a fight. Mentor was able to get his brother Memnon and his step-brother Artabazus pardoned, having been in exile at the court of Philip II of Macedon. Memnon entered the Persian service, and performed very well during the war against Alexander the Great. Mentor died in 340. Memnon was appointed commander of the Troad, in the north-western corner of Asia Minor, and would go on to play a major role in the Persian resistance to Alexander the Great, before his own death in 334.