Nica'nor
(
Νικάνωρ).
1. Son of Parmenion, a distinguished officer in the service of
Alexander.
He is first mentioned at the passage of the Danube, in the expedition of
Alexander against the Getae, B. C. 335, on which occasion he led the phalanx. (
Arr. Anab. 1.4.3.)
But during the expedition into Asia he appears to have uniformly held the chief command of the body of troops called the Hypaspists (
ὑπασπισταί) or foot-guards, as his brother Philotas did that of the
ἑταῖροι, or horseguards. We find him mentioned, as holding this post, in the three great battles of the Granicus, of Isstui, and of Arbela.
He afterwards accompanied
Alexander with a part of the troops under his command, during the rapid march of the king in pursuit of Dareius (B. C. 330); which was probably his last service, as he died of disease shortly afterwards, during the advance of
Alexander into Bactria. His death at this juncture was probably a fortunate event, as it saved him from participating either in the designs or the fate of his brother Philotas. (Arrian,
Anab. i. 14, 2.8, 3.11, 21, 25;
Curt. 3.24.7,
4.50.27,
5.37.19,
6.22.18;
Diod. 17.57.)