Cleitus the White

Cleitus the White (Greek Κλείτος Λευκός; † 317 BC) was a Macedonian fleet commander ( nauarchos ) and Diadoche in the 4th century BC.

He participated in the Asia campaign of Alexander the Great as part Taxiarch (commander ) of a phalanx. In the Battle of the Hydaspes he crossed with Alexander the river of the same name. After the revolt of the army at Opis in 324 BC, he was ordered back with the veterans under Craterus to Europe.

There he supported Antipater in Lamian war against the rebellious Greeks. In the autumn of 322 BC, he won it in the decisive Battle of Amorgos over Athens. According to Plutarch himself Kleitos should have called after this victory Poseidon and henceforth carried a trident. For his services he was appointed after the first Diadochenkrieg 320 BC at the conference of Triparadeisos with the province of Lydia. In the second Diadochenkrieg Kleitos supported the imperial regent Polyperchon. He lost 319 BC Lydia to Antigonus Monophthalmos. In the summer of 317 BC, a battle took place of Byzantium, in the Kleitos first victory against Nicanor, but was then defeated by Antigonus devastating. He managed to escape to Thrace, where he was captured and slain by Lysimachus.

He wore his nickname as a distinction to Cleitus the Black.