Pharnuches of Lycia
Pharnuches (Greek Φαρνούχης ) was a Persian interpreter and follower of Alexander the Great in the 4th century BC. According to Arrian, he was a native of Lycia, probably of Persian origin.
During the Asia campaign Pharnuches came on unknown paths in the following Alexander the Great. Because he mastered the languages of the local people of the provinces of Sogdiana and Bactria, Alexander held him in the summer of 329 BC to guide an army capable department, which should take up the fight against the dangerous adversaries Spitamenes. This force consisted of 60 Hetairenreitern, 800 cavalry and 1,500 mercenaries mercenaries on foot, led by the officers Karanos, Andromachus and Menedemus. They were charged with the relief of the besieged straight from Spitamenes Marakanda ( Samarqand ), but during the march they were when passing the river Polytimetus ( Zeravshan ) of Spitamenes and his Scythian cavalry attacked and defeated; slightly more than 2,000 men were killed.
After Macedonian intuition controversies between Pharnuches and his subordinate commanders for the defeat was particularly crucial. According to Aristobulus had Pharnuches want to give up his command to one of the three Macedonian officers during the battle, as he possessed as an interpreter does not have military experience and also even no Macedonians nor a companion ( Hetairos ) was the king. Alexander had only therefore made him a commander to win the sympathies of the oriental warrior. The three present Macedonian officers had the suggestion of Pharnuches but rejected since it is the transfer of Alexander felt obliged, but probably also because they did not want to take responsibility of the defeat on himself. The Battle of the Polytimetus is the only military defeat of Alexanderzugs and it should remain the first and last time that Alexander An Oriental entrusted to a military command.
Whether Pharnuches was one of the few survivors of the Polytimetus (40 cavalrymen and infantrymen 300 ) is unclear. He had a son Bagoas, the BC 325 was a Hetairos of the king and one of the trierarchs the Indus fleet.