Cleomenes (in Greek, Kλεoμενης; died 322 BC), a Greek of Naucratis in Egypt, was appointed by Alexander III of Macedon as nomarch of the Arabian district of Egypt and receiver of the tributes from all the districts of Egypt and the neighbouring part of Africa . Some of the ancient writers say that Alexander made him satrap of Egypt; but this is incorrect, for Arrian expressly states, that the other nomarchs were independent of him, except that they had to pay to him the tributes of their districts. It would, however, appear that he had no difficulty in extending his depredations over all Egypt, and it is not unlikely that he would assume the title of satrap. It is told that his rapacity knew no bounds, that he exercised his office solely for his own advantage.

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  • Cleomenes (in Greek, Kλεoμενης; died 322 BC), a Greek of Naucratis in Egypt, was appointed by Alexander III of Macedon as nomarch of the Arabian district of Egypt and receiver of the tributes from all the districts of Egypt and the neighbouring part of Africa . Some of the ancient writers say that Alexander made him satrap of Egypt; but this is incorrect, for Arrian expressly states, that the other nomarchs were independent of him, except that they had to pay to him the tributes of their districts. It would, however, appear that he had no difficulty in extending his depredations over all Egypt, and it is not unlikely that he would assume the title of satrap. It is told that his rapacity knew no bounds, that he exercised his office solely for his own advantage. On the occurrence of a scarcity of grain, which was less severe in Egypt than in the neighbouring countries, he at first forbad its exportation from Egypt; but, when the nomarchs represented to him that this measure prevented them from raising the proper amount of tribute, he permitted the exportation of the grain, but laid on it a heavy export duty. On another occasion, when the price of grain was ten drachmas, Cleomenes bought it up and sold it at 32 drachmas; and in other ways he interfered with the markets for his own gain. At another time he contrived to cheat his soldiers of a month's pay in the year. Alexander had entrusted to him the building of the city of Alexandria. He gave notice to the people of Canopus, then the chief emporium of Egypt, that he must remove them to the new city. To avert such an evil they gave him a large sum of money; but, as the building of Alexandria advanced, he again demanded of the people of Canopus a large sum of money, which they could not pay, and thus he got an excuse for removing them. He also made money out of the superstitions of the people. One of his boys having been killed by a crocodile, he ordered the crocodiles to be destroyed; but, in consideration of all the money which the priests could get together for the sake of saving their sacred animals, he revoked his order. On another occasion he sent for the priests, and informed them that the religious establishment was too expensive, and must be reduced; they handed over to him the treasures of the temples; and he then left them undisturbed. Alexander was informed of these proceedings, but found it convenient to take no notice of them; but after his return to Babylon he wrote to Cleomenes, commanding him to erect at Alexandria a splendid monument to Hephaestion, and promised that, if this work were zealously performed, he would overlook his misconduct. In the distribution of Alexander's empire, after his death, Cleomenes was left in Egypt as hyparch under Ptolemy, who put him to death on the suspicion of his favouring Perdiccas. The effect, if not also a cause, of this act was, that Ptolemy came into possession of the treasures of Cleomenes, which amounted to 8000 talents. (en)
  • Cléomène de Naucratis est un administrateur grec d'Alexandre le Grand, originaire de Naucratis en Basse-Égypte. Il est d'abord chargé par Alexandre de l'administration du désert Arabique puis prend en charge l'administration finançière de l'Égypte. Le régime fiscal qu'il institue et ses exactions lui aliènent la population et en particulier le clergé. Alors que la famine sévit dans la mer Égée, il augmente fortement les taxes sur les exportations de blé en -329 et interfère avec les marchés pour son propre avantage en spéculant sur le prix des céréales qu'il revend trois fois le prix qu'il les a achetées.Il a également gagné de l'argent sur les superstitions de la population : un garçon ayant été tué par un crocodile, il ordonne la mort des crocodiles, mais les prêtres ayant rassemblé une forte somme d'argent dans le souci de sauver leurs animaux sacrés, il révoque son ordre. En une autre occasion, il a informe les prêtres que l'institution religieuse était trop coûteuse, et devait être réduite; les prêtres lui remettent les trésors des temples, et il les a ensuite laissés tranquilles.Il semble qu'il soit convoqué par Alexandre vers -323 pour se justifier et qu'il soit pardonné à condition d'élever un temple à la gloire d'Héphaestion. Sa présence à Babylone lors de la mort du roi (juin -323) est attestée. Il fait en effet partie, selon Arrien, des éphémérides royales qui dorment dans le temple de Sarapis la veille de la mort d'Alexandre.Il rentre rapidement en Égypte après le partage de Babylone, officiellement en tant que second de Ptolémée, très certainement chargé par Perdiccas de contrôler ce dernier. Mais Ptolémée prend prétexte des accusations égyptiennes contre Cléomène et le fait exécuter, sans doute peu après la prise de Cyrène vers -322. À la mort du rapace, Ptolémée entre en possession des trésors de Cléomène dont la fortune est estimée à environ 8000 talents, somme considérable. (fr)
  • Kleomenes von Naukratis (* Naukratis, † 322 v. Chr.) wurde von Alexander dem Großen als oberster Funktionär der Landesverwaltung des "Arabien bei Heroonpolis", dem Grenzbezirk östlich des Deltas, eingesetzt. Da dieser Gau von besonderer militärischer Bedeutung war, hatte Kleomenes auch den Befehl über die dort stationierten Gruppen inne. Nach dem Tod Alexanders wurde Kleomenes Satrap der makedonischen Provinz Ägypten. (de)
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  • Cleomenes (in Greek, Kλεoμενης; died 322 BC), a Greek of Naucratis in Egypt, was appointed by Alexander III of Macedon as nomarch of the Arabian district of Egypt and receiver of the tributes from all the districts of Egypt and the neighbouring part of Africa . Some of the ancient writers say that Alexander made him satrap of Egypt; but this is incorrect, for Arrian expressly states, that the other nomarchs were independent of him, except that they had to pay to him the tributes of their districts. It would, however, appear that he had no difficulty in extending his depredations over all Egypt, and it is not unlikely that he would assume the title of satrap. It is told that his rapacity knew no bounds, that he exercised his office solely for his own advantage. (en)
  • Cléomène de Naucratis est un administrateur grec d'Alexandre le Grand, originaire de Naucratis en Basse-Égypte. (fr)
rdfs:label
  • Cleomenes of Naucratis (en)
  • Cléomène de Naucratis (fr)
  • Cleomene di Naucrati (it)
  • Kleomenes von Naukratis (de)
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