Caranus (son of Philip II)

Caranus (Greek: Κάρανος) was the son of Philip and a half-brother of Alexander the Great. It used to be thought that his mother was Cleopatra Eurydice, and that Caranus was therefore an infant at the time of his death. Cleopatra Eurydice bore Philip a female child, Europa, shortly before his death in October 336 BC. However, since the probable date for Philip and Cleopatra's marriage was spring 337 BC, this would mean that Cleopatra bore two children in 18-20 months. Whilst possible, this is unlikely.

According to Justin,[1] Alexander had Caranus killed soon after his accession in 336 BC because he feared him. Alexander would have been more likely to fear a teenaged brother than an infant as a rival for the throne. It seems probable that Caranus was the son of one of Philip's other wives, either Phila or Philinna.

Pausanias reports[2] that Olympias was responsible for the deaths of Cleopatra and her son.

See also

• Europa of Macedon

References

1. Justin. Epitome of the Philippic History of Pompeius Trogus. p. XI.2. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
2. Pausanias. Description of Greece. p. 8.7. Retrieved 28 December 2016.

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Smith, William, ed. (1870). "Caranus". Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology.