Balakros, also Balacrus, the son of Nicanor, one of Alexander the Great's "Somatophylakes" (bodyguards), was appointed satrap of Cilicia after the Battle of Issus, 333 BC. He succeeded to the last Achaemenid satrap of Cilicia, Arsames.
Coin of Balakros, Satrap of Cilicia, with letter "B" next to the shield, standing for B[AΛAKPOI]. Tarsos. 333-323 BC.
Coinage of Alexander the Great struck under Balakros or Menes circa 333-327 BC. The letter "B" appears under the throne of Zeus.
Coin of Balacrus, as Satrap of Cilicia. Tarsos, 333-323 BC. Baaltars in Aramaic to right on the obverse, letter "B" on the reverse.
Coin of Balacrus, as Satrap of Cilicia. Issus, 333-323 BC. Overstruck on a coin of Achaemenid satrap Tiribazus minted in Tarsos. Letter "B" on the obverse.
The Battle of Issus occurred in southern Anatolia, on 5 November 333 BC between the Hellenic League led by Alexander the Great and the Achaemenid Empire, led by Darius III. It was the second great battle of Alexander's conquest of Asia, and the first encounter between Darius III and Alexander the Great. The battle resulted in the Macedonian troops defeating the Persian forces.
Alexander battling Darius at the Battle of Issus (Naples National Archaeological Museum)
The Battle of Issus by Jan Brueghel the Elder in the Louvre
The battlefield at Issus
Sabakes, the Achaemenid satrap of Egypt, died at the Battle of Issus defending Darius III.
![Coin of Balakros, Satrap of Cilicia, with letter "B" next to the shield, standing for B[AΛAKPOI]. Tarsos. 333-323 BC.](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/eb/CILICIA%2C_Tarsos._Balakros_Satrap_of_Cilicia_333-323_BC.jpg/640px-CILICIA%2C_Tarsos._Balakros_Satrap_of_Cilicia_333-323_BC.jpg)
