Please enable JavaScript.
Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents.
After Alexander 323-318 - Coggle Diagram
After Alexander 323-318
what had alex left?
the army that alex had led into asia now dissipated, the elite Macedonian troops progressively reduced
a number of kingdoms created by individual satraps emerged, which progressed into hereditary dynasties
this was not a far cry from the reality before his death: as he travelled around so often, ambitious satraps might disregard his authority and act as monarchs themselves
-
Alex died on 10th June, 323BC
Alex's heir
alex did not leave a formal heir, and people were reluctant to make any radical decisions
one proposal was to wait for the birth of the child of Rhoxane, and hope it was a boy
but the infantry at babylon were impatient and demanded a present king, so proclaimed the half-brother of Alexander, named Arrhidaeus, despite his mental impairment
the infantry and the cavalry eventually compromised: both arrhidaeus and the unborn child (if male) would be kings
-
Military beginnings, Perdiccas and Eumenes
Perdiccas had an army at Babylon at his disposal, and decided to use it
-
Perdiccas had granted Eumenes the satrapy of Cappadocia, which had been dominated by an Iranian noble, Ariarathes
Perdiccas took the royal army to break the power of Ariarathes and install Eumenes as satrap, successfully
Craterus and Antipater, Lamian War
Leonnatus brought forces to Macedonia to help Antipater, in spring of 322BC
Craterus finally made a move by leading 10,000 veterans from Cilicia across Asia Minor, into Macedonia
he thus increased Antipater's forces to over 40,000, meaning an end to the Lamian war
Craterus deferred to Antipater, but prepared to return to Asia, to challenge Perdiccas
-
new regents
after the war in egypt had ended, a council of senior officers appointed two regents in place of Perdiccas, Peithon and Arrhidaeus (not the mentally impaired one)
whilst Ptolemy remained in Egypt, Antipater loomed with a united army, containing many Macedonians
-
although both Antipater and Antigonus had been summoned to court, neither came
there was a brewing situation at court, with the macedonians demanding payment that Alex had promised them way back when at Opis, and their truculence was riled up by Eurydice
antipater appeared with his army when the situation at court had become uncontrollable, and after Peithon and Arrhidaeus had abdicated
what happens next is obscure, antipater may have intimidated Eurydice with his fresh army. Nevertheless he was acclaimed regent by both armies
-
new players
the events at Triparadeisus had taken too long, and now the outlawed commanders in Asia Minor had been given time to consolidate their own forces
In Pisidia, Alcetas had attracted troops, including the brother-in-law of Perdiccas, named Attalus, who brought with him a considerable army
meanwhile Eumenes had consolidated his own army, and for the latter part of 320 he held his own against Antipater and Antigonus
Antipater's military performance was dismal and 3000 of his Macedonian veterans deserted and repatriated to Macedonia
Antipater opted to withdraw to Macedon and leave the campaign in Asia Minor exclusively with Antigonus
Antigonus now had a buuuuunch of troops, and he defeated Eumenes, then Alcetas who was killed
by autumn 319, Antipater was dead. he had nominated his friend Polypherchon to succees him as regent, much to the despair of his actual son, Cassander
as a result, Cassander fled Macedonia and went to join Antigonus, who was happy to support his feud with Polypherchon
Eumenes was still active, but as something of a nuisance. he was approached by Polyperchon to act as royal general
polyperchon was attempting to remove the oligarchies in southern greece that remained loyal to Cassander