The Wars of the Successors ( Diodochi )

1. The Wars of the Successors(Diodochi) Ilan Davidowitz Tully, period 5 2-23-12

2. The Death of Alexander • 323 BCE: Alexander the Great dies in Babylon, a month from his 33rd birthday • Poisoning? • Malaria? • Alcohol Poisoning? • Q: Who did he name as his heir??

3. A: NO ONE • Who inherits his vast empire? • Let’s review some of the candidates…

5. Seleukos “Nicator”ΣέλευκοςΝικάτωρ • Macedonian Officer to Alexander • Takes control of Babylon, Eastern Conquests all the way to Annatolia • Death: Murdered in 281 Seleucid Empire

6. Ptolemy “Soter”ΠτολεμαῖοςΣωτήρ • Another Macedonian General • Takes control of Egypt; parts of Arabia, Libya, Annatolia, Palestine • Death: Peacefully, in 283 Ptolemaic Empire

7. Antigonus “Monopthalmus”ἈντίγονοςὁΜονόφθαλμος • Macedonian General, Nobleman, Satrap • Takes control of Annatolia, Palestine, eventually just Macedonia • Death: Killed at Battle of Ipsus in 301 Antigonid Empire

8. Antipater & CassanderἈντίπατρος, Κάσσανδρος • Regent of Macedon during conquests • Macedonia, with son Cassander • Deaths: Antipater- Peacefully, in 319, Cassander- peacefully, in 297 Macedonia and Greece

9. PolyperchonΠολυπέρχων • One of Alexander’s Lieutenants • Regent of Macedonia after Antipater’s death, driven out by Cassander • Death: Shortly after being driven from Macedonia

10. LysimachusΛυσίμαχος • One of Alexander’s Generals • Annatolia and Thrace • Death: killed at Battle of Corupedium against Seleukos Lysimachus

11. PerdiccasΠερδίκκας • One of Alexander’s Generals • Guardian of Alexander’s child and half- brother • Death: Assassinated by Seleukos and others

12. CraterusΚρατερός • One of Alexander’s Generals • Proclaimed successor to Antipater by Alexander • Death: Killed in battle against Eumenes

13. Eumenes of CardiaΕὐμένης • Personal secretary of Alexander • Installed by Perdiccas in Cappadocia, tried to re-unify empire • Death: Betrayed to Antigonus, killed

14. 40 years of conflicts • Antigonus, Lysimachus, Craterus, Cassander, Polyperchon, Seleukos, Ptolemy, Eumenes, Perdiccas, et. al. fight endlessly • Wars carried over several generations • Alliances, counter-alliances, betrayals, assassinations, battles, the works

15. Timeline of Events (from Warfare in the Classical World) • 323: Alexander dies in Babylon, leaving no successor • 323/2: • Perdiccas regent of Asiatic Empire, • Antipater and Craterus joint regents of west, • Greeks revolt, Antipater defeats them • 321: • Perdiccas killed by mutinous troops • Seleukos becomes satrap (governor) of Babylonia • Craterus killed in battle against Eumenes of Cardia

16. Timeline of Events (from Warfare in the Classical World) • 319: • Antipater dies, Polyperchon recommended successor • Eumenes tries to maintain unity of Alexander’s empire • Cassander drives Polyperchon from Macedonia • 317 • Eumenes defeated by Antigonus • Conquest of Macedonia and Greece by Cassander

17. Timeline of Events (from Warfare in the Classical World) • 317 cont. • Eumenes betrayed to Antigonus and put to death • Cassander wins Greece from Polyperchon • Seleukos, driven from Babylon, seeks refuge in Egypt • 315: • Alliance of Successors against Antigonus • 314 • Polyperchon’s son defies Antigonus’ and Cassander’s troops in the Peloponnesus

18. Timeline of Events (from Warfare in the Classical World) • 313: • Rhodians ally with Antigonus • 312: • Demetrius defeated by Ptolemy at Gaza • Seleukos recover’s Babylon w/ Ptolemy’s help • 306: • Demetrius defeats Ptolemy at Salamis in Cyprus • 305: • Demetrius besieges Rhodes • Seleukos tries to recover Alexander’s Indian conquests

19. Timeline of Events (from Warfare in the Classical World) • 304: • Demetrius abandons siege of Rhodes, Rhodians use his derelict siege engine (the Heliopolis) to make Colossus of Rhodes, one of the seven wonders of the Ancient World • 303: • Seleukos, repelled in India, makes treaty • 302: • Cassander, Lysimachus, and Ptolemy ally with Seleukos against Antigonus • 301: • Antigonus killed at Battle of Ipsus • It goes on…

20. The Last Ones Standing… • In 197 BCE Romans take control of Greece after routing Macedonian army at Cynoscephylae • Seleucids defeated by Rome at Thermopylae and Magnesia, empire overthrown by Parthians • Macedon under complete Roman control after battle of Pydna in 168 BCE

21. The Last Ones Standing… • Ptolemaic Egypt remains ally of Rome until Octavian declares war on Antony and Cleopatra • Octavian annexes Egypt in 31-30 BCE after defeating Antony and Cleopatra at Actium • Last Successor State gone, Mediterranean Sea now Roman Lake

22. Pictures! War Elephant Pezhetairoi Heavily armored Cataphract Cavalry Heliopolis at Rhodes

23. Bibliography • Sheppard, Ruth. Alexander the Great at War: His Army, His Battles, His Enemies. Oxford: Osprey, 2008. Print. • Warry, John Gibson. Warfare in the Classical World: An Illustrated Encyclopedia of Weapons, Warriors, and Warfare in the Ancient Civilisations of Greece and Rome. Norman: University of Oklahoma, 1995. Print. • Waterfield, Robin. Dividing the Spoils: The War for Alexander the Great's Empire. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2011. Print.