The Diadochi and the Successor Kingdoms

“Whether, had he lived longer, Alexander could have organized and co-ordinated this inchoate

area effectively is a moot question. Without him even the survival as a whole seemed unlikely. The history…from 323 to 301 is of a struggle between Alexander’s generals to take what they could for

themselves.”F.W. Walbank, The Hellenistic World

Aftermath of Alexander’s Death:The Question of the Succession

Internal Disputes and Near Civil War Perdiccas and cavalry support the unborn

child of Roxane (Alexander IV) Meleager and infantry support Philip II’s

bastard son Arrhidaeus (Philip III)

Joint Successors, Alexander IV and Philip III as puppets of the generals

The Diadochi’s (Successors’) Struggles for Supremacy

The Principal Players: Perdiccas (senior cavalry officer); Ptolemy and Leonatus (related to Argeads); Meleager (senior infantry officer); Peucestas (satrap of Persis and Susiana); Lysimachus (Alexander’s confidant); Seleucus (commander of hypaspists); Eumenes of Cardia (court secretary); Antipater (regent in Macedonia); Cassander (son of Antipater); Craterus; Antigonus (satrap of Phrygia)

Perdiccas’ failed attempt at reconciliation and unity (323-320 BCE) Perdiccas murdered in Egypt in 320 BCE Settlement at Triparadeisis in northern Syria in 320 BCE = Antipater

in Macedonia and Greece; Antigonus in Asia; Seleucus in Syria; Ptolemy in Egypt

The Settlement of 311 BCE: Cassander regent in Europe; Lysimachus controls Thrace; Ptolemy in Egypt; Antigonus controls Asia

On the Settlement of 311 BCE

“When Simonides was archon at Athens, the Romans elected to the consulship Marcus Valerius and Publius Decius. While these held office, Cassander, Ptolemy, and Lysimachus came to terms with

Antigonus and made a treaty. In this it was provided that Cassander be general of Europe until Alexander, son of Roxane,

should come of age; that Lysimachus rule Thrace, and that Ptolemy rule Egypt and the cities adjacent to it in Libya and

Arabia; that Antigonus have first place in all Asia; and that the Greeks be autonomous. However, they did not abide by these

agreements but each of them, putting forward plausible excuses, kept seeking to increase his own power.”

Diodorus, 19.105.1-2

The Career of Antigonus Monopthalmos (“One-Eyed”)

Defeat of Eumenes and control of Asia Minor (= power imbalance)

Defeat of Antigonus’ son, Demetrius, at the hands of Ptolemy at Gaza; Seleucus recovers Babylon (312 BCE)

The Settlement of 311 BCE Public Acknowledgement of the New Order:

Elimination of Philip III (317) and Alexander IV (310?)

Diadochi assume the royal title (basileus) in 306-5 BCE

The Principal Hellenistic Powers in 303 BCE

Coalition of Cassander, Lysimachus, and Seleucus against Antigonus and Demetrius

Battle of Ipsus in Phrygia in 301 BCE: Death of Antigonus Restoration of Power Balance

Demetrius I Poliorcetes neutralized by Lysimachus and Pyrrhus of Epirus; captive of Seleucus from 285-283 BCE

Post-Ipsus: Ptolemy in Egypt (and Coele Syria); Seleucus in Babylonia and northern Syria; Lysimachus in northern Anatolia and Thrace

Coin, Seleucus I Nicator (?), celebrating the defeat of Antigonus and Demetrius at Ipsus in

301 BCE

Macedonia and Greece: Transition from Argeads to Antigonids

Lysimachus’ attempted annexation (288-282 BCE); defeated by Seleucus at Corupedium in Lydia (281 BCE); Ptolemy Ceraunos’ assassination of Seleucus

Gallic Invasion; Aetolians at Delphi and the Soteiria (279 BCE)

Counterweight Powers in Greece: Achaean and Aetolian Confederations

Antigonus Gonatas, son of Demetrius Poliorcetes (Antigonids): 279-239 BCE

Achaea and Aetoliain the Fifth Century BCE

The Hellenistic Powers:Seleucid Syria, Ptolemaic Egypt, Antigonid Macedonia