Post-Alexander Fact Sheet: The Successors (Diadochoi)

On 10 June 323, Alexander dies in Babylon; his body is stolen by Ptolemy and taken to Alexandria for burial (the Soma [body] / Sema [monument]); Perdiccas has Alexander's signet ring and the so-called memorandum on the dispostion of Alexander's empire.

Upon Alexander's death, Perdiccas advises Macedonians to wait for birth of Roxane's baby (proves to be a son named Alexander 4); phalanx under Meleager proposes ratifying as king Arrhidaeus (bastard son of Philip 2 and a dancing girl; renamed Philip 3 Arrhidaeus to emphasize his paternity); Arrhidaeus described in the sources as "mentally defective". Eumenes proposes compromise to make Philip 3 and Alexander 4 co-kings.

Perdiccas assigns following commands:

  1. Antipater to Europe
  2. Craterus becomes the protector of Philip 3 and protects his portion of the empire
  3. Meleager becomes the protector of Alexander 4 and protects his portion of the empire
  4. Perdiccas becomes the protector of the entire empire
  5. Ptolemy gains Egypt
  6. Antigonus Mono gains western Asia Minor
  7. Lysimachus gains Thrace

Soon after, Perdiccas had Meleager killed and Craterus' powers diminished; others become suspicious of Perdiccas; Macedonian army refuses to ratify Alexander's so-called deathbed memorandum.

The years 323-301 see the power struggle being played out among Alexander's generals, with each trying to take as much of the empire for himself as possible; main contestants are the Macedonians Perdiccas (before his murder), Ptolemy, Lysimachus, Seleucus, Cassander, Antigonus Monophthalmos (Antigonus the One-Eyed) and the Greek Eumenes.

From 323 to 320, Perdiccas attempts to fashion a compromise with the two legitimate heirs (Philip 3 & Alexander 4) which would be legitimate but which would leave power in his hands. Thus he serves as "guardian" of the kings who reside in Babylon under his protection / control.

Lamian War (revolt in Greece) breaks out and is eventually put down by Craterus and Antipater.

The lay of the land is set when Perdiccas takes control of co-kings in Babylon and marries Olympias' daughter Cleopatra (Alex 3's sister) instead of Antipater's daughter. Thus the new alliance is Antipater, Craterus, Antigonus, Lysimachus, and Ptolemy vs. Perdiccas.

From 320 to 316, Antigonus hounds and eventually eliminates Eumenes (Alex 3's former secretary and treasurer). This is followed by a concerted Antigonid effort to bring whole empire under their control down to 301.

Year Important Events
320 ? Perdiccas murdered in Egypt and war is narrowly averted

321-311

The Struggles After the Death of Perdiccas with Antigonus in the ascendancy.

320 Meeting of coalition at Triparadeisus in N. Syria
  • Antipater becomes guardian of the 2 kings (Craterus has died in an operation against Eumenes) and moves court back to Macedon (i. e., this is a policy statement by old guard Macedonians)
  • Antigonus becomes general of Asia; Antipater becomes general of Europe; Ptolemy becomes general of Egypt; Seleucus becomes general of Babylonia; thus Macedonia, Asia and Egypt are already under separate control and so the pattern of the Hellenistic world is appearing
319

Antipater dies and bequeaths title of epimeletes to Polyperchon (an officer of Philip 2), instead of his own son Cassander

  • Antigonus, Eumenes, Lysimachus, Ptolemy & Cassander are allied vs Polyperchon
  • Cassander takes Athens from Polyperchon and hands it over to Demetrius of Phalerum
  • Eurydice declares for Cassander against Polyperchon
  • Polyperchon brings Olympias back from exile and she then engineers deaths of Philip 3 and Eurydice
  • Cassander kills Olympias & invades Macedonia
  • Alexander 4 (4 years old) is sole survivor of the legitimate house of Philip 2
318

Antigonus resumes war against Eumenes
316
  • Eumenes betrayed by troops, tried, and executed
  • Antigonus extends power into Iran (and becomes the first general to increase his geographical territory) and so becomes enemy of the rest
315
  • Antigonus expels Seleucus from Babylon
  • Seleucus goes to Ptolemy
  • Ptolemy, Cassander, Lysimachos deliver ultimatum to Antigonus: surrender his territory and return; Antigonus refuses
  • Babylon ceded to Seleukos & Eumenes' treasure is shared between with them
314
  • Antigonus proclaims at Tyre that he will consider Cassander his enemy unless Cassander destroys his new foundations of Thessalonica & Cassandreia and releases Alexander 4 & Roxane
  • Cassander capitulates eventually and hands them over to Macedonians and shows himself obedient to Antigonus
  • Antigonus also proclaims that the Greek cities are to be free, self-governing, and without garrisons
  • Ptolemy then issues his own decree in favor of freedom of the Greek cities
312
  • Demetrius (Antigonus' son) is routed by Ptolemy in battle at Gaza
  • gives Seleucus opportunity to recover Babylon
  • Antigonus arrives to restore the situation
311
  • Antigonus & Ptolemy agree to peace and the status quo (i.e., Cassander remains as general of Europe until Alexander 4 becomes an adult)
  • Lysimachus is general of Thrace
  • Ptolemy is general of Egypt
  • Antigonus (now 71 years old) is general of Asia
  • the Greek cities are free

NB: this treaty reinforces the existance of 4 independent powers; soon after Cassander kills Alexander 4 and Roxane; soon after Antigonus & Cassander begin calling themselves kings (instead of merely generals).

We are moving towards the Hellenistic landscape of 4 independent kingdoms.

311-301

The period (311 to 301) is characterized by various plots against Antigonus.
307

Demtrius expels Demetrium of Phalerum from Athens and sets up a democracy there.
306
  • Demetrius goes against Cyprus and so comes into conflict with Ptolemy
  • Cyprus passes to Antigonids who "are saluted for the first time by the multitude as kings"
  • Demetrius attacks Rhodes and get name the Demetrius Poliorcetes ("Demetrius the Besieger")
  • Demetrius siezes Isthmus of Corinth
  • in preparation for war on Cassander, Demetrius resurrects Hellenic League of Philip 2 & Alexander 3 (this is a very shortlived attempt)
  • coalition of Cassander, Lysimachus, Seleucus vs. Antigonus and Demetrius comes to a head at Ipsus in Phrygia
  • Antigonus dies
  • Demetrius flees
  • Lysimachus takes most of Asia Minor
  • Ptolemy takes area S of Aradus and Damascus

305/4

Ptolemy, Lysimachus, Seleucus, and Cassander are all called king by their supporters.

301-285

Demetrius tries to restore fortunes in Greece and for a time holds Macedonia
289

Demetrius loses Athens and is expelled from Macedonia and taken prisoner by Seleucus
285
  • Lysimachus tries to hold Macedonia
  • Lysimachus' son's widow (he had killed his son) invites Seleucus into the dispute

285-276

The Final Events
283
  • Demetrius dies of drink
  • possession of Macedonia disputed
281
  • Lysimachus killed by Seleucus at Corupedium
  • Seleucus takes Lysimachus's territory
279

invasion of Gauls into Macedonia, down into northern Greece and across into Galacia
276

Antigonus Gonatus (Demetrius' son) is victorious over Gauls at Lysimacheia and then takes advantage of weak conditions to estabablish himself as king of Macedonia & Thessaly

  • from now on, Macedonia is the province of the Antigonids
  • Egypt is the province of the Ptolemies
  • Syria is the province of the Seleucids