Download The Funeral Games (323 – 276 BCE)

March 14 th , 2012
web.ics.purdue.edu/~rauhn/alexander.htm
 Alexander’s conquest of Asia tentative at best; Initial attempt to
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keep the kingdom intact.
No heir; Roxanne pregnant; Philip Arrhidaeus feeble-minded;
No potential successor identified.
Immediate conflict (Perdiccas backed Arrhidaeus; Infantry
backed the unborn child of Roxanne).
Tentative compromise reached but would not hold.
The major players: Antipater, Perdiccas, Cassander, Polyperchon,
Antigonus, Demetrius, Ptolemy, and Seleucus.
Conflicting views: 1. The empire of Alexander should be kept
whole and intact (i.e. Antigonus). 2. Should be carved up into
separate kingdoms (i.e. Ptolemy)
 “He also wrote an account of what happened after
Alexander. They comprise the sedition in the army and
the proclamation of Arrhidaeus, a son of Philip,
Alexander’s father, from the Thessalian Philine, on the
condition that the throne would be shared between
him and Alexander (the Great); and that is what
happened when the child saw the light of day. They
proclaimed Arrhidaeus king and changed his name to
Philip.” (M.M. Austin, Doc. 22a)
 Neither Philip Arrhidaeus nor Alexander IV would ever rule.
 Ambitions of the generals running high; each with military commands.
 Antipater the most senior (regent for Alexander IV); Perdiccas attempts to
assert supreme authority over Alexander’s patrimony (in the name of
Arrhidaeus).
 Those suspected of (alleged) “disloyalty” to Arrhidaeus murdered; Perdiccas
quickly becoming unpopular.
 Calms the situation by distributing satrapies to Alexander’s generals
(Diadochoi); most of Western Asia Minor given to Macedonians or Greeks;
Eastern (upper) satrapies left in the hands native satraps.
 Perdiccas in charge over all.
 323 BCE – Revolts in Bactria and Greece.
 The Lamian War (323-322 BCE) Athens the instigator but joined by
many Greek poleis discontented with Macedonian rule; Antipater leads
Macedonian fleet; Athens crushed at B. of Amorgos (322 BCE);
Athenian dominance at sea finished forever; Athens garrisoned; suicide
of Demosthenes.
 322 BCE – Perdiccas invades Cappadocia and sets Eumenes of Cardia as
satrap.
 320 BCE – Perdiccas invades Egypt but is defeated and killed; a new
settlement of powers and satrapies by Antipater at Triparadisus in Syria
(Lysimachus master of Thrace, Ptolemy confirmed in Egypt, Antigonus
Monopthalmus commander of Asia, Seleucus satrap of Babylon).
 319 BCE – Antipater is dead; Polyperchon appointed
regent for Alexander IV alienating Cassander (son of
Antipater.
 Cassander invites Olympias (exiled to Epirus) to
return to Macedon as guardian of Alexander IV.
 Intrigues with other generals against Polyperchon.
 Antigonous Monopthalmus smells opportunity.
 “In Asia, as the news of Antipater’s death was noised about,
revolutionary stirrings began to be felt, as those in positions of
authority sought to work for their own ends. Chief among these was
Antigonus. He had previously defeated Eumenes in Cappodocia and
taken over his army, and he had overcome Alceta and Attalus in Pisidia
and also taken over their armies. In addition he had been chosen by
Antipater general of Asia with full powers, and appointed commander
of a large army. All this filled him with self-importance and pride. He
was hoping to achieve supreme power and was resolved to ignore the
kings and their guardians…Antigonus then immediately called a
council of his friends, communicated to them his ambitions for
supreme power, and assigned satrapies to some of his most prominent
followers and military commands to others. He filled them all with
great hopes and made them enthusiastic for his own plans. For it was
his intention to overrun Asia, expel the existing satraps and organize
the appointments in favor of his friends.” (Didorus XVIII 48.50. M.M.
Austin, Doc. 25)
 319 BCE – Lysimachus, Cassander, Ptolemy, and Antigonus move to expel
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Polyperchon and Eumenes.
Ptolemy seizes Syria and Phoenicia.
Spring 318 BCE – Eumenes retakes Phoenicia for Polyperchon; commences
construction of a fleet; Polyperchon proclaims the freedom of the Greek cities
garrisoned by Antipater (some defect to Polyperchon but some – i.e. Athens go over to Cassander).
Autumn 318 BCE – Polyperchon defeated at sea near Byzantium; Antigonous in
control of the seas.
317 BCE – Cassander drives out Polyperchon and becomes regent of Philip
Arrhidaeus.
Polyperchon flees to Epirus; allies with Olympias and Alexander IV and
Aeacidas of Epirus.
Autumn 317 BCE - Polyperchon, Olympias et.al. invade Macedonia while
Cassander is in the Peloponnese; Macedonian troops begin to defect to
Polyperchon (Alexander IV); Philip Arrhidaeus executed; Cassander returns
and besieges Olympias at Pydna; Olympias forced to surrender (executed in 316
BCE); Cassander retains control of Macedon.
The Second Diadoch War in the East
(318-315 BCE)
 Affairs in the east dominated by the ambitions of Antigonus.
 318 BCE – Antigonus snatches control of Lydia away from
Eumenes; Polyperchon’s fleet defeated off Byzantium.
 317 BCE – Euemens moves east; unites the upper satrapies
behind Polyperchon.
 316-315 BCE – Stalemate between Antigonus and Eumenes.
 January 315 BCE – B. of Gabae (central Iran) Eumenes defeated
and executed; Antigonus reorganizes Asia, replacing all the
satrapies; Seleucus (satrap of Babylon) forced to flee to Ptolemy;
India lost to Chandragupta Maurya.
 Ptolemy, Lysimachus, and Cassander alarmed at Antigonus’ behavior in Egypt,
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esp. his treatment of Seleucus.
Demanded Antigonus surrender his conquests and share his spoils; Antigonus
flatly refuses.
Spring 314 BCE – Antigonus seizes Phoenicia.
Summer 314 BCE – Antigonus allies himself with Polyperchon and proclaims
the “freedom of the Greeks”; Antigonus organizes the Aegean islands into the
Nesiotic League.
313 BCE – The Peloponnese goes over to Antigonus and Polyperchon;
stalemates in Asia and Macedon.
313-312 BCE – Inconclusive fighting throughout Syria and Phoenicia.
311 BCE – Seleucus returns to Babylonia; regains control; Antigonus opens
peace talks; Rebalancing of powers.
Cassander supreme commander in Europe; Antigonus supreme commander of
Asia; Seleucus satrap of Babylonia; Lysimachus in control of Thrace; Ptolemy in
Egypt; Greek cities to be free and autonomous; Alexander IV to become king
when he reaches adulthood.
A Dishonorable Peace (311 BCE)
 “When Simonides was archon in 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, the son of Roxanê, should come of age; that Lysimachus
rule Thrace, and that Ptolemy rule Egypt and the cities adjacent thereto 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. 2 Now Cassander perceived that Alexander, the
son of Roxanê, was growing up and that word was being spread throughout
Macedonia by certain men that it was fitting to release the boy from
custody and give him his father's kingdom; and, fearing for himself, he
instructed Glaucias, who was in command of the guard over the child, to
murder Roxanê and the king and conceal their bodies, but to disclose to no
one else what had been done. 3 When Glaucias had carried out the
instructions, Cassander, Lysimachus, and Ptolemy, and Antigonus as well,
were relieved of their anticipated danger from the king; 4 for henceforth,
there being no longer anyone to inherit the realm, each of those who had
rule over nations or cities entertained hopes of royal power and held the
territory that had been placed under his authority as if it were a kingdom
won by the spear.” (Diodorus, 19.105. Trans. R.M. Greer, 1954)
Antigonus’ Aims in ‘Freeing the Greeks’
 “He calculated as follows: the Greeks’ hopes for freedom would
make them willing allies in the war, while the generals and
satraps in the upper satrapies, who suspected Antigonus of
seeking to overthrow the kings who had succeeded Alexander,
would change their minds and willingly submit to his orders
when they saw him clearly taking up the war on his behalf.
Having done this he gave 500 talents to Alexander (i.e. son of
Polyperchon) and dispatched him to the Peloponnese with great
hope for the future…While this was happening Ptolemy heard of
the resolution concerning the freedom of the Greeks which the
Macedonians with Antigonus had passed, and drafted a
proclamation in much the same words to convey to the Greeks
that he cared no less for their autonomy than did Antigonus.
Each side saw that to gain the goodwill of the Greeks would carry
no little weight, and so they vied with each other in conferring
favors on them.” (Diodorus XIX. 61-62.2. M.M. Austin, Doc. 29)
 311 BCE - Seleucus was not party to the peace treaty of the diadochs; marched
on pro-Antigonid satrapies in the east, reducing them one by one.
 310 BCE – Demetrius Poliorketes (son of Antigonus) sent east; joined later by
Antigonus.
 310-309 BCE – Brutal guerilla wars devastate the countryside; Antigonus forced
to withdraw and abandon the any claims on the eastern satrapies.
 East 309 -8 BCE – Seleucus commences the recovery of all the upper satrapies
(some were loyal to Antigonus and some had rebelled, asserting their
independence); Seleucus conquers Bactria and invades India.
 West 309-8 BCE – Antigonus distracted in the east and Ptolemy gains control
of the Nesiotic League in his absence.
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307 BCE – Demetrius (son of Antigonus) through diplomacy, bribery, and intimidation regains
control of the Nesiotic League; Arrives in Athens; Hailed as a liberator and a god; Demetrius of
Phaleron (Cassander’s governor) and Cassander’s garrison expelled; democracy restored.
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306 BCE – Demetrius unsuccessfully tries to take Cyprus from Ptolemy but destroys Ptolemy’s fleet
off Salamis; Antigonus and Demetrius honored as kings; the other diadochs follow suit; Claims to
royal titles a tacit admission of the dissolution of Alexander’s empire.
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305-4 BCE – Demetrius commences his siege of Rhodes; Cassander attempts of regain control of
Greece; Rhodes capitulates to Demetrius who rushes off to Athens.
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303 BCE – Demetrius organizes the Greek cities into a league (comparable to the Synedrion of
Corinth).
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302 BCE – Cassander seeks peace but Demetrius demands unconditional surrender of Macedonia;
inconclusive campaigning in Thessaly; Lysimachus’ surprise attack against Antigonus in Asia captures
Sardis and Ephesus; Demetrius rushes east to help his father.
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301 BCE – Lysimachus besieged by Antigonus and Demetrius at Ipsus; Seleucus arrived to lift the
siege; Antigonus killed in battle and Demetrius forced to flee with small force.
Demetrius and the Liberation of Athens:
The New Politics
 “Demetrius set sail for Athens with 500 talents and a fleet of 250 ships; the city
was governed on behalf of Cassander by Demetrius of Phalerum, and a
garrison had been installed in Munychia. By a combination of good luck and
foresight he appeared before the Piraeus on the 26th of Thargelion; no one had
spotted him beforehand and when his fleet was sighted off-shore, they all
believed the ships were Ptolemy’s and made ready to receive them. The
generals were late in realizing their mistake and coming to the rescue, and
there was confusion as one would expect with a forced attempt to fight off an
unexpected landing of enemies. Demetrius found the entrances to the harbour
open and sailed in; he was now inside and in full view and signified from his
ship that he was asking for quiet and silence. When this had been established.
He proclaimed through the voice of a herald near him that his father had sent
him with prayers for his success to free the Athenians, expel the garrison and
restore to them their laws and their ancestral constitution. On hearing this
proclamation the majority at once cast down their shields at their feet and
applauded, and shouted to Demetrius to disembark, calling him their
benefactor and saviour…The Athenians now welcomed him and called for him,
and so he came to the city, called the people together and restored to them
their ancestral constitution. He added the promise that his father would send
them 15,000 medimni of corn and enough timber to build 100 triremes. And so
the Athenians recovered their democracy after fifteen years; in the intervening
period since the Lamian War and the battle of Crannon the constitution had
ostensibly been oligarchical, but was in fact the rule of one man because of the
power exercised by Demetrius of Phalerum.” (Plutarch, Life of Demetrius, 8-10.
M.M. Austin, Doc. 34)
The Athenian Reaction:
The New Politics
 “Demetrius had shown magnificence and greatness in his
benefactions, but the Athenians proceeded to make him
offensive and obnoxious through offensive honours they voted
him. They were the first to give the title kings to Demetrius and
Antigonus, although they had otherwise avoided the name up till
now, and it was the only royal prerogative still left to descendants
of Philip and Alexander which others could not touch or share
in. They were the only men to call them Saviour Gods. They
abolished the ancestral eponymous archonship and elected every
year a priest of the Saviours, and put his name on the prescripts
of decrees and contracts. They also voted to weave their
likenesses into the robe of Athena together with the gods,
consecrated the spot where Demetrius first had first stepped
down from his chariot, placed an altar there and called it the
altar of Demetrius Cataebates (the descending god).” (Plutarch,
Life of Demetrius, 8-10. M.M. Austin, Doc. 34)
Keeping Up with the Antigonids:
The Other Diadochs Assume the Royal Title Too (306-304 BCE)
 “The multitude then for the first time proclaimed Antigonus and
Demetrius kings. Antigonus’ friends tied at once a diadem round
his head, while Demetrius was sent a diadem by his father and
addressed as king in a letter he wrote. When the news was
reported, Ptolemy’s followers in Egypt also proclaimed Ptolemy
king, to dispel any impression that his defeat had humbled his
pride. And so emulation spread the practice like a contagion
among the Successors: Lysimachus began to wear the diadem,
and so too Seleucus in his dealings with the Greeks (with the
barbarians he had already been behaving as a king). Cassander,
however, although the others wrote to him and addressed him as
king, continued to write letters in the same style as before, with
his name only, but no title. Now this practice did not involve
merely the addition of a title and a change of fashion; it
stimulated the men’s pride and raised their ambitions, and made
them arrogant and obnoxious in their dealings with others.”
(Plutarch, Demetrius 18. M.M. Austin, Doc. 36)
The Death of Antigonus Monopthalmus at
Ipsus (301 BCE)
 “When the armies engaged, Demetrius, who commanded the greatest and best part
of the cavalry, made a charge on Antiochus, the son of Seleucus, and gloriously
routing the enemy, followed the pursuit, in the pride and exultation of success, so
eagerly, and so unwisely far, that it fatally lost him the day; for when, perceiving his
error, he would have come in to the assistance of his own infantry, he was not able,
the enemy with their elephants having cut off his retreat. And on the other hand,
Seleucus, observing the main battle of Antigonus left naked of their horse, did
not charge, but made a show of charging; and keeping them in alarm and
wheeling about and still threatening an attack, he gave opportunity for those
who wished it to separate and come over to him; which a large body of them did, the
rest taking to flight. But the old King Antigonus still kept his post, and when a
strong body of the enemies drew up to charge him, and one of those about him
cried out to him, 'Sir, they are coming upon you,' he only replied, 'What else should
they do? But Demetrius will come to my rescue.' And in this hope he persisted to
the last, looking out on every side for his son's approach, until he was borne down
by a whole multitude of darts, and fell. His other followers and friends fled, and
Thorax of Larissa remained alone by the body.” (Plutarch, Demetrius 29, Trans. J.
Nalson).
http://www.livius.org/io-iz/ipsus/ipsus.html
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After Ipsus Antigonus’ territory divided up among the victors; Lysimachus took most of
Asia Minor, Seleucus received Syria and Palestine, Cappadocia given to Ariarathes (a
close dependent of Seleucus), Ptolemy in Egypt.
Demetrius beaten but still control of certain cities in the Peloponnese as well as the
Nesiotic League and Cyprus.
300 BCE - Ptolemy irritated by loss of Palestine to Seleucus; Marries off his daughter
(Arsinoe II) to Lysimachus.
299 BCE - Seleucus marries Demetrius’ daughter (Stratonice).
298 BCE – Demetrius seizes Lycia and Cilicia while Seleucus takes Samaria from Ptolemy;
Cassander dies; Macedon divided between his two sons (Antipater in the west, Alexander
in the east); immediate quarrels.
297 BCE – Athens revolts from Demetrius’ control.
296-5 BCE – Demetrius besieges Athens and forces its capitulation; Athens garrisoned.
294 BCE – Demetrius brings the entire Peloponnese under his control; Alexander (of
Macedon) still locked in a civil war with brother (Antipater); invited Demetrius and
Pyrrhus of Epirus to assist; Pyrrhus arrives first and standoff ensues with Demetrius;
Demetrius kills Alexander, seizes his army, and drives out Antipater.
294-289 BCE – Demetrius firmly in control of Macedonia; Many of his eastern
territories snatched by Seleucus, Ptolemy, and Lysimachus with little resistance.
http://www.livius.org/a/1/maps/diadochi_map_02.gif
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288 BCE – The Macedonian nobles revolt from Demetrius; Antigonas II Gonatas (son of
Demetrius) left in charge of Greece; Demetrius moves east to attack the other diadochs.
287 BCE – Lysimachus and Pyrrhus invade Macedonia; Athens captured by Ptolemy.
287-286 BCE – Demetrius fights a series of ineffectual campaigns against Seleucus and
Lysimachus; captured by Seleucus (286 BCE); Demetrius descends into dissipation and
drink; drinks himself to death (283 BCE); Antigonus II Gonatas driven out of Macedonia.
285 BCE – Pyrrhus and Lysimachus quarrel over Macedonia; Ptolemy I abdicates (dies in
282 BCE) in favor of his son Ptolemy II Philadelphos alienating his other son Ptolemy
Ceraunus (who flees to Seleucus).
282-281 BCE – Dynastic struggle in the house of Lysimachus leads to Seleucus’
intervention in Thrace; Antiochus I (son of Seleucus) appointed his successor and left in
charge of eastern satrapies; Seleucus defeats Lysimachus at b. of Corupedium;
Lysimachus dead; Seleucus continues toward Thrace but is assassinated by Ptolemy
Ceraunus; Ceraunus in control of Macedon.
279 BCE – The death of Lysimachus weakened Macedonia and Thrace; Gauls invade
Macedonia; Ptolemy Ceraunus is captured and beheaded; Macedonia in turmoil and
leaderless.
278 BCE – Gauls descend into Greece; partially repelled by Antigonas II Gonatas.
277 BCE – Gauls ransack Thrace and cross into Asia Minor; Antigonas II seizes control of
Thracian towns; Victories over the Gauls cause him to be cheered as king of Macedonia
and Thrace.
275 BCE – Antiochus (son of Seleucus) finally defeats the Gauls in Asia Minor.
The Gallic Menace
 “Greek spirit had sunk right down, but the power of fear forced them to realize
that Greece must fight. They saw that this struggle was not about freedom as it
once was against Persia; it was not going to be enough now to offer earth and
water. What had happened to Macedonia, to Thrace, to Paeonia, in the
previous onslaught of the Gauls, was still in their memory, and news came of.
the outrages that were now being committed in Thessaly. Every man as an
individual and every city collectively had realized that the Greeks must
overcome or be destroyed….So he [Brennus] chose 40,000 infantry out of the
army, and about 800 cavalry, and put Orestorius and Cambutis in command, to
go back by the bridges of the Spercheius, make their way through Thessaly, and
strike at Aetolia. It was Cambutis and Orestorius who committed the atrocities
on the Callians , the mast horrifying wickedness I have ever heard of, not like
the crimes of human beings at all. They butchered every human male of that
entire race, the old men and the children at the breast; and the Gauls drank the
blood and ate the flesh of those of the slaughtered babies that were fattest with
milk. Any woman and mature virgins with a spark of pride killed themselves as
soon as the city fell; those who lived were subjected with wanton violence to
every form of outrage by men as remote from mercy as they were remote from
love. Women who came on a Gaulish sword committed suicide with their own
hands; it was not long before the others were to die by famishing hunger and
sleeplessness, outraged in an endless succession by pitiless and barbarous men:
they mated with the dying and mated with the already dead.” (Pausanias
10.19.4-23.9. Trans. P. Levi - http://www.livius.org/didn/diadochi/diadochi_t11.html)
http://www.livius.org/a/1/maps/diadochi_map_05.gif
Changes in the Political Landscape
 Polis system still intact in Greece; under the hegemony
of Macedonian kings; no change since Philip II.
 Former Persian Empire (empire of Alexander) carved
up into several large chunks; existing infrastructure
left in place (esp. in Ptolemaic Egypt and Seleucid
east).
 Right to rule determined by the ability to wage war; an
extension of the logic of Athenian imperial ideology to
individuals.
 Hellenistic kings rule as warrior elite; exercise personal
hegemony over poleis through combination of
intimidation and euergetism.
Demetrius: A King without a Kingdom (288
BCE)
 “But as soon as he had entered upon the path of hope, as upon a royal
highway, and had gathered about himself a body and form of
sovereignty, he restored to the Thebans their ancient form of
government; the Athenians, however, revolted from him. They voted to
elect archons as had been their custom of old, and took away from
Diphilus, who had been appointed priest of the Saviour-gods, the
privilege of giving his name to the current year; and when they saw that
Demetrius had more strength than they expected, they summoned
Pyrrhus to their aid from Macedonia. 2 Demetrius came up against
them in a rage, and began a strenuous siege of the city. But the people
sent to him Crates the philosopher, a man of great repute and
influence, and Demetrius, partly because he was induced to grant the
ambassador's appeals in behalf of the Athenians, and partly because he
was convinced when the philosopher showed him what would be an
advantageous course, raised the siege, and after assembling all the
ships he had, and putting on board eleven thousand soldiers, together
with his cavalry, he sailed for Asia, to wrest Caria and Lydia from
Lysimachus.” (Plut. Demetrius, 46. Trans. B. Perrin, 1920).
Demetrius and Pyrrhus (288 BCE)
 “Demetrius therefore determined to put as much distance
as possible between himself and Lysimachus, and to turn
his arms against Pyrrhus; for Lysimachus as he thought,
was a fellow-countryman and congenial to many of the
Macedonians because of Alexander; while Pyrrhus was a
new-comer and a foreigner, and would not be preferred by
them before himself. In these calculations, however, he was
greatly deceived. 5 For he drew nigh and pitched his camp
by that of Pyrrhus; but his soldiers had always admired
that leader's brilliant exploits in arms, and from of old
they had been wont to consider the man who was
mightiest in arms as also the most kingly….” (Plut.
Demetrius, 44.4-5. Trans. B. Perrin, 1920).
The Nature of Hellenistic Monarchy
 “Monarchy. It is neither descent nor legitimacy which
gives monarchies to men, but the ability to command
an army and to handle affairs competently. Such was
the case with Philip and the successors of Alexander.
For Alexander’s natural son was in no way helped by
his kinship with him, because of his weakness of spirit,
while those who had no connection with Alexander
became kings of almost the whole inhabitable world
(Suda s.v. Basileia 2. M.M. Austin, Doc. 37)