Second War of the Diadochi
Encyclopedia
The Second War of the Diadochi is the conflict between Polyperchon
and Cassander
, following the death of Cassander's father, Antipater
.
. In a series of shifting alliances they proceeded to carve out kingdoms and independent empires from Alexander's conquests.
Following the first conflict, Antipater became the de facto ruler of Alexander's European territories, while Antigonus
gained a similar position in Asia.
However, when Antipater died, he left his domain in the hands of his lieutenant, Polyperchon, as opposed to his son Cassander. Cassander, however, had the support of Antigonus, and Ptolemy
(the current ruler of Egypt, See Ptolemaic Dynasty
), while Polyperchon was supported by Eumenes
, Alexander's former secretary, who was then the ruler of Cappadocia
.
with the infant King Alexander IV
. However, from here he joined forces with Alexander's mother Olympias
and was able to re-invade Macedon. King Philip Arrhidaeus, Alexander's half-brother, having defected to Cassander's side at the prompting of his wife, Eurydice
, was forced to flee, only to be captured in Amphipolis
, resulting in the his execution.
However, Cassander rallied once more, and was able to take control of Macedon. In doing so, Olympias
was killed, and Cassander was able to gain control of the infant King and his mother. In Asia, at the battles of Paraitacene
and Gabiene
, Eumenes was defeated by Antigonus, allowing Antigonus to control the Asian territories once more.
allying against him in the third war of the Diadochi. The territories now controlled by Antigonus would later form the basis of the Selucid Empire.
Polyperchon
Polyperchon , son of Simmias from Tymphaia in Epirus, was a Macedonian general who served under Philip II and Alexander the Great, accompanying Alexander throughout his long journeys. After the return to Babylon, Polyperchon was sent back to Macedon with Craterus, but had only reached Cilicia by...
and Cassander
Cassander
Cassander , King of Macedonia , was a son of Antipater, and founder of the Antipatrid dynasty...
, following the death of Cassander's father, Antipater
Antipater
Antipater was a Macedonian general and a supporter of kings Philip II of Macedon and Alexander the Great. In 320 BC, he became Regent of all of Alexander's Empire. Antipater was one of the sons of a Macedonian nobleman called Iollas or Iolaus and his family were distant collateral relatives to the...
.
Background
The unexpected death of Alexander the Great left his newly created and vast empire without a clear successor. This lack of an arrangement for succession eventually led to war between his top generals, the DiadochiDiadochi
The Diadochi were the rival generals, family and friends of Alexander the Great who fought for the control of Alexander's empire after his death in 323 BC...
. In a series of shifting alliances they proceeded to carve out kingdoms and independent empires from Alexander's conquests.
Following the first conflict, Antipater became the de facto ruler of Alexander's European territories, while Antigonus
Antigonus
Antigonus, a Greek name meaning "comparable to his father" or "worthy of his father", may refer to:* Three Macedonian kings of the Antigonid dynasty that succeeded Alexander the Great in Asia:** Antigonus I Monophthalmus...
gained a similar position in Asia.
However, when Antipater died, he left his domain in the hands of his lieutenant, Polyperchon, as opposed to his son Cassander. Cassander, however, had the support of Antigonus, and Ptolemy
Ptolemy
Claudius Ptolemy , was a Roman citizen of Egypt who wrote in Greek. He was a mathematician, astronomer, geographer, astrologer, and poet of a single epigram in the Greek Anthology. He lived in Egypt under Roman rule, and is believed to have been born in the town of Ptolemais Hermiou in the...
(the current ruler of Egypt, See Ptolemaic Dynasty
Ptolemaic dynasty
The Ptolemaic dynasty, was a Macedonian Greek royal family which ruled the Ptolemaic Empire in Egypt during the Hellenistic period. Their rule lasted for 275 years, from 305 BC to 30 BC...
), while Polyperchon was supported by Eumenes
Eumenes
Eumenes of Cardia was a Thracian general and scholar. He participated in the wars of the Diadochi as a supporter of the Macedonian Argead royal house.-Career:...
, Alexander's former secretary, who was then the ruler of Cappadocia
Cappadocia
Cappadocia is a historical region in Central Anatolia, largely in Nevşehir Province.In the time of Herodotus, the Cappadocians were reported as occupying the whole region from Mount Taurus to the vicinity of the Euxine...
.
The War
Cassander gained an early advantage in the war, and was able to force Polyperchon to retreat to EpirusEpirus
The name Epirus, from the Greek "Ήπειρος" meaning continent may refer to:-Geographical:* Epirus - a historical and geographical region of the southwestern Balkans, straddling modern Greece and Albania...
with the infant King Alexander IV
Alexander IV of Macedon
Alexander IV Aegus was the son of Alexander the Great and Princess Roxana of Bactria.-Birth:...
. However, from here he joined forces with Alexander's mother Olympias
Olympias
Olympias was a Greek princess of Epirus, daughter of king Neoptolemus I of Epirus, the fourth wife of the king of Macedonia, Philip II, and mother of Alexander the Great...
and was able to re-invade Macedon. King Philip Arrhidaeus, Alexander's half-brother, having defected to Cassander's side at the prompting of his wife, Eurydice
Eurydice II of Macedon
Eurydice was an ancient Macedonian queen, wife of king Amyntas III of Macedon.She was the daughter of Sirras, an Illyrian noble based in Lyncestis, Upper Macedonia...
, was forced to flee, only to be captured in Amphipolis
Amphipolis
Amphipolis was an ancient Greek city in the region once inhabited by the Edoni people in the present-day region of Central Macedonia. It was built on a raised plateau overlooking the east bank of the river Strymon where it emerged from Lake Cercinitis, about 3 m. from the Aegean Sea. Founded in...
, resulting in the his execution.
However, Cassander rallied once more, and was able to take control of Macedon. In doing so, Olympias
Olympias
Olympias was a Greek princess of Epirus, daughter of king Neoptolemus I of Epirus, the fourth wife of the king of Macedonia, Philip II, and mother of Alexander the Great...
was killed, and Cassander was able to gain control of the infant King and his mother. In Asia, at the battles of Paraitacene
Battle of Paraitacene
The Battle of Paraitacene was a battle in the wars of the successors of Alexander the Great between Antigonus I Monophthalmus and Eumenes. It was fought in 317 BC.-Background:...
and Gabiene
Battle of Gabiene
Battle of Gabiene was a second great battle between two of Alexander the Great's successors: Antigonus and Eumenes in the wars of the Diadochi.-Background:...
, Eumenes was defeated by Antigonus, allowing Antigonus to control the Asian territories once more.
Aftermath
The war had shifted the balance of power to such a degree that Antigonus could pose a threat to any of the other Diadochi, leading to Cassander, Ptolemy and LysimachusLysimachus
Lysimachus was a Macedonian officer and diadochus of Alexander the Great, who became a basileus in 306 BC, ruling Thrace, Asia Minor and Macedon.-Early Life & Career:...
allying against him in the third war of the Diadochi. The territories now controlled by Antigonus would later form the basis of the Selucid Empire.