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Hellas: Almanac of the Diadochi
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Posted by Webmaster on September 21 2004, 04:00 PM
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Alexander the Great died on June 10th, 323 BC at Babylon, without leaving an heir ready to assume his position. Thus he was succeeded by his able Macedonian generals, who fought continuous wars in Europe and Asia for the control of the dead king's empire, which in turn disintegrated into smaller units. After the Diadochi Period (323 BC -- 280 BC), three strong dynastic kingdoms emerged as major successors of Alexander's domain -- the Seleucid Empire in Asia, the Antigonid Empire in Macedonia and Greece and the Ptolemaic Empire in Egypt. They remained the major players on the Mediterranean stage until the advent of Rome in the early II century BC.
Alexander of Molossis -- king of Epirus. Sided with Polyperchon and Olympias against Cassander.
Alexander IV -- son of Alexander the Great and Roxanne. Proclaimed joint king of Macedonia along with Philip Arridaeus in 323 BC. Set to assume full power when he came to an age in 305, but was instead killed at the age of thirteen.
Antigonus Monophtalmus (‘one-eyed') -- Macedonian general (382 BC -- 301 BC), satrap of Phrygia. The oldest and mightiest of Alexander's successors. Dreamt of reuniting the empire under his personal rule. Killed at the battle of Ipsus.
Antigonus II Gonatas -- king of Macedonia (277 BC -- 239 BC), son of Demetrius Poliorcetes. Repulsed the Galatians from Macedonia.
Antiochus I Soter (‘saviour') -- king of Asia (280 BC -- 261 BC), son of Seleucus I Nicator. Defeated the Galatians in Asia Minor (275 BC) and fought against Ptolemy II Philadelphus of Egypt for the control of Phoenicia and Syria.
Antipater -- Macedonian general (died in 319 BC), regent in Macedonia during Alexander's campaign. Regent of the kings after the Settlement of Triparadisus.
Bolgius -- Galatian chieftain. Invaded Macedonia.
Brennus -- Galatian chieftain. Pillaged the oracle of Apollo at Delphi.
Barsine -- Asian mistress of Alexander the Great.
Cassander -- king of Macedonia (died in 297 BC), son of Antipater, regent of the kings. Fought against Polyperchon for the control of Macedonia.
Chandragupta -- king of Mauryan India. Conquered the Indus valley in 316 BC. Received three satrapies from Seleucus I Nicator in 304 BC in exchange of 500 war elephants.
Cleopatra -- sister of Alexander the Great. Offered by Olimpias to Perdiccas, which provoked Antipater and Craterus to revolt in 321 BC.
Corupedium -- sight of a battle in 280 BC, where Seleucus I Nicator crushed and killed Lysimachus.
Craterus -- one of Alexander's ablest generals, the most beloved one by the Macedonians. Defeated the Greeks in the Lamian War. Died in a battle against Eumenes near the Hellespont in 320 BC.
Demetrius of Phaleron -- famous philosopher, installed as tyrant of Athens by Cassander. Deposed by Demetrius Poliorcetes in 307 BC.
Demetrius Poliorcetes (‘the besieger, taker of cities') -- Macedonian general (337 BC -- 283 BC), son of Antigonus Monophtalmus, king of Macedonia (294 BC -- 288 BC). After losing his kingdom to Lysimachus and Pyrrhus, he embarked on a campaign in Asia, where he was deserted by his troops and captured by Seleucus in 286 BC. Died in captivity.
Eumenes -- the ablest general of Alexander, Cardian, secretary of Alexander the Great, satrap of Cappadocia. Sided with Perdiccas against Antipater and Craterus. Defeated the latter near the Hellespont in 320 BC. Deserted by his troops, he was defeated, captured and executed by Antigonus Monophtalmus in early 315 BC.
Galatians -- Celtic people. Invaded and plundered Macedonia and Greece after 280 BC.
Gaza -- sight of a battle in 312 BC, where Ptolemy I Soter defeated Demetrius Poliorcetes.
Greek League -- alliance of free and autonomous Greek states, set up by Demetrius Poliorcetes in 303 BC for use against Cassander.
Heracles -- son of Alexander the Great and Barsine. Killed by Cassander.
Ipsus -- sight of a battle in 301 BC, where Seleucus, Lysimachus and Ptolemy defeated Demetrius Poliorcetes and Antigonus Monophtalmus, who died in the fighting.
Lamian War -- independence war fought by the Greeks (323 BC -- 322 BC). Victory was secured for the Macedonians by Craterus.
Lysimachus -- Macedonian general, tutor of Alexander the Great, satrapand king of Thrace (323 BC -- 280 BC). Killed at the battle of Corupedium.
Meleager -- Macedonian general, commander of the Foot Companions. Sided with Philip Arridaeus at the settlement of Babylon and was killed in the fighting which followed.
Menelaus -- governor of Cyprus, brother of Ptolemy I Soter. Defeated and expelled by Demetrius Poliorcetes in 306 BC.
Nearchus -- Macedonian general, nauarchus (admiral) of the navy.
Olympias -- Epirote princess, wife of Philip II, mother of Alexander the Great. Killed by Cassander.
Peithon -- satrap of Media. Revolted in 315 BC, defeated and killed by the other eastern satraps.
Perdiccas -- Macedonian general, grand vizier after the death of Haephestiones, commander of the Companion Cavalry, regent of the kings (323 BC -- 320 BC). Fought against Ptolemy I Soter, killed in a conspiracy of his own officers led by Seleucus I Nicator.
Philip III Arridaeus -- epileptic fool son of Philip II, half-brother of Alexander the Great. Proclaimed joint king of Macedonia with Alexander IV, he was later killed by Cassander.
Philip IV -- king of Macedonia (297 BC), son of Cassander.
Polyperchon -- Macedonian general, appointed regent of the kings by Antipater. Opposed by Cassander.
Ptolemy Ceraunus -- king of Thrace and Macedonia (280 BC -- 279 BC), son of Ptolemy I Soter. Murderer of Seleucus I Nicator.
Ptolemy I Soter -- Macedonian general, satrap and king of Egypt (323 BC -- 285 BC), founder of the Ptolemaic dynasty. Sought the division of the empire.
Ptolemy II Philadelphus -- king of Egypt (285 BC -- 246 BC), son of Ptolemy I Soter. Fought against Antiochus I Soter for the control of Phoenicia and Syria.
Pyrrhus -- king of Epirus (307 BC -- 272 BC), king of Macedonia (287 BC). Fought against Demetrius Poliorcetes, later campaigned in Italy against Rome. Killed in a street fight in Argos.
Rhodes -- sight of a famous siege by Demetrius Poliorcetes in 304 BC.
Roxanne -- Bactrian princess, wife of Alexander the Great. Killed along with her son Alexander IV.
Salamis -- sight of a naval battle in 306 BC, where Ptolemy I Soter was defeated by Demetrius Poliorcetes.
Seleucus I Nicator (‘victor') -- Macedonian general (358 BC -- 280 BC), king of Asia (311 BC -- 280 BC), founder of the Seleucid dynasty. Vigorously opposed Antigonus. Killed by Ptolemy Ceraunus in Thrace.
Settlement of Babylon -- conference of the Macedonian generals upon Alexander's death, held on June 11th, 323 BC. Philip Arridaeus and Roxanne's future son (Alexander IV) proclaimed joined kings of Macedonia, Perdiccas appointed regent.
Settlement of Triparadisus -- conference held by Antipater in 319 BC, which signalled the end of the unified empire. Antipater appointed regent, power divided between Antipater and Europe and Antigonus Monophtalmus in Asia, Seleucus I Nicator given Babylonia.
Statira -- Persian princess, daughter of Darius III Codomanus (336 BC -- 330 BC), wife of Alexander the Great. Killed by the Macedonians after the settlement of Babylon.
Syrian Wars -- series of wars fought continually by the Seleucids and Ptolemies during III and II century BC for control of Phoenicia and Syria. |
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