User:Srijanx22/Wars of the Diadochi
Series of conflicts after the death of Alexander the Great over the empire he left behind / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Wars of the Diadochi (Ancient Greek: Πόλεμοι τῶν Διαδὀχων, Pólemoi tōn Diadóchōn), or Wars of Alexander's Successors, were a series of conflicts fought between Alexander the Great's generals over the rule of his vast empire after his death. These conflicts lasted from 322 BC to 281 BC. The Greek word diadochos (Greek: διάδοχος) means successor. Hence the diadochi were the generals of Alexander who actually succeeded him and fought for the control over his empire.
This article is written like a story. (March 2019) |
Alexander the Great died in 323 BC. The absence of a clear successor diminished the central authority of the Argeads. Perdiccas seize the power by becoming the commander-in-chief and Arrhidaeus became the King. In 323 BC, the Partition of Babylon divided the empire amongst the generals and satraps, Perdiccas became the regent and Roxanne's son Alexander IV and Arrhidaeus were declared as co-kings. Perdiccas' fallout with Antipater and Ptolemy began the First War of the Diadochi in 322 BC. Perdiccas was later killed in a mutiny in Egypt. In 321 BC the Antipatrid coalition rearranged the empire which was later called Partition of Triparadisus. Antipater became the new regent. In 320 BC Antigonid forces crushed Eumenes and a truce was reached in Nora.
In 319 BC Antipater died and Polyperchon was declared as successor. Cassander angry at his fathers' choice joined Antigonus against Polyperchon. Polyperchon then swayed Eumenes to break the alliance with Antigonus and join him instead. In 317 BC Eumenes and Eastern satraps defeated the Antigonid in Battles of Coprates and Paraitekene. In 316 BC Eumenes again struck a decisive victory against Antigonids in Battle of Gabiene. However, the Silver Shields betrayed Eumenes to save their baggage train from Antigonus. Eumenes was then executed. The Antigonus had won the Second War of Diadochi and became the most powerful figure in Asia.
In 315 BC, many allies of Antigonus were concerned about his despotic behavior and send their envoys to demand swathes of land and reinstating of Seleucus and Peucestas Antigonus refused and the Third War of Diadochi began. Antigonus was now facing the grand alliance of Ptolemy, Cassander, Lysimachus, Assander, and Seleucus. In 314 BC Antigonid led a victorious Caria Campaign against Assander. In 313 BC Ptolemy raided Silesia. In 312 BC, Ptolemy defeated Demetrius-led Antigonids at the Battle of Gaza. Ptolemy later reconquered all his territories up to Tyre. However, Demetrius defeated Ptolemy's expeditionary force at the Battle of Myus. In 312 BC Antigonus had crushed the remaining forces of Assander and established control over Asia Minor. Antigonus then recaptured all his lost territories in Syria. In 311 BC Seleucus had annexed Babylon from the Antigonids. Antigonus then reach a peace deal with Cassander, Lysimachus, and Ptolemy. Cassander later executed Roxanne and Alexander IV to become the King of Macedon and thus ended the Argead Dynasty.
From 311-309 BC, Antigonus and Seleucus fought a series of conflicts against each other which was later known as the Babylonian War. In 308 BC, Seleucus defeated Antigonus in a major battle, and peace was agreed upon.
Ptolemy meanwhile was strengthening his hold over the Agean Sea. The Antigonids now decided to reassert their control. The fourth war of diadochi had begun. Demetrius quickly gained successes at Megara and Munychia. In 306 BC, Demetrius defeated Ptolemy the Battle of Salamis and Cyprus was later captured. In 304 BC, Demetrius defeated Cassander at Kallimdromo. In 303 BC Demetrius annexed the Ptolemaic and Cassander's holding in Peloponnese. In 302 BC, Lysimachus, Cassander began their campaign against Antigonids. Ptolemy advanced up to Sidon. However, Ptolemy later returned when he heard the rumors that Antigonids were victorious against Cassander, Lysimachus, and Seleucus. In 301 BC, the armies of Cassander-Lysimachus-Seleucus and Antigonids met at Ipsus. The coalition defeated the Antigonids at the Battle of Ipsus. Antigonus was killed in action and Demetrius fled to Greece. The Antigonid territory was later divided among the coalition diadochi.
Later Demetrius was able to defeat the Antipatrids ( Cassander's dynasty) and solidified Antigonid hold over the Macedon and Agean Sea. Seleucus, Ptolemy, and Lysimachus then fought minor conflicts among each other. In 281 BC Seleucus defeated and killed Lysimachus at Battle of Compendium. Later Seleucus was himself assassinated. The dynasties of various diadochi solidified their hold in different domains- Seleucids in Asia, Ptolemaic in Egypt, Antigonids in Macedon
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The various kingdoms of the Diadochi c. 301 BC | |||||
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308–301BC: |
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322–320BC: |
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319–315BC: |
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311–309BC: |
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Demitrius |
308–301BC: |