Dividing the Spoils: The War for Alexander the Great's Empire (Ancient Warfare and Civilization)

Alexander the Great conquered an enormous empire--stretching from Greece to the Indian subcontinent--and his death triggered forty bloody years of world-changing events. These were years filled with high adventure, intrigue, passion, assassinations, dynastic marriages, treachery, shifting alliances, and mass slaughter on battlefield after battlefield. And while the men fought on the field, the women, such as Alexander's mother Olympias, schemed from their palaces and pavilions. Dividing the Spoils serves up a fast-paced narrative that captures this turbulent time as it revives the memory of the Successors of Alexander and their great contest for his empire. The Successors, Robin Waterfield shows, were no mere plunderers. Indeed, Alexander left things in great disarray at the time of his death, with no guaranteed succession, no administration in place suitable for such a large realm, and huge untamed areas both bordering and within his empire. It was the Successors--battle-tested companions of Alexander such as Ptolemy, Perdiccas, Seleucus, and Antigonus the One-Eyed--who consolidated Alexander's gains. Their competing ambitions, however, eventually led to the break-up of the empire. To tell their story in full, Waterfield draws upon a wide range of historical materials, providing the first account that makes complete sense of this highly complex period. Astonishingly, this period of brutal, cynical warfare was also characterized by brilliant cultural achievements, especially in the fields of philosophy, literature, and art. A new world emerged from the dust and haze of battle, and, in addition to chronicling political and military events, Waterfield provides ample discussion of the amazing cultural flowering of the early Hellenistic Age. Dividing the Spoils: The War for Alexander the Great’s Empire Contents Preface Acknowledgments Picture Credits List of Illustrations Maps A. Alexander’s empire B. Macedon, Greece, and the Aegean C. Asia Minor and the Black Sea D. Syria and Egypt E. Mesopotamia and the Eastern Satrapies F. The Empire after the Peace of the Dynasts (311 BCE) G. The Empire after Ipsus (301 BCE) H. The Empire ca. 275 BCE I. Roads and Resources Dividing the Spoils 1. The Legacy of Alexander the Great The Conquests of Alexander Divine Kingship The Succession Problem The Threat of Chaos 2. The Babylon Conferences Confrontation at the Conference Table Perdiccas's Chance Consequences 3. Rebellion The Greek Rebellion in the East Mobility and the Spread of Hellenism The Greek Rebellion in the West 4. Perdiccas, Ptolemy, and Alexander’s Corpse Perdiccas's Choice The Last Straw Legitimation The Ethos of Individualism 5. The First War of the Successors Asia Minor Land Battle The Invasion of Egypt The Triparadeisus Conference 6. Polyperchon’s Moment The Defeat of the Perdiccans The Regency of Polyperchon Polyperchon's Response The Freedom of the Greek Cities 7. The Triumph of Cassander The Opening Campaigns of the Second War of the Successors Sea Battle Athens and Early Hellenistic Culture Macedon in Turmoil Cassander Takes Control 8. Hunting Eumenes in Iran Turmoil in the Eastern Satrapies Preparations for the Showdown The Final Battles Housekeeping Chandragupta Maurya Lord of Asia 9. Antigonus, Lord of Asia Security Measures Antigonus's Resources The Proclamation of Tyre Cassander in Greece The Carian Theater 10. The Restoration of Seleucus The Battle of Gaza The Return of Seleucus The Peace of the Dynasts The Babylonian War 11. Warfare in Greece The End of the Argeads Ptolemy's Opportunity Demetrius on the Offensive: Athens The Museum of Alexandria 12. The End of Antigonus Demetrius on the Offensive: Cyprus The Assuption of Kingship Antigonus on the Offensive: Egypt Demetrius on the Offensive: Rhodes The End of the Four-Year War The Battle of Ipsus 13. The Kingdoms of Ptolemy and Seleucus The Macedonian Background Security, Economic Exploitation, and Appeasement Taxation Plus ça change ... 14. Demetrius Resurgent After Ipsus Demetrius's Situation The Development of Seleucus Marriage Alliances An Uneasy Peace Instability in Greece and Macedon Anthenian Higher Education 15. The Fall of Demetrius Demetrius I, King of Macedon Demetrius’s Pride Early Hellenistic Religions Demetrius’s Downfall 16. The Last Successors Lysimachus at His Peak A Divided Court Last Man Standing The Cult of Living Rulers Ptolemy Ceraunus Antigonus Gonatus Epilogue Time Line Cast of Characters Genealogies Notes Abbreviations Preface Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Bibliography Ancient Sources Translations of Literary Sources Secondary Literature Index "Dividing the spoils" revives the memory of Alexander's Successors, whose fame has been dimmed only because they stand in his enormous shadow. In fact, Alexander left things in a mess at the time of his death, with no guaranteed succession, no administration in place suitable for such an enormous realm, and huge untamed areas both bordering and within his 'empire'. The Successors consolidated the Conqueror's gains. Their competing ambitions, however, meant that consolidation inevitably led to the break-up of the empire.