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{MEDIA_TITLE}Battle of Media - 323 BC
{MEDIA_DESCR}The following are a series of battles, which ancient authors described as 'Many Great Combats' following the death of Alexandros Megas. For their catalogation these were considered to be 'After Alexandros', rendered in modern times as 'Events after Alexandros'. We recommed to play them in sequence, as these battles will also provide a narrative and a series of events leading to the main campaign of Europa Barbarorum II.
			
{THERMOPYLAI_TITLE}Battle of Thermopylai - 323 BC
{THERMOPYLAI_DESCR}Following the death of Alexandros Megas on the 11th of June 323 BC, his officers clashed on the decision of succession and royal authority. At Babylon the infantry mutinied and Strategos sent to appease the troops, Meleagros, instead assumed the leadership of the opposition. Meleagros incited the infantry to declare in favour of Arrhidaios, the half-brother of Alexandros Megas, as Basileus. While most of the Makedonian aristocrats, following the Khiliarkhos Perdikkas, wanted to see whether Roxane would give birth to a direct male heir of Alexandros III. Support for Herakles, the infant illegitimate son of Alexandros Megas and Barsine, was shouted down by the Synhedrion in arms. It appears that most Makedones dreaded the prospect of a Basileus, not fully of Makedonian origins.
			
{THRAIKE_TITLE}Battle of Thraike - 323 BC
{THRAIKE_DESCR}Soon the crowd called for Arrhidaios and placed the robe of Alexandros Megas around him, while Meleagros donned his armour, posing as the champion of Arrhidaios. Perdikkas alarmed called for the Persian Epigonoi, the royal guard formed by Alexandros III, and took position by the body of the dead Basileus. Missiles started to fall on them and the officers called for his surrender. Eventually Perdikkas managed to cross the Euphrates River and was reinforced by the Hetairoi. The split was evident, the high command and the guardsmen supported Perdikkas, who had been give by Alexandros Megas on his deathbed his personal seal ring.
			
{LAMIA_TITLE}Battle of Lamia - 322 BC
{LAMIA_DESCR}Now Perdikkas gathered all his supporters and started to cut off the supply line to Babylon. Meanwhile the soldiers started to have second thoughts and refused to take action, even though they could easily overwhelm the blockade. Instead they demanded in Synhedrion to ask for terms to Perdikkas, perhaps this was achieved by the mediation of Eumenes of Kardia, one of the Hetairoi and personal Grammateus of Alexandros Megas, who chose to remain behind. Perdikkas demanded that the leaders of mutiny be handed over and Arrhidaios moved everyone by stating how he would gladly give up the diadem in order to prevent bloodshed. This caused support for him to soar and Eumenes managed to propose a compromise, whereby Arrhidaios would be Basileus and should a son be born to Roxane, he would be made joint ruler.
			
{RHAMNOUS_TITLE}Battle of Rhamnous - 322 BC
{RHAMNOUS_DESCR}Thus emissaries were sent to Perdikkas, asking for Arrhidaios, Perdikkas and Meleagros to rule together and a reconciliation was arranged. This particular rite required the two sides to stay under arms in the field, between the bowels of a sacrificed dog. Only then could they march to one another and be reunited. The infantry deployed on one side and the cavalry, augmented by the elephant corps, faced them. Arrhidaios, known to have intellectual disability, at the behest of Perdikkas singled out the leaders and supporters of Meleagros. As the two sides close on one another and started to intermingle, Perdikkas had the leading mutineers dragged away and trampled by the war elephants. At first Meleagros was spared, being appointed Hyparkhos to Perdikkas, but soon enough the former understood the real intentions of the latter and even though Meleagros took asylum in a temple, he was murdered.
			
{KAPPADOKIA_TITLE}Battle of Kappadokia - 322 BC
{KAPPADOKIA_DESCR}Feeling more secure, Perdikkas started to act officially as Epimeletes with royal authority, summoning a new Synhedrion, likely a much smaller one, during which the high officers partitioned the Satrapeiai between them. Arrhidaios was declared Basileus with the regal name Philippos III. Perhaps due to his effort to avoid a civil conflict, Eumenes of Kardia was rewarded Kappadokia and Paphlagonia, territories yet to be conquered. Six months later Roxane bore a son, Alexandros IV, who became co-Basileus. During this period the Hellenes settled in Baktriane rose up in revolt, with the intention of marching back home.
			
{KRANNON_TITLE}Battle of Krannon - 322 BC
{KRANNON_DESCR}These rebelious settleres were quite numerous and having assembled from all their quarters in the Upper Satrapies, now numbered 23,000. They elected a certain Philon as their Strategos, while Letodoros acted as Hipparkhos. Peithon, Satrapes of Media, was dispatched by Perdikkas to deal with them. Although Peithon, son of Krateuas, started with but a token of veteral troops, he was joined by reinforcements sent by the neighbouring Satrapai. Moreover the savvy Peithon, one of the eight Somatophylakes, managed to bribe Letodoros, who promised to leave the fight. Nevertheless Peithon had to thin his line to match that of the Hellenes, deploying his Phalangitai only on the left. In the ensuing doubtful engagement soon as Letodoros pulled back his horsemen, Peithon was free to envelop his opponents and the rebels surrendered, being ordered back to their stations. Peithon accepted oaths from them and he hoped that through his magnanimity he would gain a power base to claim all of the Upper Satrapies for himself. However Perdikkas had ordered that no quarters be given and that everything be seized as plunder, now the Makedones in the army of Peithon remembering these commands, broke faith with the Hellenes, seizing them and treacherously shooting them all down with javelins. Following these events Peithon could only march back to Babylon with the army.
			
{SAMNIVM_TITLE}Battle of Samnivm - 322 BC
{SAMNIVM_DESCR}Around the same time Athenai declared war on Makedonia, looking to claim leadership of Hellas. The Athenaioi managed to persuade Lokris, Phokis, the Aitoloi and even Thessalia to join them. Antipatros, the Epimeletes of Europe, held in contempt the Hellenes and did not act speedily, allowing Leosthenes of Athenai to enlist 8,000 veteran mercenaries in the Peloponnesos, that Alexandros Megas had expelled after his return from India. Thus Leosthenes marched with his own men to block the Thermopylai, where he was joined by all the other insurgents as well as men from Illyria and Thraike. Meanwhile the Ekklesia in Athenai issued a decree calling to arms all those fit for duty under the age of 40, ordering also the construction and fitting of 40 Tetrereis and 200 Triereis. The Boiotoi attempted to stop the Athenian reinforcements to Thermopylai, but at Plataia they were caught also by Leosthenes, who rushed with his Mistophoroi and managed to hook up with the Athenaioi. During the ensuing battle the Boiotoi gave way fairly quickly, facing a too numerous opponent. Antipatros thus called for reinforcements from Asia, but could no longer delay and marched out from Pella in the fall of 323 BC. Even though the rebels had an edge in cavalry and skirmishers, thanks to the assistance of the Thessaloi, Antipatros offered battle on the plain between Thermopylai and the polis of Lamia. Leosthenes could not let this opportunity slip by and ordered the army forward, which managed to drive away from the field the Makedones, killing many and forcing Antipatros and the survivors to take refuge inside the walls of Lamia, which was promptly put under siege. All these successes convinced Korinthos and Argos to also join the coalition against Makedonia.
			
{KYRENEII_TITLE}Battle of Kyrene - 322 BC
{KYRENEII_DESCR}Contemporary to these events arose a conflict also in Thraike. Here the Udrusan Basileus Seuthes III took the field to oppose Lysimakhos, Strategos of Thraike. The Thraikes rallied many warriors, but Lysimakhos chose his ground carefully, likely having both flanks protected by terrain. What followed was a stubborn clash with the Makedones repelling repeated assaults. Only nightfall brought an end to hostilities, with neither side having clearly won. Seuthes III and Lysimakhos kept to their strongholds, defiant of one another, each side looking to best the other through diplomacy and politics in order to convince more tribesmen to follow them.
			
{KYRENEIV_TITLE}Battle of Kyrene - 322 BC
{KYRENEIV_DESCR}The year closed with some activity by the Touto from Safinim, which alarmed the SPQR, because as the two polities were once more engaged in local conflicts, now the Safineis were starting to hire mercenaries and looking to end the war with a major battle. With spring came the much needed reinforcements that Antipatros needed. These were led by Leonnatos, one of the personal Somatophylakes of Alexandros Megas, hailing from the royal house of Lynkestis. He had just been appointed Satrapes of Hellespontiake Phrygia and Kleopatra, the sister of Alexandros III, who had been widowed for eight years, saw in Leonnatos a capable and ambitious man, who could take the reigns of power in Makedonia. They exchanged messages through the winter and the main reason for marching all the way to Europe was to get to Pella and marry Kleopatra. As he reached Makedonia Leonnatos managed to recruit yet further soldiers and his approach caused the Hellenes to break off their siege. During the assaults and sallies Leosthenes had perished and now Antiphilos led the coalition, which however lost men during the winter, because they dispersed likely having come as allies to Leosthenes and no more.
			
{KYRENEV_TITLE}Battle of Kyrene - 322 BC
{KYRENEV_DESCR}Antiphilos correctly judged that the army of Leonnatos had to be faced in the open, before the Hellenes could get pinned between two forces. The two sides rushed to the plain above Lamia and Leonnatos personally led the cavalry, but the experienced Thessaloi managed to cut him off from the rest of his men on marshy ground and shot him from his mount. The leaderless Phalanx took a defensive position atop a hill and was joined only the following day by Antipatros, who was still outnumbered in terms of horsemen. Thus Antiphilos with a single quick engagement triumphed strategically, because atticking him would have been suicidal.
			
{HELLESPONTOS_TITLE}Battle of Hellespontos - 321 BC
{HELLESPONTOS_DESCR}Around the same time Mikion, possibly the Nauarkhos of Antipatros, landed his marines and men and organised a striking force, looking to block the Athenian supply line. However the 80 years old Phokion gathered three Taxeis of men in their prime, older men and baggage carriers, rushing to contest the Landing. Phokion shared the Strategeia for the campaign with Leosthenes and his force managed to catch Mikion near the settlement of Rhamnous. Having formed the Phalanx and charged, Phokion entirely routed the enemy, killing Mikion and his retinue on the spot, having enveloped his opponent with the aid of the Psiloi. While beating the rest of the Makedonian force back to their ships. Despite the successes on land, the Athenian fleet was not faring so well and indeed Kleitos ho Leukos, Nauarkhos for the 240 strong Makedonian fleet had already managed to protect the Hellespontos and during the spring inflicted in the Aigaion Sea two major defeats on the Athenaioi at Amorgos and by the Ekhinades Islands. Thus Kleitos broke the Athenian Thalassokratia and troops from Asia could now easily join Antipatros.
			
{AITOLIA_TITLE}Battle of Aitolia - 321 BC
{AITOLIA_DESCR}As these events transpired Perdikkas, the Epimeletes with Basileus Philippos III in tow, was engaging Aryawratha, the Shatrap of Kappodakiya, looking to deliver as promised the whole province to Eumenes of Kardia. Aryawratha had ammased a great sum of money and was using it to hire through the years mercenaries. Although Perdikkas had to rely mostly on eastern soldiers, trained in the Makedonian fashion, because the majority of the Makedones were engaged in Europe, he could still count on the Hetairoi and the Hypaspistai. These veterans likely proved too much for the Kappadokian levy and mercenaries, even though Aryawratha surrendered together with 5,000 men, Perdikkas had the 82 years old Shatrap crucified and returned to Babylon.
			
{THESSALIA_TITLE}Battle of Thessalia - 321 BC
{THESSALIA_DESCR}Now one of the major officers of the whole Basileia entered the fray: Krateros, son of Alexandros, from Orestis had been marching over 10,000 veterans back to Makedonia with Polyperkhon, under orders of Alexandros Megas to take over as Epimeletes of Makedonia and Strategos of Europe. Having built a fleet in Kilikia, Krateros now reached Antipatros in Thessalia and delivered to him all the troops. Now Antiphilos and the Hellenes were heavily outnumbered and Antipatros, having waited to muster as many men as possible now offered battle near the Peneios River in the vicinity of the settlement of Krannon. The best chance for a Hellenic victory lay in a mounted battle, however Antipatros had learnt his lesson and sent forward the Phalanx. Unable to disrupt the wall of Sarissai, the Hellenes managed to disengage and pull back in good order. This incredibly difficult maneuver was carried out with discipline and little losses against the Phalangitai, but the faster Hypaspistai and Hoplitai were in hot pursuit and exercised much pressure. Antiphilos got his men to a defensive position uphill, where his cavalry joined him, but the battlefield had been fully ceded to the enemy. Seeing no chance of victory, having also received news of the naval disaster, the Athenaioi surrendered and asked for terms. Antipatros would not deal with the coalition as a whole, but instead made separate treaties with each rebel. Only the Aitoloi fled back to their highlands to hold into the winter. Athenai paid dearly for this campaign as a Makedonian garrison was installed, together with a close Oligarkhia of the rich. Hypereides, friend of Leosthenes, and leader of the patriotic party was condemned to death, a fate shared by Demosthenes, the main instigator to initiated the war against Makedonia. The latter however poisoned himself at a sanctuary on the island of Kalaureia.
			
{KARIA_TITLE}Battle of Karia - 320 BC
{KARIA_DESCR}Meanwhile the apprehensions created by the Safineis led to the nomination of Avlvs Cornelivs Cossvs Arvina as Dictator in Roma, with Marcvs Fabivs Ambvstvs as Magister Eqvitvm. They strictly enrolled a particularly fine army to attack Samnivm, but misjudged the speed of their opponents and set up camp too close to their opponents, in an unfavourable position. At dawn the Dictator ordered to abandon the camp, but the Safinan cavalry started to harass the Roman army, slowing it down and allowing the infantry to come up and press hard the rear column. The two sides now formed their battle lines and clashed. What followed were five hours of melee, neither side yielding its position. However the Safinan cavalry moved to the rear of the Roman formation and discovered the undefended baggage train, setting about to loot it. This allowed Marcvs Fabivs to charge the horsemen in disorder and annihilate them, leaving the Roman cavalry free to wheel and attack from behind the enemy infantry. A mass rout followed and the Safineis asked for terms, but the people in Roma did not accept their surrender, even though spoils were taken and the chief instigator of the conflict with Roma killed himself. His body and property being surrendered to the SPQR, who decreed a triumph for Avlvs Cornelivs.
			
{ORKYNIA_TITLE}Battle of Orkynia - 320 BC
{ORKYNIA_DESCR}As the last events of the campaign at Lamia played out, a series of battles were fought for the control of Kyrene and Libye. A Spartan adventurer, Thribon, had landed with his band of mercenaries and exiles from Kyrene, looking to exploit the ongoing Stasis. His men were refugees from Babylon, who had followed Harpalos, the corrupt Gazophylax, who embezzled 700 talents and fled to Athenai in 324 BC. There Harpalos was arrested and part of his treasure taken from him, which was used to fund the war with Makedonia. Harpalos and his mercenaries managed to escape to Krete, but there Thribon murdered him and took command. Outside the polis of Kyrene the mercenaries, although at a disadvantage in terms of cavalry, rapidly bested the local militia. Thus Thribon extorted a treaty with the polis and went on pillaging the harbour, while planning a wider conquest of Libye.
			
{KRETOPOLIS_TITLE}Battle of Kretopolis - 319 BC
{KRETOPOLIS_DESCR}Despite the success the band of Thribon soon fell out and Mnasikles, the leader of the Kretan archers deserted with his company to Kyrene. Right away Mnasikles led a counterattack on the harbour, taking booty and military gear. Finding himself in a tough spot, Thribon tried to raid the local communities in Libye, but was not particularly successful and lost both men and vessels. Not giving up the Spartan was arranging for more mercenaries to cross from the Peloponnesos, upon hearing this Mnasikles led a sortie and managed to kill many of the besiegers, while the people of Kyrene called for help by their Liby-Phoenician neighbours. Thus both sides received reinforcements and a new battle took place. Still Thribon and the professionalism of his troops prevailed in the evenly matched clash and resumed the siege of Kyrene. Where the citizens, now desperate, turned on one another, with the common folk depriving the wealthy of their goods and driving them from the polis. Some fleeing to Thribon, but others made it all the way to Alexandreia, appealing Ptolemaios Lagides for help.
			
{KYZIKOS_TITLE}Siege of Kyzikos - 318 BC
{KYZIKOS_DESCR}Although the onsetting winter ended the campaigning season in most of the world, Kyrenaike was still to be the theater for a final battle. Ptolemaios Lagides had dispatched Ophellas Seilenou from Pella with ships and troops, answering the call for help by those fleeing from Thribon. The arrival of the Ptolemaic army caused the other exiles siding with Thribon to reconsider their position and attempted to join up with Ophellas. However the Spartan adventurer attacked them and cut them all down, supported by the democratic faction of Kyrene. In the ensuing clash Strategos Ophellas and his Phalangitai managed to gain the upper hand and even captured Thribon, setting up oligarchic parties in the poleis of Kyrenaike in support of Ptolemaios Lagides, who sailed to Kyrene to oversee the new territory, while Thribon was tortured and hanged at the harbour of Kyrene.
			
{MEGALOPOLIS_TITLE}Siege of Megalopolis - 317 BC
{MEGALOPOLIS_DESCR}Having wintered in Kilikia, at the stronghold of Kyinda, Perdikkas and Philippos III of Makedonia let the army rest and planned on the next moves. Two targets were chosen, Laranda in Lykaonia and Isaura, because they had killed the Satrapes of Kilikia Balakros, son of Nikanor. Laranda was taken by storm, with the men of fighting age killed and everybody else was enslaved. The Isauroi offered a greater resistance and for two days the defenders of the walls repelled the Makedonian assaults, with high casualties. Thus the Isauroi, with the example of Laranda fresh in their minds, opted to set fire to their possessions and themselves. Astonished and seeing the flames Perdikkas ordered an attack from all sides, yet the Isauroi kept on repelling the assaults and all the Makedones could do was to wait out the fire. In the morning Perdikkas let his soldiers in to put out the fire and the molten gold and silver were taken as war booty.
			
{PARTHYAIA_TITLE}Battle of Parthyaia - 317 BC
{PARTHYAIA_DESCR}At this time Nikaia, daughter of Antipatros, finally reached Perdikkas. She had been travelling to marry Perdikkas, part of an agreement reached following the death of Alexandros Megas, in an attempt to gain allies. However Perdikkas had exceeded his expectations and being firmly in power as Epimeletes to Philippos III and Alexandros IV, secretly planned to claim the diadem and marry Kleopatra the sister of Alexandros himself, having received a proposal by her mother Olympias of Epeiros. This woman was being kept in Sardeis, following the death of Leonnatos, by the Satrapes of Phrygia Antigonos Monophthalmos. It is possible that Antigonos intercepted correspondences between Kleopatra and Perdikkas, but at the same time Monophthalmos might have held designs on marrying her to his own son Demetrios instead. Being the only full sibling of the dead Basileus, Kleopatra was just too important and dangerous.
			
{SYRAKOUSAI_TITLE}Battle of Syrakousai - 317 BC
{SYRAKOUSAI_DESCR}In any case Perdikkas married Nikaia to avoid antagonising Antipatros, but at the same time informed Kleopatra that he intended to set her aside as soon as possible. This message came to the attention of Antigonos, or the Satrapes of Phrygia himself understood that he might be next on the hit list, because he refused to install Eumenes of Kardia in Kappadokia and Perdikkas had called him to judgement. So it was that Antigonos Monophthalmos and his son Demetrios boarded an Athenian ship bound to Hellas, reached Antipatros and reported a plot by Perdikkas to march to Makedonia and become Basileus after marrying Kleopatra. Back in Kilikia, another woman had travelled to the court, Kynane, daughter of Philippos II of Makedonia. She had married the latter's nephew Amyntas IV, whom Philippos II once acted as Epimeletes, but took over royal power from him and later Alexandros III of Makedonia, upon succession, had him executed. Now Kynane, beloved by the troops, because she had military training by her mother, the Dardanian princess Audata, even led soldiers in Illyria, came to Asia to demand the marriage between her own daughter by Amyntas IV, Eurydike, to the new Basileus Philippos III. Perdikkas however feared her and had his brother Alketas, murder her on the way. Nevertheless to appease the troops he agreed to let Eurydike marry Philippos III.
			
{KOPRATAS_TITLE}Battle of the Kopratas River - 316 BC
{KOPRATAS_DESCR}These news and the report about the ambition of Perdikkas came at a time when the Epimeletes of Europe and Krateros were fighting in Aitolia, where the locals had abandoned their settlements for refuge in the high mountains and a long campaign of attrition looked very likely. So a council of all the commanders met and it was voted to get a peace with the Aitoloi and go to war with Perdikkas, Antipatros holding supreme power in Europe and Krateros in Asia. Indeed Antipatros resolved to marry Nikaia to Krateros instead now and together they decided to march most of the army against Perdikkas, leaving Polyperkhon, son of Simmias, from Tymphaia as Strategos. As reports came that Antipatros and Krateros were preparing to cross the Hellespontos, Perdikkas opted to repudiate Nikaia and summoning his Philoi and other commanders decided to march against Ptolemaios Lagides, who had just taken the body of Alexandros Megas, on its way to Aigai. Ptolemaios had received letters from Antipatros and Krateros, siding with them in the conflict with Perdikkas. So it was voted for Perdikkas and the main army to first march on Aigyptos, which otherwise could cut their supply line too easily, while Eumenes of Kardia was to have overall command in Mikra Asia, supported by Alketas and Neoptolemos of Epeiros, Strategos of Armenia, tasked to prevent the crossing by, or at least slow down, Antipatros.
			
{THRAIKEII_TITLE}Battle of Thraike - 316 BC
{THRAIKEII_DESCR}Eumenes of Kardia had not been idle in Kappadokia, he exempted from taxation all those natives who could serve in the cavalry and even distributed horses to them. Receiving some troops from Perdikkas, Eumenes now marched towards the Hellespontos, but first brought gifts from Perdikkas to Kleopatra at Sardeis. However things did not proceed as planned: Alketas and Neoptolemos resented to be under the command of Eumenes, a Hellen. Upon receiving even offers from Antipatros, which were sent to Eumenes as well, their loyalty wavered. Alketas simply did not take the field, stating how his Makedonian troops were ashamed by the prospect of fighting Antipatros and were too well disposed towards Krateros. While Neoptolemos outright casted his lot with the other side and tried together with other Makedones in the army to usurp command of the army. The treachery had been suspected and when Eumenes summoned him, Neoptolemos instead deployed his troops and a quick skirmish utterly routed the mutineers. Only Neoptolemos and few managed to flee to Antipatros, with the rest compelled to swear oaths of allegiance to Eumenes. A council was called, during which Neoptolemos assured of an easy victory, requiring Krateros to simply show himself to the Makedonian troops, who would eagerly come to his side. Thus a decision was reached to split the army: Antipatros would march to Kilikia and later link up with Ptolemaios in Aigyptos to face the royal army under Perdikkas, while Krateros and Neoptolemos would deal with Eumenes, securing a line of communication back to Makedonia.
			
{SATRICVM_TITLE}Siege of Satricvm - 316 BC
{SATRICVM_DESCR}And so Krateros rode forth with his Kausia hat, promising his men to give them all the loot from the enemy camp. However Eumenes masterly planned how to engage the formidable force: he told his army that they were facing the treacherous Neoptolemos once more, supported by Paphlagonian and Kappadokian horsemen under Pigres, a local hostile leader, while keeping his infantry back and deploying all his native cavalry on the left, under Phoinix of Tenedos and Pharnabazos, brother-in-law of Eumenes and of Alexandros Megas, but also uncle to the illegitimate claimant Herakles, with orders to charge and give absolutely no quarters. The ensuing action saw two sudden cavalry charges on either flanks, with Krateros heaping much abuse on Neoptolemos for deceiving him and exhorting his men charged into the fray without a helmet. Krateros was felled by men, who did not recognise him, and after heavy fighting the horsemen fled to the Phalanx, while on the right Eumenes chanced upon Neoptolemos and the two duelled, eventually wrestling even on the ground. Finally Eumenes managed to strike a fatal blow and having put on his horse, rushed to the other wing. Soon reports came that Krateros had been slain, the Phalanx surrendered without a fight and pledged to serve Perdikkas, although later in the night escaped to link with Antipatros, while Eumenes cursed the name of Neoptolemos and wept for having lost a friend and comrade in Krateros.
			
{PARAITAKENE_TITLE}Battle of Paraitakene - 316 BC
{PARAITAKENE_DESCR}The arrival of the infantry from the army of Krateros reassured Antipatros, although his only course of action was now to get with all haste to Aigyptos and join forces with Ptolemaios. Perdikkas in the meantime had marched to Aigyptos and camped at Pelousion. There he brought forth charges against Ptolemaios Lagides, who publicly cleared himself and thus Perdikkas started to alienate men among his troops. At first he ordered to clear out an old canal, but met with failure and more men started to defect to Ptolemaios. It was decided then to break camp and attempt to assault a fort holding a crossing. The Argyraspides mounted the ladders, while the elephants in the royal army tore down the palisades and parapets. The fight for the walls went on for the whole day, with the vastly superior numbers of Perdikkas being resisted by the spirit of the men under Ptolemaios, galvanised by their Strategos as he attacked alone the leading elephant, taking out his eyes with a spear and killing the Indian manhout. Things did not look good and at night once again Perdikkas ordered to break camp, marching the army towards Memphis where islands in the Neilos River could possibly allow the men to cross. At first men managed to get through, but eventually the water level rose and fording was out of the question, the troops that made it to an island were too few in number to contest a bridgehead and so Perdikkas ordered to fall back. However more than 2,000 soldiers perished in the attempt, being taken away by the current or getting even eaten by the crocodiles. Those who made it across had to discard most of their equipment, in one word it had been a disaster.
			
{SINDHU_TITLE}Battle of Sindhu - 316 BC
{SINDHU_DESCR}Ptolemaios on the other shore meanwhile rescued all the men he could and collected all the bodies of the fallen, which were given proper rites and the ashes were sent to their comrades and families. Back in the royal camp, the Phalanx and many officers accused Perdikkas, making clear their intentions with threatening shouts. At night Peithon, son of Krateuas, Satrapes of Media, together with Antigenes, the commander of the Argyraspides, Seleukos, son of Antiokhos, commander of the Hetairoi and the leading officers, with the goodwill of Ptolemaios Lagides, entered the tent of Perdikkas and stabbed him to death. The following day Ptolemaios Lagides forded the Neilos River and greeted the Basileis, bestowing upon them great gifts, while bringing much needed supplies to the army. A Synhedrion was called and the soldiers started to hail Ptolemaios as Epimeletes, but he refused and instead got Peithon, son of Krateuas, and Arrhidaios, the officer who oversaw the construction of Alexandros Megas' mobile temple and coffin, commanders with full powers for the time being. Soon news came of the death of Krateros and right away the Synhedrion had 50 supporters of Perdikkas executed, among them his sister Atlante, who had married Attalos, son Andromenes, the Nauarkhos of the fleet, still at Pelousion. Also they sentenced to death Alketas and Eumenes of Kardia, for fighting and protracting a civil conflict. Antigonos Monothphtalmos was summoned from Kypros, together with Antipatros, however before they got there the Basilissa Eurydike demanded to have a share in the guardian authority over the Basileis, causing friction with Peithon and Arrhidaios. When Antigonos and Antipatros arrived, the former was put in command to deal with Eumenes and Alketas, while the latter faced displeasure and accusations by the army, when he told them that he had no money to pay them, but would look for riches in the treasuries of Alexandros Megas. Disturbances soon arose and the commanders risked to get lynched by the mob, with Eurydike joining in the accusations against Antipatros.
			
{GABENE_TITLE}Battle of Gabene - 316 BC
{GABENE_DESCR}Now news reached Attalos in Pelousion, who gathered the remnants of the army still loyal to the cause of Perdikkas and set sail for Tyros, where he had the treasure of his brother-in-law turned over to him and set up the headquarters for his party and personal army. As these events took place, back in Hellas, the Aitoloi capitolised on the absence of most of the army and broke the treaty they made with Antipatros and Krateros. They started to attack neighbouring communities and poleis, loyal to Makedonia, causing the Strategos Polykles to march against them with what troops he could muster. In the ensuing battle Alexandros, the Aitolian Strategos, managed to overran the force sent against him, taking many captives and ransoming them, before moving on Thessalia to continue the war against Makedonia.
			
{GABENEII_TITLE}Battle of Gabene - 316 BC
{GABENEII_DESCR}Free to move, Alexandros led the Aitoloi to join forces with the Thessaloi, to continue the revolt once led by Athenai. The leading figure in Thessalia was Menon of Pharsalos, who had so far led the Thessalian cavalry in every battle and his men had been undefeated wherever they were posted. He had been second in esteem by the confederates only to Leosthenes and Menon was looking to secure the position of Thessalia in the international stage. To that aim he married his daughter Phthia to Aiakides, Basileus of Epeiros, who would give birth two years later to Pyrrhos. Despite mustering a large combined force, the allied armies had to split, because the Akarnanoi now attacked undefended Aitolia, possibly at the instigation of Polyperkhon, acting Strategos Autokrator in Makedonia. Indeed soon as the Alexandros marched to meet this new threat, Polyperkhon descended into Thessalia and attacked Menon. This time the Makedones gained the upper hand on the battlefield, Menon himself was slained and, without his leadership, the Thessaloi once more were subdued by Makedonia.
			
{AMPHIPOLIS_TITLE}Battle of Amphipolis - 315 BC
{AMPHIPOLIS_DESCR}Meanwhile the royal army had left Aigyptos, however the ever growing influence and interference of Basilissa Eurydike proved too much for Peithon and Arrhidaios. Having reached upper Syria, the acting guardians resigned their position, once again a Synhedrion was held and Antipatros, who had rejoined the army, through oratory and threats managed to silence Eurydike and got elected Epimeletes with full powers for the two Basileis. Then he redistributed the territories and high offices, confirming those whose power regionally was too strong and mostly promoting the conspirators against Perdikkas. Seleukos, son of Antiokhos, was rewarded the Satrapeia of Babylon, Antigenes, the commander of the Argyraspides, was granted Sousiane and Antipatros own son, Kassandros, was named Khiliarkhos of the Hetairoi. Antigonos Monophthalmos was elevated to be the commander of the whole royal army, leaving to him the affairs in Asia. Antipatros secured his network of alliances by marrying his daughter Phila, widow of Krateros, to Demetrios, son of Antigonos Monophthalmos and his other daughter Eurydike to Ptolemaios Lagides. Now finally Philippos III and Alexandros IV, together with Antipatros, could make their way to Pella and Makedonia.
			
{THERMOPYLAIII_TITLE}Battle of Thermopylai - 315 BC
{THERMOPYLAIII_DESCR}As these events took place in the Italian Peninsula the Safineis were in a dire situation and so resolved to elect Meddiss Tovtiks, their chief magistrate, Gaviis Pontiis considered the best soldier, son of Heirennis one of the eldest statesmen and held in very high esteem. Outnumbered and facing a renewed campaign by the Romani, who elected Titvs Vetvrivs Calvinvs and Spvrivs Postvmivs Albinvs as Consvles, Pontiis devised the plan to send out 10 soldiers to pasture cattle in the vicinity of the Roman camp. Should they be questioned, or meet foraging parties, they were all to tell the same story, that the Safineis were besieging Luceria and that its capture was imminent. A rumor, which Pontiis had already spread, so the Romani considered the word of the shephers to be a confirmation and decided to march with all haste to support their ally. This stratagem exceeded all expectations and the consular armies found themselves completely trapped between two defiles near Cavdivm. Without even fighting Pontiis had the whole Roman military force under his complete control and even the Safinan commanders did not know what to do. It was resolved to ask the advice of Heirennis, who found the best course of action was to let the Romani leave unscathed, to gain their friendship, otherwise to kill every single one of them, to prevent the Romani to wage war for some generations. The Meddis Tovtiks however demanded the surrender of all weapons and armour, 600 Eqvites as hostages, forcing every single Roman soldier to walk under a yoke, suffering much derision, harm and even in some cases death. Facing starvation, the Consvles agreed to these terms, surrendering all insigna and signs of power, much to the dismay of the troops. The Romani managed to get back to Capua, whose citizens assisted them and later entered Roma, but every single survivor secluded himself from public life, even the Consvles, causing an Interregnvm to be decreed.
			
{SATIKUL_TITLE}Battle of Satikul - 315 BC
{SATIKUL_DESCR}Having heard of the fall of Perdikkas, but most of all of himself having been declared an enemy, Eumenes of Kardia made preparations for war. He opted to go on the offensive and nearly came to blows with Antipatros near Mount Ide, when he chanced upon the royal herds pasturing. Eumenes proceeded to take as many horses as possible and even sent a report to royal overseers, as he did not considered himself a rebel. Afterwards he marched for Sardeis, but was persuaded by Kleopatra, the sister of Alexandros Megas, to leave lest the Makedones would accuse her of being the cause of the conflict. Having collected loot and money with sudden strikes on those loyal to Antipatros, Eumenes marched back to Kappadokia, distributing the booty amongst his soldiers. He went as far as rewarding landlots and properties, thus forming a personal bodyguard, bestowing honours, purple cloaks and caps. This was done because despite having contacted Alketas, the brother of Perdikkas, in order to unite their efforts, the Makedon still refused to support Eumenes. Antipatros in the meantime reviled Kleopatra for her friendship towards the enemies of the Basileis and brought charges against here, perhaps even implying that she had helped murdering her half-sister Kynane. However the vigorously defended herself and even brought countercharges against Antipatros. In the end to avoid deteriorating the morale of the troops, and his own strenuous relation with them, Antipatros left on amicable terms with Kleopatra.
			
{MESSENE_TITLE}Siege of Messene - 315 BC
{MESSENE_DESCR}Meanwhile Attalos, son of Andromenes, embarked his troops and launched an attack against the Rhodioi, striking at Knidos, Kaunos and Rhodos itself. This was likely done in an attempt to establish a link with Alketas and securing a base for his fleet. However the Nauarkhos of Rhodos, Demaratos, completely repulsed them at sea, using the more maneuverable Trieremioliai. To avoid any further possible assistance between the insurgents, Antipatros ordered Asandros, son of Philotas, Strategos of Karia to attack Alketas. In the ensuing battle, remaining undecided for long, Asandros was eventually defeated and Alketas started to march towards Syria to join Attalos.
			
{LAVTVLAE_TITLE}Battle of Lavtvlae - 315 BC
{LAVTVLAE_DESCR}Young Kassandros, now Khiliarkhos of the royal army, leading the Hetairoi, had the time to report to his father, Antipatros, in Phrygia about Antigonos Monophthalmos and advised to never get too far from the Basileis, but most of all to keep watch on Antigonos. However the latter's quiet and courteous behaviour dissipated suspicion. In fact Antipatros left command of part of his forces to Antigonos, including 70 elephants, and kept on marching towards Makedonia. In reality the Epimeletes was dealing with a greater problem, namely how to pay all these veterans, who once again mutinied and an agreement was reached only when Antipatros promised to pay them at Abydos. Once there, the Epimeletes waited for night and sailed away with the Basileis in tow to Lysimakhos in Thraike. The following day the troops, maybe getting the point for the moment, sailed themselves and did not further complain. While being hosted in Thraike, Antipatros now married his daughter Nikaia to Lysimakhos, securing his loyalty.
			
{APHRODISIAS_TITLE}Battle of Aphrodisias - 315 BC
{APHRODISIAS_DESCR}Similarly in Kappadokia, Eumenes of Kardia was facing Makedonian mutinies himself, which to deal with Phoenix of Tenedos, the Hipparkhos, had to deal with launching a night attack on their camp. Afterwards the ringleaders were executed and the rank and file distributed within other units. As such news reached Antigonos Monophthalmos, who was marching to confront Eumenes, the Satrapes of Phrygia started to send offers to the opposing Makedonian officers. Apollonides, another Hipparkhos of Eumenes, responded positively and agreed to desert during battle. Once engaged on a plain near Orkynia, the two Phalanges clashed, this being the very first time in history of soldiers armed with Sarissai fighting one another. The result hanging in the balance, was decided by the timed desertion of Apollonides and his cavalry, which left the field. Free to move Antigonos captured the entire supply train and was able to inflict heavy losses by enveloping the oppposition.
			
{KYLLENE_TITLE}Battle of Kyllene - 314 BC
{KYLLENE_DESCR}Dismayed, many of the survivors planned to join Antigonos, while Eumenes intended to flee to Armenia with his Philoi and gather allies. First however, he ordered to change course and move back to the battlefield. The pursuing army of Antigonos did not expect that and the two passed by one another. Back at the plain Eumenes collected the bodies of his soldiers, built pyres from doors of the houses and gave the fallen a proper burial. Such boldness and costancy augmenting his growing aura with the soldiers on both sides. Doublebacking towards Armenia, Eumenes even informed the enemy officer in charge of the royal baggage to leave his perilous position. Mostly because he feared that his men would rush to the attack and then be encumbered with loot. As the baggage was gone, pretending to be vexed Eumenes led his men away, but soon realised that they would not make it and having dismissed his army, together with 700 followers, Eumenes took position at the fortress of Nora on the border with Lykaonia.
			
{SIKYON_TITLE}Battle of Sikyon - 314 BC
{SIKYON_DESCR}During winter Antigonos, before besieging Nora, attempted to parley with Eumenes, who would not even begin a conference without being sent a hostage. Monophthalmos agreed and sent his own nephew Polemaios, however demanded to be addressed as a superior, but Eumenes' reply was that he regarded no one as his superior, so long as he was master of his own sword. So the two officers met and embraced one another as friends with affection, for they had been companions of old. They spoke for a long time and Eumenes never asked for peace or his safety, but made clear that what had been gifted to him was his and that he should be confirmed in possession of his territories. His confidence amazed everyone and more Makedones started to talk about Eumenes, desiring to meet him. Something that Antigonos forbade and left stating that he would defer these terms to Antipatros, while building a wall round Nora. In the mean time Ptolemaios, son of Lagos, attempted to bribe Laomedon of Mytilene, Satrapes of Syria, to his side. When Laomedon refused, Ptolemaios dispatched his Philos Nikanor, as Strategos to Syria, where he quickly overwhelmed Laomedon, who had been assigned the province just a year before. Without a fight Laomedon was seized, but he bribed his guards and escaped to Alketas, while Nikanor put garrisons in Phoinike and Koile Syria, before returning to Aigyptos.
			
{EORDAIKOS_TITLE}Battle of the Eordaikos River - 314 BC
{EORDAIKOS_DESCR}Antigonos, marching with his vastly enlarged army, now wanted to deal with the remnants of Perdikkas' forces. Indeed Alketas and Attalos had finally joined in Pisidia, having gained intel on the fate of Eumenes, they encamped in mountain passes. Alketas hoped there to withstand the superior forces of Antigonos, but suddenly the trumpeting of elephants from hills overlooking the camp near Kretopolis gave a clear warning: Monophthalmos was already ready for battle, having marched over 450 kilometers in just seven days and nights. Attalos was left to muster the Phalanx as quick as possible, while Alketas led the cavalry and support infantry in a violent assault to contest the ridge. A stubborn engagement followed, but unexpectedly Antigonos charged most of his cavalry against the enemy Phalanx still assembling and threatened to cut Alketas from the rest of the army. Alketas rallied his followers and fled, leaving his soldiers at the ridge, while Antigonos utterly routed the Phalanx, capturing all officers and started to accept the surrender of the rank and file.
			
{TARRACINA_TITLE}Battle of Tarracina - 314 BC
{TARRACINA_DESCR}In two brilliant campaigns Antigonos had removed opposition and gained a mighty army, only Alketas remained, who was a fugitive at Termessos, a stronghold that not even Alexandros III of Makedonia could storm. All the young men declared that they were ready to defend Alketas, but the elders tried to convince them to surrender him to Antigonos, not wanting to see their land ravaged. So they opened negotiations with Monophthalmos, calling him to attack their settlement to draw out the warriors, allowing them to take hold of Alketas and surrender him. Understanding what was happening, soon as the young men left to skirmish with the vanguard of Antigonos, Alketas committed suicide and the elders surrendered his body to Monophthalmos, who left it to be exposed. However when the warriors returned, enraged they desired to burn their own possessions instead of surrendering and take refuge in the mountains to fight. Eventually the people of Termessos came to an agreement and managed to preserve their territory, so Antigonos after three days left, but the young warriors would continue to resist Makedonian occupation and recovered Alketas' body and gave it honours. As Antigonos made his way back to Kretopolis and join the rest of the army, grave news were brought to him: Antipatros, Epimeletes to the Basileis, had died and nominated Polyperkhon as his successor.
			
{KALLATIS_TITLE}Battle of Kallatis - 313 BC
{KALLATIS_DESCR}The death of Antipatros allowed ambitious officers to further their position, resulting in Kassandros, son of Antipatros, Antigonos Monophthalmos and Ptolemaios, son of Lagos, to join in a loose alliane of convenience. The latter desired to secure his position in Aigyptos, making certain that no one else could challenge that dominion, while Antigonos judged that no one would ever be able to stand against him, perhaps started to covet supreme power. Kassandros on the other hand found unbearable that he did not inherit the command of his father, as he was both capable of directing public affairs, but also because he had proven himself on the field as well, leading the Hetairoi. Understanding the situation Antigonos allowed him to get back to Makedonia. Right away Kassandros started to send private letters to friends, relatives and commanders, looking for allies and supporters. It is unclear whether Antipatros felt that his son would not be able to counter the other powermongering commanders or needing urgently a successor to the Epimeleteia, as his health deteriotared, he appointed Polyperkhon. The new guardian of the Basileis, hailing from Epeiros, as a first act summoned his Philoi and decided to recall Olympias, the mother of Alexandros Megas, from her exile. This in order for her to raise the young Alexandros IV, but most of all to use her charisma with the troops to legitimise his own position.
			
{SAIMAN_TITLE}Battle of the Saiman Pass - 313 BC
{SAIMAN_DESCR}Antigonos, having wintered in his capital of Kelainai, was also making him move, using the authority granted him as Strategos over Asia, he shared his intentions with his Philoi and commanders to replace all Satrapai who would not support him with his own officers and gain imperial power. He also sent gifts to Hieronymos of Kardia, fellow countryman and friend to Eumenes, asking him to mediate a peace and alliance for himself with Eumenes. Soon neighbouring Satrapai discovered the plot of Antigonos and accordingly moved to secure their positions. In particular Arrhidaios, who had brought the body of Alexandros Megas to Aigyptos, had been granted the vacant Satrapeia of Hellespontiake Phrygia and now wanted to set garrisons in the most important poleis, against Antigonos. To that aim Arrhidaios set out with a large force against Kyzikos, hoping to terrorise the citizens on accepting his garrison. The sudden siege caught the Kyzikenoi unprepared, but by parleying they bought enough time to arm the young men and some freed slaves, while calling for assistance from Byzantion across the Propontis Sea. Most of the people from Kyzikos were still in the countryside and by sending vessels right away, coasting in the vicities of the polis, everyone managed to get inside Kyzikos. Soon as the Kyzikenoi had a sufficient force they sallied forth and offered battle, managing to kill many and break the siege.
			
{EPEIROS_TITLE}Battle of Epeiros - 313 BC
{EPEIROS_DESCR}When Antigonos learnt of the move made by Arrhidaios, marched with a sizeable army to assist Kyzikos. When he arrived too late, he brought charges against Arrhidaios, stating that he had attacked an ally and he was clearly in revolt looking to establish a private domain. Monophthalmos also ordered Arrhidaios to retire to a single settlement as residence and keep quiet. The latter defended himself and retreated to Kios. Having made his goodwill toward the polis clear, Antigonos left for Lydia, while dispatching a Strategos to deal with Arrhidaios. The Satrapes of Lydia, Kleitos ho Leukos, had likewise placed garrisons in strong places, but he had sailed to Pella, in order to inform the Basileis and Polyperkhon of the actions of Antigonos.
			
{AKARNANIA_TITLE}Battle of Akarnania - 313 BC
{AKARNANIA_DESCR}Fortune seemed to side with Antigonos, because his campaign met with successes at a lighting speed. He captured Ephesos right when a flotilla was carrying 600 talents of silver to Makedonia, which he seized stating that he needed them to pay his mercenaries. Then one after another Monophthalmos took all the poleis of Lydia. Meanwhile Hieronymos of Kardia reached Nora and presented an oath from Antigonos to Eumenes, proposing common action and to have the same friends and enemies. The wily Eumenes altered it, putting emphasis on swearing loyalty to Olympias and the Basileis, something the officers of Antigonos agreed to and lifted the siege to report to Monophthalmos. This way Eumenes bought enough time to gather some of his scattered troops and supplies. Now Tykhe presented a golden opportunity to Eumenes with the arrival of letters from Polyperkhon and Olympias. The Epimeletes effectively replaced Antigonos with Eumenes as Strategos of Asia, promising the latter funds and troops from Kilikia. Furious Antigonos quickly despatched an army under Menandros to take over Kappadokia and arrest Eumenes, but he had already escaped.
			
{KYRENEVI_TITLE}Siege of Kyrene - 313 BC
{KYRENEVI_DESCR}At Kyinda Eumenes was joined by Antigenes, Satrapes of Sousiane, leading the Argyraspides and Teutamos, commander of the Hypaspistai. Playing on their loyalty and awe for Alexandros Megas, Eumenes stated that in a dream the former Basileus offered them all his aid, should they set up a tent with a throne for him, placing all the insigna on it, offer incense to Alexandros at daybreak and conduct their councils in front of him, so that they could receive his orders as if he were alive and at the head of the army. Plus with the backing of Olympias and Polyperkhon, in this way Eumenes managed to dominate the other officers and set about gathering mercenaries with the royal treasury. At once the most able of the Philoi of Eumenes went on recruiting troops in Pisidia, Lykia, Kilikia, Syria, Kypros and Phoinike. As word spread of the notable rate of pay offered, even men from Hellas showed up.
			
{GAZA_TITLE}Battle of Gaza - 312 BC
{GAZA_DESCR}In Makedonia Kassandros failed to gain enough support, while all the Tyrannoi and garrison commanders in Hellas, loyal to his father, answered positively to his call. So he sailed secretly back to Antigonos asking for aid. While Polyperkhon, attempting to gain the support of the Hellenes, issued a Diagramma, assuring the return to the freedom and autonomy as under Philippos II and Alexandros III of Makedonia. Stating that all exiles were to be returned, with all charges against them removed, suggesting also to all citizens to remove the oligarchs and supporters of Antipatros, put there by the actions of Strategoi and not those of the Basileis. This allowed Polyperkhon to hugely raise in popularity. Thus all sides wintered in their respective quarters, having set the stage for new confrontations.
			
{EURYMENAI_TITLE}Battle of Eurymenai - 312 BC
{EURYMENAI_DESCR}With the coming spring Eumenes, after securing the loyalty, for the moment, of the Makedones in his army, whom kept on receiving letters from Antigonos and Ptolemaios, urging them to seize and put to death their Strategos from Kardia. Eumenes started preparing a fleet in Phoinike, in order to gain thalassocracy, support Polyperkhon and be able to transport troops from Makedonia to Asia.
			
{EURYMENAIII_TITLE}Battle of Eurymenai - 312 BC
{EURYMENAIII_DESCR}Around the same time, Nikanor, the garrison commander at Athenai, seized at night also the Peiraieus and when the citizens complained, even those that to that moment supported Antipatros and his oligarchy, Nikanor simply answered that they should refer to Kassandros. At once envoys were sent to Polyperkhon too, asking for his help in enforcing the Diagramma. Although he wanted to secure for himself the Peiraieus, Polyperkhon felt that he could not go against his own word and allowed the people of Athenai to resolve their own matters, arresting Phokion and other Aristoi sent to him. In Athenai those who had been expelled by Antipatros seized this opportunity to have the people sentence to death most of the aristrocratic leaders, including Phokion, whose bodies were left unburied beyond the borders of Attike.
			
{APOLLONIA_TITLE}Battle of Apollonia Illyrike - 312 BC
{APOLLONIA_DESCR}As the demagogues thought they were finally in power at Athenai, Kassandros sailed into the Peiraieus with the reinforcements granted him by Antigonos, welcomed by Nikanor went on securing the polis and its harbour. While all Polyperkhon could do was sending his own son Alexandros to besiege Athenai, as he marched with the rest of the army to the Peloponnesos to deal with Megalopolis, still ruled by the oligarchy established by Antipatros. In other poleis many obeyed Polyperkhon and massacres of magistrates were the norm, some being driven into exile.
			
{TIGRIS_TITLE}Battle of the Tigris River - 312 BC
{TIGRIS_DESCR}When the Megalopolitai learned of the march of the royal army, they brought all property, citizens, foreigners and slaves into the polis. On taking a census armed all the fighting men and made all preparations to defend the settlement. Soon as Polyperkhon arrived he set up two camps and constructed siege engines, while his sappers even managed to collapse a section of the wall. However after bitter fighting, during the following day and night, without intermission, the Megalopolitai put up a palisade and a second wall. During the next assault the defenders made good use of their own engines and missiles, causing severe casualties. So it was resolved to clear the debris and launch an attack by the elephants, but the commander of Megalopolis, Damis, himself a veteran of the campaign in Asia with Alexandros Megas, instructed the people to build spiked frames and deploy them in shallow trenches. Repelled once more, Polyperkhon found himself stuck in a siege that he could not win in a short time. So he left part of the army and marched away. Soon enough most the Hellenic poleis started to regard him with contempt and deserted his cause, siding with Kassandros.
			
{EDUM_TITLE}Battle of 'Edum - 312 BC
{EDUM_DESCR}Away from the mainland, Kleitos ho Leukos, had been sent by Polyperkhon as Nauarkhos with the whole fleet to block any crossing of the Hellespontos. His orders were also to pick up Arrhidaios and his troops at Kios. Having gained the support of most poleis of the Propontis Sea, Kleitos soon clashed with Nikanor, the commander of Athenai, sent by Kassandros with the 35 ships lent by Antigonos. These were joined by around 90 more supplied by Monophthalmos, while Antigonos himself marched his army to the Hellespontos. However Nikanor was defeated and 40 warships were captured, while 17 were sunk or disabled near Byzantion, which Kleitos was trying to force into joining his side. Quickly Antigonos regrouped the men, ordering Nikanor to get ready for an attack at dawn, while with the help of transports from Byzantion, light troops crossed to the shore near the camp of Kleitos. Before dawn these men caused much tumult and has the soldiers of Kleitos leaped into the ships, which were at the same time attacked by the last ships under Nikanor, packed with picked infantrymen from the land army. In a single action Antigonos had reserved the outcome of the campaign and captured all the ships, together with their crews, except for the vessel of Kleitos, who fled to the shore, abandoned the ship and trying to make his way to Makedonia was captured by troops of Lysimakhos and put to death.
			
{REKEM_TITLE}Siege of Rekem - 312 BC
{REKEM_DESCR}Thus Antigonos gained an even greater reputation as a military genius and set out with a selected army for Kilikia, hoping to crush Eumenes, while despatching the victorious fleet with garlands and the prows of the destroyed enemy fleet to Phoinike. Near Rhosos in Kilikia, this fleet met with the newly raised one of Eumenes, under the command of Sosigenes, transporting a large sum of money. However the Phoinikan crews seeing the opposing fleet advertising the victory of Antigonos decided to switch sides, delivering the treasure and causing Sosigenes to flee. Meanwhile Nikanor sailed back to the Peiraieus and the Athenaioi decided to seek terms with Kassandros, who set up an oligarchy, placing Demetrios from Phaleron as Epimeletes. Now more Hellenic poleis joined Kassandros and feeling confident enough, the latter planned a campaign in Makedonia, after having assassinated Nikator, because he started to garrison Athenai with his own men.
			
{GALERIA_TITLE}Battle of Galeria - 312 BC
{GALERIA_DESCR}Upon hearing these news Eumenes hurried out of Phoinike into Mesopotamia, where he was joined by the local Satrapes Amphimakhos and wintered with the army at Karon Komai. Eumenes intended to gain the assistance of the eastern Satrapai in the name of the Basileis and started negotiations with Seleukos and Peithon, son of Krateuas. However the Satrapes of Babylonia, Seleukos, answered that he was willing to be of service to the Basileis, but could not follow the orders of Eumenes, whom the Synhedrion had condemned to death. Soon enough, low on supplies, with Seleukos trying to convince the Makedones to murder their own Strategos, Eumenes marched away, living off the land all the way to Sousiane, where he sent word to the other Satrapai to join him. Slowed down in his movements by Seleukos, who inundated the land and called for Antigonos to come as soon as possible.
			
{EKNOMOS_TITLE}Battle of the Eknomos Hill - 311 BC
{EKNOMOS_DESCR}Negotiations with Peithon did not fare any better, because Peithon already claimed to hold power over all the upper satrapies. He had assassinated Philippos, Satrapes of Parthyaia, and placing his brother, Eudamos, son of Krateuas, in his stead. Alarmed by this the other Satrapai united under the Satrapes of Persis, Peukestas from Mieza, who had been one of the personal Somatophylakes of Alexandros Megas and the only Makedon to have taken the Persian dress and customs. Peukestas managed to defeat Peithon, forcing him to run away to Babylon. In this way Eumenes' call for assistance was easily answered and the eastern armies, already on the field, marched to Sousiane.
			
{SVTRIVM_TITLE}Battle of Svtrivm - 311 BC
{SVTRIVM_DESCR}In 361 BC a son was born to Karkinos, a potter exiled from Rhegion, after he had settled in Thermai, the settlement where the survivors of Himera gathered after he Qarthadashtim destroyed their polis. Karkinos had had bad dreams during the pregnancy of his new native wife, therefore he instructed Qarthadashtim envoys headed to Delphoi to ask the oracle about his son. The answer was clear: the child will be the cause of great misfortunes for both the Qarthadashtim and the whole of Sikelia. Karkinos at once decided to expose his son at a public place, leaving guards to make sure no one would adopt him. However the mother managed one night to take the boy away and brought him to Herakleides, her brother. The boy was named Agathokles, for he was stronger in body and fairer than any other boy of his age and when he was seven, during a feast at Herakleides' house, Karkinos noticed how remarkable the young boy was. When his wife noticed that he would have been of the same age as their exposed son, Karkinos broke in tears, regretting what he had done and so his wife releaved the identity of Agathokles and the family was reunited and Karkinos thought his son the trade of a master potter.
			
{GELA_TITLE}Battle of Gela - 311 BC
{GELA_DESCR}As Agathokles grew up, fearing that the Qarthadashtim might remember the oracle, Karkinos moved his household to Syrakousai, when Timoleon offered the citizenship in 343 BC to whomever would come and settle in the highly depopulated polis. Soon however Karkinos died and Agathokles became renowned as a capable soldier, enlisting for the campaigns against Aitne and the Campani, but also as a beautiful youth, catching the eye of a certain Damas, one of the leading nobles of Syrakousai, who took Agathokles as his Eromenos. Damas lavishly supplied his lover with everything, allowing Agathokles to finally accumulate a suitable property. Later when Damas was elected Strategos against Akragas, he promoted Agathokles to Khiliarkhos. The young man had gained much respect from the armed citizens, because he always wore a particularly heavy armour, even during military reviews, which no one was able to use it handily. As Khiliarkhos, Agathokles became even more famous for his daring and boldness in battle, while being also a charismatic speaker. When Damas died heirless of illness, having left all to his wife, Agathokles promptly married her and became one of the richest men in Syrakousai.
			
{TYNES_TITLE}Battle of Leukos Tynes - 310 BC
{TYNES_DESCR}In 325 BC Agathokles took part in his first expedition outside of Sikelia, with his brother Antandros even serving as one of the Strategoi, all under the command of Sostratos and Herakleides, two leading figures of the oligarchic party of the 'Exakosioi Epiphaneis' (the remarkable six hundred). Their goal was to relieve the polis of Kroton, under siege by the Brettioi. The campaign was a success and Agathokles distinguished himself during the battles, but was deprived of his honours by Sostratos, out of jealousy. Deeply offended Agathokles turned his personal emnity into political rivalry, denouncing the Exakosioi Epiphaneis to the armed assembly, stating how they desired to overthrow the Demokratia established by Timoleon in Syrakousai. Agathokles however lost his case and opted to go on exile to Megale Hellas, while in Sostratos persuaded the Syrakousaioi to banish the associates of Agathokles and their families. The motion carried, Sostratos posted his men outside of the walls and had them all massacrated, later confiscating their property and with the money hiring mercenaries and releasing criminals to serve him as a personal bodyguard. Free to move the Exakosioi Epiphaneis established a narrow aristocratic regime in Syrakousai.
			
{MAIOTIS_TITLE}Battle of Maiotis - 310 BC
{MAIOTIS_DESCR}In Megale Hellas Agathokles emerged as an ardent democrat, attempting a revolution in Kroton, which was repulsed. Later he served as a mercenary in Taras, but even there he became involved in local politics and was expelled. At once Agathokles gathered all the exiles in Megale Hellas and with them marched on Rhegion, which was under attack by Sostratos, whom they repelled. This allowed a revolution in Syrakousai around 322 BC, which drove into exile the aristocrats and Agathokles, with his new reputation as a defender of the Demokratia, was able to return to Syrakousai. However Sostratos allied himself with the Qarthadashtim and the political conflict spread to Sikelia, pitting the rich against the poor. Indeed rather than political ideologies, the goal of the extreme democrats, led by Agathokles, was to redistribute the land and cancel all debts. This was something most of the Syrakousaioi would never accept and in all likelihood Agathokles and his supporters were planning a coup to set up a dictatorship.
			
{SVTRIVMII_TITLE}Battle of Svtrivm - 310 BC
{SVTRIVMII_DESCR}However before they could move, Akestorides, a Korinthian Strategos, serving as Strategos of Syrakousai according to the law passed by Timoleon, arrested a number of the extreme democrats, unable to move against Agathokles, whom no one even under torture implicated in the plan. Eventually Akestorides resolved to have Agathokles exiled and in 319 BC succeeded in doing so, hoping to have him assassinated, but Agathokles managed to evade the attempt on his life. Having bought some respite, Akestorides mediated a peace between the exiles, the people of Syrakousai and the Qarthadashtim. His work done, he sailed back to Korinthos. Agathokles on the other hand fled to Morgantine, a Sikel settlement in the interior, where he gathered supporters. Many of the natives joined him and nominated leader of this force, Agathokles launched a campaign against his own polis. First the rebels captured Leontinoi and even put under siege Syrakousai itself, whose citizens called the Qarthadashtim for help.
			
{SIRAKENE_TITLE}Battle of Sirakene - 310 BC
{SIRAKENE_DESCR}In 317 BC the arrival of Hamelqart from Qarthadasht tipped the war in favour of Syrakousai, forcing Agathokles to seek terms. He was allowed to return to the polis, only after swearing an oath at the shrine of Demeter, saying that he would undertake nothing against the Demokratia. Gradually Agathokles won the favour of the people, securing his election as Strategos and when news spread that the oligarchs were gathering an army at Herbita, Agathokles was appointed command of the expedition against the rebels. First he reached an agreement with Hamelqart, who returned to Qarthadasht. At this point Agathokles made his move: he called Peisarkhos and Diokles, the leaders of the Exakosioi Epiphaneis, promising them a command to relieve allied poleis. They on their part were preparing to attack Agathokles, who knew of this and played on their desires by summoning the army at the Timoleontion to get ready for the campaign the next day.
			
{AFRIKE_TITLE}Battle of Afrike - 310 BC
{AFRIKE_DESCR}At the meeting Agathokles denounced the plot of the gathered oligarchs, stating how they wanted him dead, because of his sympathy for the common people. At this, instigated also by supporters of Agathokles, the soldiers cried out to inflict the just penalty right away. The signal for battle was given and now class hatred was unleashed. For onlookers joined in the fighting and gangs of the poor started to kill and loot. Agathokles ordered to plunder the property of the Exakosioi Epiphaneis and their supporters, but soon the killing got out of hand. Most started to act for personal profit, not distinguishing between friend and foe, while others took this as the opportunity to gratify their rage, redress their own poverty. Agathokles had planned his coup and stationed men at the gates, barring passage and arresting those trying to flee. Nevertheless the killing and looting went on for two days, with some jumping from the walls to their deaths, attempting to escape. Next Agathokles called an Ekklesia of the people, accusing the Exakosioi Epiphaneis and proclaiming that he was restoring the liberty to the people. Much like an actor on the stage, he tore his military cloak and assuming civil garb asked to be relieved and live as a private citizen. Obviously his supporters and all the people who took part in the killing, called him back and voted him as Strategos Autokrator. Now Agathokles carried out some redistribution of the land and remission of debts, some oligarchs were pardoned, while others exiled. Thus Agathokles took power in Syrakousai, without the need to be attented by personal bodyguards, because now the crowd and mob effectively acted as his bodyguard and Agathokles catered to this idea of being a man of the common people.
			
{PAIONIA_TITLE}Battle of Paionia - 310 BC
{PAIONIA_DESCR}With Polyperkhon far away campaigning, the Basilissa Eurydike took over the administration in Makedonia. However she was worried of Olympias, the mother of Alexandros Megas, making preparations for her return in Pella. For this reason Eurydike resolved to gather as many nobles and officers personally loyal to herself, sending a courier to Kassandros, asking for his aid. She also wrote to Polyperkhon, depriving him of the Epimeleteia, ordering him to hand over his troops to Kassandros. At once Polyperkhon marched from Megalopolis to Makedonia and at the borders, near Euia, he was finally joined by Olympias, accompanied by her cousing Aiakides, Basileus of Epeiros. They were faced by Eurydike at the head of an army, together with Polykles and Basileus Philippos III. However the majority of the Makedones could not resist Olympias and at once changed their allegiance. Olympias right away had Eurydike and Philippos III put under guard and after some days ordered certain Thraikes to stab to death the Basileus and sent a sword, a noose and hemlock to Eurydike, telling her to choose whichever she pleased to kill herself. Eurydike cleaned the wounds of her dead husband and hanged herself with her girdle. Next she had Nikanor, the brother of Kassandros, killed and even overturned the tomb of Iollas, another son of Antipatros, stating that in this way she had avenged the death of Alexandros Megas. Supporters of Kassandros were also slaughtered, causing the son of Antipatros to reconsider his move and focus on the Peloponnesos. Yet all this ruthlessness by Olympias, caused many Makedones to resent her.
			
{BOSPOROS_TITLE}Battle of the Bosporos Kimmerios - 310 BC
{BOSPOROS_DESCR}Throughout the rest of winter Eumenes and the eastern Satrapai called a Synhedrion, where already rivalries started to emerge. Peukestas, considering the number of his soldiers, his high rank under Alexandros Megas thought that the supreme command should be his. Antigenes, commander of the Argyraspides, instead demanded for his own men to be granted the right to chose the commander, because they had conquered Asia with Alexandros III and were unconquered. Eumenes managed to settle the matter, by proposing to not set up a single commander, but instead meet each day in the tent with the throne of Alexandros and deliberate in council on the matters that demanded attention. At Susa, being able to take money from the royal treasure, Eumenes paid six months in advance all the Makedonian rank and file, but also gave 200 talents to Eudamos, who had brought down the elephants from India. Stating that this was to cover the maintenance of the animals, but really Eumenes wanted to secure the loyalty of Eudamos.
			
{ASSYRIE_TITLE}Battle of Assyrie - 309 BC
{ASSYRIE_DESCR}Antigonos meanwhile heard the news of the large host gathering in Sousiane and slowed down his march, wintering in Mesopotamia, while mustering additional soldiers. With the coming of spring Monophthalmos reached Babylonia and made common cause with Seleukos, son of Antiokhos and Peithon, son of Krateuas. Soon a pontoon bridge was built over the Tigris River and the combined army marched for Susa. Meanwhile Eumenes marched into Persis and encamped behind the Pasitigris River on a strong position, looking to contest any crossing. As Antigonos reached Susa, he appointed Seleukos as Satrapes of Sousiane and left him enough troops to besiege the Akropolis, which was held by Xenophilos, the royal Gazophylax. While with the rest of the army Antigonos marched against Eumenes, but his men could not find a suitable ford. Instead crossing was possible only by boat across the Kopratas River, a tributary of the Pasitigris. An advance force was sent across with the few boats available, with orders to fortify a camp and establish a bridgehead.
			
{EURYALOS_TITLE}Battle of the Euryalos Pass - 309 BC
{EURYALOS_DESCR}Eumenes fell upon these troops with a task force, managed to catch some by surprise and cause some disorder. After some resistance by the heavy infantry, the soldiers of Eumenes pushed the enemy back to the river, where too many embarked at once and drowned taken away by the current, while others were taken prisoners. Without boats and not seeing any safe way to cross, Antigonos retreated to the settlement of Badake, losing many soldiers due to scorching heat and as a result the army became discouraged.
			
{TYNESII_TITLE}Battle of Leukos Tynes - 309 BC
{TYNESII_DESCR}During the past years both Lysimakhos, son of Agathokles, and Seuthes III eyed eachother and focused on strengthening their positions. Lysimakhos did not manage to bring all the Thraikes to his side and defiant Seuthes III even founded a new political center, Seuthopolis, with the help of Hellenic engineers and architects. This new formidable capital advertised how Seuthes III was equal to the Makedones and independent. Lysimakhos on his part could not tolerate an ever centralising ruler next door, especially with Makedonia slowly falling into instability, which could result in being caught between two fires. So Lysimakhos resolved to mount an offensive against Seuthes III, staking everything in a single confrontation. Locally Lysimakhos was presenting himself as an alternative to the Udrusai, recruiting many Thraikes, even in the Phalanx. Unfortunately the details of the campaign have not been recorded, but with the coming year Lysimakhos suddenly became more active on affairs with the other Diadokhoi, meaning that he finally had settled matters in the north and could even march with his armies elsewhere. Still Seuthes III was not completely defeated, but coerced into an alliance or acceptance of suzerainty for the time being.
			
{AFRIKEII_TITLE}Battle of Afrike - 308 BC
{AFRIKEII_DESCR}This year saw also the end of the peace between the Romani and the Safineis. Following the disaster near Cavdivm the SPQR decided to field more armies if needed, while likely make the troops undergo more intensive training in manipular tactics, employing smaller and more mobile units like the Safinan ones. During this period both sides also looked elsewhere to find ways to tip the balance in their favour. The Romani managed to find communities in Apulia, who if not allowed to stay neutral preferred to side with the more distant SPQR. So Arpi, Teanvm and Canvsivm reached an understanding with Roma. As these talks were taking place the Romani also had to deal with rebellions from the Volsci, while securing also a route to Apulia by subduing the Vestini. On the other hand the Safineis were urging as many peoples as possible to revolt, lending all the support they could. While securing Central and Southern Campania, holding firmly Nola, Nuceria Alfaterna, Stabiae, Pompeii and Hercvlanevm. They also matched the Roman diplomatic activities by establishing friendly relations with the Rasna, masters of Etrvria.
			
{BATTLE_OF_SENTINUM_TITLE}Battle of Sentinum
{BATTLE_OF_SENTINUM_DESCR}The Volsci were provoked by Romani settling in their valleys, particularly by the Liris River. So the already restive communities rose up and soon as a strong force was despatched against Satricvm, despite the threat of some Apulian intervention, the Safineis renewed open hostilities and promptly sent help to Satricvm, while besieging Plistica, another settlement in the Liris River Valley aligned with Roma. As a precaution the Romani elected Lvcivs Aemilivs Mamercinvs Privernas, one of the Consvles who won and ended the first conflict against the Safineis, as Dictator, with Lvcivs Fvlvivs Corvvs acting as Magister Eqvitvm. The Romani besieged Satricvm, but the arrival of a large Safinan army caused the Dictator to arrange his men to fight on two fronts. Indeed the people of Satricvm flung their gates open and rushed on the Roman outposts. Nevertheless Privernas managed to repel the Volsci, while keeping the Safineis at bay, and then focused all the troops on the relieving force, pushing it back to its camp. With the Romani holding the field and being unable to remove them, the Safineis departed and the siege of Satricvm continued.
			
{BATTLE_OF_TELAMON_TITLE}Battle of Telamon
{BATTLE_OF_TELAMON_DESCR}Having recovered in Badake, Antigonos and his soldiers set for Media, the Satrapeia of Peithon, where they could establish a base in Ekbatana. However there were only two ways accessible, one through one of the royal roads, under the sun for forty days, or cut through the mountains of the Kasshu, hostile highlanders, demanding tribute from those passing by. Peithon advised to purchase the right of passage, but Antigonos formed a column and selecting vanguards ordered to march. Although the climate was cooler, for the next nine days the soldiers of Antigonos had to fend off constant attacks, through difficult terrain, facing hard toil and death during the whole journey. In Ekbatana, being able to use abundant provisions, the army was restored and Peithon set out to gather as many horsemen as possible.
			
