The Successors of Alexander the Great Western Civ

The Death of Alexander 323 BCE: Alexander the Great dies in Babylon, a month from his 33rd birthday Poisoning? Malaria? Alcohol Poisoning? Q: Who did he name as his heir??

A: NO ONE Who inherits his vast empire? Let’s review some of the candidates…

Seleukos “Nicator” Σέλευκος Νικάτωρ Macedonian Officer to Alexander Takes control of Babylon, Eastern Conquests all the way to Annatolia Death: Murdered in 281 Seleucid Empire

Ptolemy “Soter” Πτολεμαῖος Σωτήρ Another Macedonian General Takes control of Egypt; parts of Arabia, Libya, Annatolia, Palestine Death: Peacefully, in 283 Ptolemaic Empire

Antigonus “Monopthalmus” Ἀντίγονος ὁ Μονόφθαλμος Macedonian General, Nobleman, Satrap Takes control of Annatolia, Palestine, eventually just Macedonia Death: Killed at Battle of Ipsus in 301 Antigonid Empire

Antipater & Cassander Ἀντίπατρος, Κάσσανδρος Regent of Macedon during conquests Macedonia, with son Cassander Deaths: Antipater- Peacefully, in 319, Cassander- peacefully, in 297 Macedonia and Greece

40 years of conflicts Antigonus, Lysimachus, Craterus, Cassander, Polyperchon, Seleukos, Ptolemy, Eumenes, Perdiccas, et. al. fight endlessly Wars carried over several generations Alliances, counter-alliances, betrayals, assassinations, battles, the works

The Last Ones Standing… In 197 BCE Romans take control of Greece after routing Macedonian army at Cynoscephylae Seleucids defeated by Rome at Thermopylae and Magnesia, empire overthrown by Parthians Macedon under complete Roman control after battle of Pydna in 168 BCE

The Last Ones Standing… Ptolemaic Egypt remains ally of Rome until Octavian declares war on Antony and Cleopatra Octavian annexes Egypt in 31-30 BCE after defeating Antony and Cleopatra at Actium Last Successor State gone, Mediterranean Sea now Roman Lake

Pictures! War Elephant Pezhetairoi Heavily armored Cataphract Cavalry Heliopolis at Rhodes