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Agesilaos, Enjoyed your post. The fundamental assumption of these posts is that there were indeed two situations that involved initially Alexander and Antipater and incidentally Craterus. If the accounts in the sources can be argued against as fabrications then this fundamental assumption indeed has...

Craterus has now assumed his rightful place as the figure in the pivotal role of this entire intrigue. Alexander, Olympias and Antipater have each been analyzed and while they are the major players it is upon Craterus that the key to all this has devolved. Arriving in Cilicia in or around September ...

Without doubt Olympias was a player in this drama, in fact had most likely been the catalyst of its creation. Her strategic position was strong but she could likely act only defensively. Antipater held the advantage vis-+á-vis Olympias as Epirus had an infant king and he controlled Pella where Cleop...

Greetings to you theaccursed, I loved that letter. Laughed heartily. Now that we're friends can I just call you "the"? It is not my opinion that Antipater was trying to provoke Alexander at all. I adhere to your GÇÿreasonable interpretationGÇÖ that he was trying desperately to appease him ...

Hi theaccursed, Of course I realize Antipater had alternatives. A boat to Gadira (Cadiz) to urge a Phoenician brave heart to anticipate Colombus by 1800 years was one of them. :P But seriously I did not mean to imply that Antipater would have had to attack Alexander, I am quite sure Alexander would'...

Hi Paralus, Thanks for the insight. Please donGÇÖt think my objective is to offer anything as substantive. I really only want to understand Alexander and his age. I have learned, though, to read between the lines in order to gain that understanding. The example of Eumenes will serve. As you say, tha...

It would have truly been a sight to see. Two armies perched on opposing ridges poised to drive down into the vale below to contend in desperate battle over the fate of Macedon. Polyperchon and Eurydice in full body armor facing off on the marches of Epirus. Then amid the roaring and trumpeting the E...

The opinion that Antipater would not have for any reason faced Alexander seems to me to be missing the point. What was the alternative? The fact that Antipater remained in Europe against direct orders with the knowledge of what the rusults of flaunting Alexander would bring, not only on himself, but...

"Interesting to note that Leonnatus - when he finally arrived - although breaking the siege, did not end the war, nor did he bring any Macedonian levies. That had to wait for Craterus. " Glad you brought this up, Paralus. I always found Leonnatus' actions less deserving of credit than what...

The support given to the legitimate authority of the kings was of paramount importance to anyone wishing for stability. Antipater knew from his near death experience at Triparadaesus that without respect for that authority not only the conquered peoples but also the Macedonians themselves would prov...

"Given that Antipater had yet to obey his King, why would the King set off for Arabia?"This is the heart of the matter Paralus. Arabia bordering the Persian Gulf had once been part of the Persian Empire. Alexander would have at some point wanted to take it; but why then, with Antipater's a...

Hi Nicator, I would agree that Olympias' safety would have been inviolate under normal circumstances, but I believe these were not normal circumstances. Consider her strategic situation. She had been removed from Pella (and therefore from Antipater) by Alexander and sent to Epirus. This placed her i...

In 324 Alexander arrived in Susa where Abulates ruled Susiana and his son, Oxyathes, was Satrap of Paraetacene. Both were executed, Alexander himself executing the son by running a spear through him.

A fine list Paralus. Another one for the list was Baryaxes from Media who had assumed Alexander dead and claimed the Persian throne. This incident highlights the other side of this coin, Atropates was rewarded and retained for his faithful service. Also retained were Stasanor, Phrataphernes, Sibyrti...

No, he was up to it. In fact he fought a battle in the pass at Thermopylae and withstood a siege in Lamia. Then fought and won a battle at Crannon and then harrassed the Aetolians. Then he mustered and marched an army across the straits and invaded Asia. He then crossed Anatolia and marched to the O...