Dividing the Spoils (ISBN 978-0-19-964700-2): at last, a book where I’m not getting lost amidst the many successors and endless wars!
When Alexander died in 323 BC, there was no heir to the throne, and he had not appointed any of his generals to rule his empire. This situation only led to chaos, and the chaos turned into war since all the commanders in Babylon felt they were equally qualified and entitled to take charge. Until now, I always had swept these fights into one big heap labeled “the War of the Diadochi” or “War of the Successors.” The author clearly underscores the world fought a full-blooded civil war in which Macedonians fought against Macedonians. At the same time, it was a world war considering that Alexander had conquered nearly all of the known world. These succession wars lasted forty years until Alexander’s empire was finally shared by four remaining contenders: Ptolemy in Egypt , Seleucos in Asia, Lysimachus in Thracia, and Cassander in Greece .
But blessed be Robin Waterfield, who has managed to relate the succession wars as seen through the eyes of each individual general, projecting the events against the wars and ambitions of the other players in this game for power. Thanks to the clear layout and additional sub-chapters, it is pretty amazing to realize that you can keep track of all those intricate events where sides were taken and exchanged, where treaties were signed and discarded, and where territories were won and lost again. Sons succeeded their fathers, daughters were given in marriage to secure a temporary agreement, and wives were negotiated for their titles or influences.
When you consider the crowd of powerful men gathered in Babylon to discuss Alexander’s succession, it is no wonder that we are so easily losing track. We have all Alexander’s Bodyguard members: Aristonous, Leonnatus, Lysimachus, Peithon, Perdiccas, Peucestas, and Ptolemy. Were also present, Seleucos, one of his principal commanders over the past seven years; Nearchus, the admiral of his fleet; and Eumenes, his secretary, and archivist. Missing were Craterus (still in Cilicia bringing the veterans home to Macedonia) and Antipater, the Regent of Macedonia. These men and more battled among themselves. Quite a crowd, and yet Robin Waterfield manages to follow the reasoning and campaigning of each of them. He even finds opportune moments to share information about the rise of Hellenism and its consequences in politics, religion, philosophy, warfare, and art.
This makes thrilling and captivating reading material as the author keeps his audience’s attention alive all the way to the end.
Also available as an ebook, click here.
Also available as an ebook, click here.
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