Antigonos the One-Eyed and the Creation of the Hellenistic State

by Richard A. Billows

Overview

Called by Plutarch "the oldest and greatest of Alexander's successors," Antigonos the One-Eyed (382-301 BC) was the dominant figure during the first half of the Diadoch period, ruling most of the Asian territory conquered by the Macedonians during his final twenty years. Billows provides the first detailed study of this great general and administrator, establishing him as a key contributor to the Hellenistic monarchy and state. After a successful career under Philip and Alexander, Antigonos rose to power over the Asian portion of Alexander's conquests. Embittered by the persistent hostility of those who controlled the European and Egyptian parts of the empire, he tried to eliminate these opponents, an ambition which led to his final defeat in 301. In a corrective to the standard explanations of his aims, Billows shows that Antigonos was scarcely influenced by Alexander, seeking to rule West Asia and the Aegean, rather than the whole of Alexander's Empire.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780520919044
Publisher:	University of California Press
Publication date:	09/01/2023
Series:	Hellenistic Culture and Society , #4
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	544
File size:	9 MB

About the Author

Richard A. Billows is Assistant Professor of History at Columbia University.

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations 
List of Abbreviations 
Preface 
Introduction 
PART I ANTIGONOS's LIFE AND CAREER 
1. The Early Years 
Antigonos's Background and Youth (382-359 B.c.) 
The Reign of Philip (359-336 B.c.) 
The Reign of Alexander (336-323 B.c.) 
2. Antigonos's Rise to Power 
The Crisis after Alexander's Death (323-320 B.c.) 
The First Diadoch War (320-319 B.c.) 
3. The Establishment of Antigonos's Rule over Asia 
The Second Diadoch War (318-315 B.c.) 
The Third Diadoch War (314-311 B.c.) 
4. Antigonos's Assumption of the Kingship 
The Lead-up to Royal Status (310-306 B.c.) 
The Assumption of the Kingship and Its Meaning
5. The Final Years 
Attempts to Eliminate Rivals (306-302 B.c.) 
The Campaign of lpsos (302-301 B.c.) 
Epitaph 
PART II ANTIGONOS AS RULER OF A HELLENISTIC EMPIRE 
6. Antigonos's Relations with the Greeks 
Common Peaces and Autonomy in the Fourth Century B.c. 
Antigonos's Career in Relation to the Greeks 
Antigonos's Relations with Individual Poleis 
Greek Reactions to Antigonos 
7. Antigonos's Administration of His Asian Realm 
The Geography of Antigonos's Asian Realm 
Antigonos's Kingship and Instruments of Rule 
Central Administrative Institutions and Practices 
Provincial Administrative Institutions 
8. Economic, Settlement, and Cultural Policies 
Economic Policy 
Settlement Policy: Urbanization and Colonization 
Cultural Policy 
Conclusion 
Appendix 1. The Literary Sources 
Appendix 2. Antigonos's Military and Naval Forces 
Appendix 3· Prosopography of Antigonos's Friends and Subordinates 
Maps 
List of Sources 
Bibliography 
Name Index 
Place Index 
Subject Index