The Wars of Alexander's Successors 323 - 281 BC: Volume 1 - Commanders and Campaigns

by Bob Bennett, Mike Roberts

Overview

When the dying Alexander the Great was asked to whom he bequeathed his vast empire, he supposedly replied ”to the strongest". There ensued a long series of struggles between his generals and governors for control of these territories. Most of these Diadochi (Successors) were consummate professionals who had learned the art of war under Alexander or even his father, Philip. Few died a peaceful death and the last survivors of this tough breed were still leading their armies against each other well into their seventies. Colorful characters, epic battles, treachery and subterfuge make this a period with great appeal to anyone interested in ancient history and ancient warfare in particular. The wars shaped the map from the Balkans to India for the next couple of centuries.

This first volume introduces the key personalities - characters such as Antigonos ”Monopthalmus" (the One-eyed) and his son 'Demetrius 'Poliorcetes' (the Besieger), Seleucus 'Nicator' ('the Victorious') and Ptolemy ”Soter" ("the Saviour") - and gives a narrative of the causes and course of these wars from the death of Alexander to the Battle of Corupedium (281 BC) when the last two original Diadochi faced each other one final time.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781526760746
Publisher:	Pen and Sword
Publication date:	09/16/2019
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	256
Sales rank:	760,579
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.50(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Bob Bennett has a Certificate in British Archaeology and an MA in Classical Studies from the Open University. Mike Roberts has a degree in South East Asian Studies from Hull University. Both social workers by profession, they met and discovered their mutual enthusiasm for the ancient world over ten years ago and have been researching the Successors of Alexander the Great ever since, creating a website dedicated to the subject.

Mike Roberts is a social worker by training but has had a long-standing interest in the military history of the Classical world. He is the co-author (with his good friend Bob Bennett) of several well-received books: The Wars of Alexander’s Successors (volumes I and II); The Twilight of the Hellenistic World and The Spartan Supremacy. He lives in Dudley.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements vi

List of illustrations vii

Maps viii

Introduction x

1 Babylon 1

2 The Perdiccas Years 12

3 The Struggle for Macedonia 39

4 The Rise of Antigonus 53

5 Stalemate 71

6 Ptolemy 93

7 Seleucus 112

8 Ebbtide 129

9 Ipsus 151

10 Ptolemaic Revival 167

11 Lysimachus 183

12 The Final Hand 205

Epilogue 219

Notes 221

Bibliography 230

Index 232

Editorial Reviews

"This book and Volume II are still two of the best on the subject [...] this is the first book that should be in your library."

A Wargamers Needful Things