Polyperchon

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Polyperchon (sometimes written Polysperchon; Greek: Πολυπέρχων; b. between 390–380 BC[1][2] – d. after 304 BC,[3] possibly into 3rd century BC),[4] was a Macedonian Greek general who served both Philip II and Alexander the Great and then played an active role in the ensuing battles for control between Alexander's generals.

Early career

Polyperchon was a son of Simmias from

Tymphaia in Epirus. He served under Philip II and Alexander the Great, accompanying Alexander throughout his long journeys. After the Battle of Issus in 333, Polyperchon was given command of the Tymphaean battalion of the phalanx which he retained until 324.[5]

After his return to Babylon, Polyperchon (along with other veterans) was sent back to Macedon with Craterus, but had only reached Cilicia by the time of Alexander's death in 323.[6] Craterus was to replace Antipater as Macedonia's regent, but was of poor health.[6] Poyperchon was to succeed Craterus in case the latter wouldn't be able to govern.[6] Polyperchon and Craterus continued onto Greece.

As Craterus' second in command Polyperchon acted as governor of Macedon and helped

Thessalian cavalry of Menon
, which was hitherto considered practically invincible.

Following the

Asia Minor
to assert his regency over the whole empire.

Regent

Upon Antipater's death in 319, Polyperchon was appointed regent and supreme commander of the entire empire but soon fell into conflict with Antipater's son

Ptolemy.[7]

Although Polyperchon was initially successful in securing control of the Greek cities, whose freedom he proclaimed, he suffered a major

Eurydice. Polyperchon fled to Epirus, where he joined Alexander's mother Olympias, widow Roxana, and infant son Alexander IV. He formed an alliance with Olympias and King Aeacides of Epirus
, and Olympias led an army into Macedon. She was initially successful, defeating and capturing the army of King Philip, whom she had murdered, but soon Cassander returned from the Peloponnesus and captured and murdered her in 316, taking Roxana and the boy king into his custody.

Alliance with Antigonus

Polyperchon now fled to the

Heracles
to Polyperchon as a bargaining chip to use against Cassander. Polyperchon, however, decided to break with Antigonus and murdered the boy in 309.

Later life

There is no certain date for Polyperchon's death. He is last mentioned as being alive in 304,[3] but the lack of further reference is only because Diodorus' subsequent narrative is lost and no others cover this period in sufficient detail. A mention in Plutarch's Life of Pyrrhus 8.3 suggests that he might have lived into the early 3rd century BC.[4]

Polyperchon had a son named Alexander who participated in the Wars of the Diadochi, first under his father, then in league with Cassander.

Notes

  1. ^ 390–380 BC according to Heckel, W., 'The Marshals of Alexander's Empire' (1992), p. 189
  2. ^ after 382 BC according to Billows, R., 'Antigonos the One-Eyed and the Creation of the Hellenistic State' (1990), p. 172, n. 20
  3. ^ a b Heckel, W., 'The Marshals of Alexander's Empire' (1992), p. 204
  4. ^ a b Billows, R., 'Antigonos the One-Eyed and the Creation of the Hellenistic State' (1990), p. 172, n. 20
  5. ^
    ISBN 0192801074
    .
  6. ^
    S2CID 157417151
    .
  7. ^ Habicht 1998, pp. 75–77.

References

External links
Preceded by Regent of Macedon
319–317 BC 		Succeeded by
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