The army of Polyperchon and Olympias (Molossians)

[ruthaki]

Yeia sas; could anyone give me an estimated guess at how large an army (together) that Polyperchon and Olympias (with her Molossian troops) might have had when they confronted the army of Eurydike? (I'm speaking of the one where Eurydike's army deserted rather than fight Alexander's mother.) And how many men would Eurydike have?

I also wonder if Eurydike would have brought Philip Arridaios along because of protocol or would she leave him behind in Pella as he was basically useless except as a figure-head? Or does anyone know for sure?

Thanks so much for any help you can provide to enlighten me.

[Paralus]

The only real account of this period is Diodorus 18 and 19. It is rather disappointing though, to say the least. Diodorus seems, near the close of book 18, to be in some sort of child-like rush to get to the events in Sicily that begin book 19, hence we have a truncated description of both Eumenes’ removal east (even less about the war in the eastern satrapies) and the closing acts of the war in Attica between Cassander and Polyperchon

Worse, the civil war in Macedonia involving Polyperchon, Olympias and Cassander seem not to generate enough moment to garner his interest. Why is anyone’s guess though his reliance on Hieronymus, whose focus would seem to be the Eumenes/Antigonus war, might play a part.

Long way of saying that there are no attested figures for the combined army of Olympias and Polyperchon. Nor are there any for Eurydice. The best one can do is surmise from the army of 318 (for Aetolia/Attica) when Diodorus claims Polyperchon had “with him 20,000 Macedonian infantry and about four thousand of the other allies, a thousand cavalry and sixty-five elephants” (18.68.3). It is highly unlikely that he had 20,000 Macedonians. Mercenaries are, impossibly, absent from the totals.

In any case, he left part of this army in Attica with his son Alexander whilst he himself took the rest to the Peloponnese (Megalopolis).

In the end, we do not know what he invaded Macedonia with and nor do we know what he was met with.

[amyntoros]

We do know, however, how the women were dressed! This thanks to Athenaeus, who would probably be a tabloid publisher if he lived today.

Athenaeus Book XIII. 560 f Duris of Samos says that the first war between two women was that waged by Olympias and Eurydice; in it Olympias marched forth rather like a Bacchant, to the accompaniment of tambourines, whereas Eurydice was armed cap-a-pie in the Macedonian fashion, having been trained in military matters by Cynna, the princess from Illyria.

I also wonder if Eurydike would have brought Philip Arridaios along because of protocol or would she leave him behind in Pella as he was basically useless except as a figure-head? Or does anyone know for sure?

As Paralus said, Diodorus doesn't seem to be too interested in these events, but according to the excerpt below Philip Arridaios must have been present else he couldn't have been captured.

Diodorus XIX.11.1-4 [11] (317 B.C.) In Macedonia, when Eurydicê, who had assumed the administration of the regency, heard that Olympias was making preparations for a return, she sent a courier into the Peloponnesus to Cassander, begging him to come to her aid as soon as possible ; and, by plying the most active of the Macedonians with gifts and great promises, she was trying to make them personally loyal to herself. 2 But Polyperchon, with Aeacides of Epirus as his ally, collected an army and restored Olympias and the son of Alexander to the throne. So, as soon as he heard that Eurydicê was at Euia in Macedonia with her army, he hastened against her with the intention of deciding the campaign in a single battle. When, however, the armies were drawn up facing each other, the Macedonians, out of respect for the position of Olympias and remembering the benefits that they had received from Alexander, changed their allegiance. 3 King Philip with his court was captured at once, while Eurydicê was taken as she was making her way to Amphipolis with Polycles, one of her counselors. 4 But after Olympias had thus captured the royal persons and had seized the kingdom without a fight, she did not carry her good fortune as a human being should, but first she placed Eurydicê and her husband Philip under guard and began to maltreat them …

Best regards,

[ruthaki]

Thanks so much for the prompt replies. Although I'm writing historical 'fiction', I like to try and get major facts as correct as possible instead of taking a chance on a wild guess.
This was very helpful. evharisto poli

[Paralus]

It is difficult to know what was transpiring. Euridice will almost certainly have taken him along as part of the trappings of the court to mollify her Macedonians. As Polyperchon did when he went to Phocis/Attica where Philip III received the Athenian delegation

In the event it did not matter. The Macedonians in Eurice's army, having caught wind of the frightening former Queen, promptly decamped.

Philip III may have benn "mentally deficient" but his passport certainly was not "stamp deficient".