Re: Macedonians in the Peloponnese

[abm]

WARNING! This message contains several mentions of Antipatros' son. If you might be offended by this, please stop reading now and return to the pothos forum. :-)Hi Ruth,sorry it took me so long to reply. I hope the following is the answer to your question.Megalopolis had been a pro-Macedonian city from the early days of PhilipGÇÖs reign. Since she was an enemy of Sparta, Macedon was kind of a natural ally. After the Lamian War Antipatros had installed oligarchic regimes in many Greek cities. In his war against Kassandros Polyperchon tried to win Greek support with a decree (diagramma) stating that all Antipatrid oligarchies had to be expelled and the democracies restored. After Kassandros had taken Athens, Polyperchon wanted to besiege Athens, but he was short of supplies and supposed that the siege would take quite long. He then GÇ£undertook a desperate attempt to win popularity for himself among the Greeks by enforcing his decree in the Peleponnese, where he ordered the deaths of previous adherents of Antipatros and thus potential supporters of Kassandros, but thereby so appalled the basically pro-Macedonian city Megalopolis that it successfully offered bitter resistanceGÇ¥ (R.M. Errington, A History of Macedonia, Berkeley 1990, p. 126). According to Diodorus XVIII 69.4 Megalopolis was the only Peloponnesian city to remain loyal to Kassandros. Another reason why Diodorus writes so much about it is probably fascination for the elephant story.In another post (on Antipatros taking the kings to Europe after Triparadeisos) you said it would be strange that Kassandros warned Antipatros against the plans of Antigonos, since in the Second Diadoch War they were allies. The coalition policy of the Successors was, however, strictly opportunistic. They formed a coalition with whoever could serve their purpose best at a given moment. Antigonos had already rebelled against the kings openly and thus he was the natural ally for Kassandros when he wanted to start a war against the regent. On the other hand, a war between Polyperchon and Kassandros in Europe was very interesting for Antigonos in order to keep Polyperchon away from Asia, as the regent had to punish the rebel. Kleitos had fled from Asia to advise Polyperchon to go to war against Antigonos as Monophthalmos had done some years before with Perdikkas. There are even more clear examlpes for this opportunism of the Diadochoi. Polyperchon and Antigonos were enemies in the Second Diadoch War, but when the

[abm]

but when the alliance between Kassandros and Antigonos was broken, Polyperchon and Antigonos became allies. Ca. 309 Polyperchon switched sides again and formed a coalition with Kassandros. Ptolemaios was an ally of Kassandros in the Second and Third Diadoch Wars and in 308 Ptolemaios attacked KassandrosGÇÖ position in Greece (e.g. ejecting KassandrosGÇÖ garrison from Andros), but afterwards they became allies again in their war against Antigonos.There is also a translation of ArrianGÇÖs Successor history on the web (which I didnGÇÖt know when writing my previous post on this url: http://attalus.org/translate/fgh.html . This is the relevant passage, F 11.43: GÇ£Cassander was at variance with Antigonus, but by command of his father, Antipater, he abandoned his opposition. Nevertheless, Cassander, when he met his father in Phrygia, advised him not to get too far from the kings, and to keep watch on Antigonus ; but the latter, by his quiet behaviour, courtesy, and good qualities, did all he could to remove suspicionGÇ¥.regards,abm

[kenny]

abm hailDont beat youself up about Cassander,,, Its fare to say you like the guy and argue his case.We all have our own opinions.Mine is he was a lecherous little snake thad did for Alexander.If Andrew chuggs theory is proved and we have a body,,, Then Im sure scientists will find the poison and the only candidate for Alexander been poisoned is Cassander!
Kenny

[ruthaki]

First, ANDREW, Thanks so much for this detail explanation. I truly appreciate it as I am at the point in my novel where I needed to make sure of these political shennanigans. Evharisto poli.Second, KENNY, you have nailed Kassandros down exactly as I see him, a sleazy self-serving snake.

[kenny]

Ruth Haili have maintained my theory from day dot,,, Fellow members disagree and go with illness theories and I accept them and wont argue them down.For me At 32 Alexander was no age,,, And ready to hit the saddle for Arabia and to resettle Antipater and his boys with a steady pension and to put Perdicass there.Cassander and the boys were not having that so off he goes thousands of miles to see the guy off.Where do you rest your hat with the death theory and I do agree Cassanders name dont deserve mentioning in the same breath as Alexander.Kenny.Sorry Alex but I have my ideas on Cassander and he wont get positive feedback from me.

[ruthaki]

Well Kenny, I agree. When I was researching and had an interview with a Prof. at the Society of Macedonian studies in Thessaloniki a few years ago, I specifically asked about the poison theory and she agreed 100% and said 'yes, that's what we believe'. That was good enough for me to use that theory in my historical fiction novel. Of course it's ambiguous. But who REALLY knows? Kassandros is a highly suspicious character.

[abm]

the name is Alexander, but other than that, my pleasure.everyone is entitled to his own opinion so I really don't mind anyone thinking that Alexander was poisoned by Cassander. As I said earlier, I don't 'like' Cassander, I'm simlpy interested in the history of his age (the beginning of my message was only a joke). On the other hand, I don't see why Cassander is the only one who could have poisened Alexander, if he really was poisoned. Many of the arguments for the view that the Antipatrids wanted to murder Alexander are based on the so-called "reign of terror" at the end of Alexanders reign (and I don't see how this fits in your view on Alexander, Kenny) and on misconceptions concerning Antipater's behaviour in this respect. There is a very interesting article by Landucci Gattinoni['La morte di Alessandro e la tradizione su AntipatroGÇÖ, in M. SORDI (ed.), Alessandro Magno tra storia e mito (Ricerche dellGÇÖ Istituto di Storia Antica dellGÇÖ Universit+á Cattolica di Milano 1), Milano, pp. 91-111], showing that there is so much propaganda in the sources here that is very difficult to decide whether Antipatros really was on bad terms with Alexander.regards,
abm

[kenny]

Ruth HailAs Alexander in this thread he believes Cassander not alone.I saw a book in the bookshop today Called Alexander the great Murder of A God,,, I think that was the title.I had a brief look through and the book seems to focus on Ptolemy as the main suspect.On reflection I would wager it was indeed a plot by most of his so called friends and generals.We do know they didnt like Alexanders policies of mixing and sharing,,, And maybe Alexander would eventually change the whole system of government,,, So indeed Alexander I totally agree with you that they all had blood on there hands but the evidence is that Cassander more tyhan likely the killere.Kenny