In this part of the Seleucus Nikator series, we delve into the aftermath of the death of Alexander the Great and what happened to Seleucus.
In 323 B.C., Alexander the Great died of an unknown cause in the city of Babylon. following Alexander's death, his top generals partitioned his new empire between themselves, his was known as the Partition of Babylon. During these talks, Seleucus did not receive a satrapy to govern himself, however he was taken into Perdikkas’ service as his second-in-command. With Justin stating this of Seleucus “The chief command of the camp fell to Seleucus the son of Antiochus”, and Diodorus Siculus saying that “He placed Seleucus in command of the cavalry of the Companions, a most distinguished office”. Following contentions between Perdikkas and the new ruler of Egypt, Ptolemy, Perdikkas decided to invade Egypt in 321 B.C. In the same year of the invasion of Egypt, due to his military failures, Perdikkas was assassinated by his commanders including Seleucus, Antigenes and Peithon.
(The Macedonian empire following the Partition of Babylon https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Partition_of_Babylon#/media/File:Diadochi_satraps_babylon.png)
In the following year of 320 B.C., the satrapies of the Macedonian empire were redistributed again at the Partition of Triparadisus. Antipater, the new regent of the Macedonian throne gave Seleucus the very wealthy satrapy of Babylonia. Seleucus ruled over Babylonia for five years, before being expelled by Antigonus in 315 B.C. The reason for Antigonus' intervention into Babylonia is given to us by Appian of Alexandria, who states that “One day Seleucus punished one of the governors without consulting Antigonus”. During his time as the satrap of Babylon, the people of Babylon had grown to accept and love Seleucus, with Appian claiming that “The inhabitants receiving him with enthusiasm, and within a short time he augmented his power greatly.” Diodorus Siculus tells us that “he (Seleucus ) assumed that the Babylonians, on account of the goodwill that had previously existed, would promptly join him”
(The partition of Triparadisus @Linn Atlas)
Following his expulsion from Babylon Seleucus fled to Egypt to the court of his friend and ally Ptolemy. Whilst in Egypt, Ptolemy appointed Seleucus as an admiral in his fleet. Following the battle of Gaza in 312 B.C., Seleucus with Ptolemy’s aid, ventured to retake the satrapy that was taken away from him by Antigonus. Diodorus Siculus tells us that Ptolemy granted Seleucus “no more than eight hundred-foot soldiers and about two hundred horse” whereas Appian claims that Ptolemy “gave him 1000 foot-soldiers and 300 horse for the purpose. With this small force Seleucus was able to retake his former satrapy of Babylonia away from Antigonus. Seleucus reached and laid siege to Babylon, upon his storming of the citadel, Diodorus Siculus tells us that Seleucus “recovered the persons of all his friends and slaves who had been placed there under guard by the order of Antigonus”.
Join us next time, as Seleucus takes the diadem and becomes the first monarch of the emerging Seleucid empire.
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