Wars of Successors (Diadochoi) followed the death of Alexander


Alexander's Successors
When Alexander died, he was succeeded by a son, who was born after Alexander's death to his Persian wife Roxane, and later by Alexander's dim-witted half-brother. The administration was carried out by his generals who ruled various areas as governors in the name of the infant Alexander IV. There followed a long series of wars in which these generals vied for control of the empire. At various times down to 281 it seemed as if one of the successors might manage to assert his control over the whole of the empire, but these particularly powerful contenders were overcome by various combinations of the others. These contenders for power in the aftermath of Alexander's death are called the diadochoi (Greek for "successors"). The heirs of Alexander were murdered during the course of these wars, and in 305 the successors adopted the title of "king." Eventually three major kingdoms developed in the territory of Alexander's empire. The period of the kingdoms set up by Alexander's successors is called Hellenistic. It lasts until Augustus became the first Roman empire, but by the mid second century Rome dominated the Hellenistic world. During the Hellenistic period Greek culture becomes predominant throughout the Near East, and Greek influence is spread far to the east.

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Antigonids
Macedon had always had a somewhat loose form of succession, the Macedonian army having a say in the selection of the new king. Who would rule in Macedon after Alexander was highly disputed, and eventually the kingdom fell to the house founded by Antigonus, the last of the successors who might have restored Alexander's empire. Antigonus was killed at the battle of Ipsus in 301, but his son and grandson managed to set themselves up as kings in Macedon. Hence, the dynasty is called Antigonid. They tried with varying success to maintain Macedonian control over the city states of mainland Greece. In 197 the Romans decisively defeated Philip V and "freed" mainland Greece. The Romans thought they had adopted Greece as their clients, but the Greeks themselves misunderstood (they assumed that if they had been freed, then they could do as they wished), which would lead to serious problems. In 167 the Romans removed the last Antigonid king. The Romans attempted not to get directly involved in running Greek affairs, but a series of rebellions forced them in 146 to station a governor in Macedon to keep an eye on the area.

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Ptolemies
Alexander's governor in Egypt was called Ptolemy. In 305 he declared himself king, and set up the dynasty called Ptolemaic (all the males of the family adopted the name). Under the Ptolemies a huge Greek immigration into Egypt took place, and a special cultural blending of Greek and traditional Egyptian elements took place there. The city of Alexandria became to some extent the intellectual capital of the Hellenistic world. The first three Ptolemies were efficient kings, but from 221 on the Ptolemaic kings were a pretty miserable lot and the kingdom fell under the influence of Rome. Only internal political Roman politics prevented the annexation of Egypt under the late Republic. The last Ptolemaic ruler was Cleopatra, who exercised a strong influence on the Roman politicians Julius Caesar and Mark Antony. After the defeat of Cleopatra and Antony at the battle of Actium in 31, Egypt was finally annexed by the Romans. They Roman emperor then served as pharaoh.

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Seleucids
Alexander's general Seleucus eventually took control of the central Asian territories, that is, those extending north to south from Asia Minor to Egypt and stretching as far east as he could exert his influence. The dyasty is called Seleucid (most of the kings were called Seleucus or Antiochus). After a certain period of losses in the east, Antiochus III (the Great) re-established Seleucid power far to the east, but after attempting to restore Seleucid control in Asia Minor and to intervene in mainland Greece he was decisively defeated by the Romans in 191 BC. The Romans did not annnex Seleucid territory then, but they had seriously undermined the dynasty's power. His son Antiochus IV tried to abolish Judaism in an effort to spread Greek influence as a unifying element in his territory. He was rewarded with the successful revolt of Judaea under the Maccabees (166-141 BC). The dynasty quickly declined into chaos, and was restricted to Syria, the Parthians taking over much of the east. The Romans ended the feable remains of the dynasty in 66 BC.

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