Sykes' History of Persia - Heritage Institute

Seleucus Nicator.
(From a Coin in the British Museum.)
CHAPTER XXV
THE WARS OF THE " SUCCESSORS "
Of all those who succeeded to the sovereignty after Alexander, Seleucus
became the greatest king, was the most kingly in mind, and ruled over
the greatest extent of land after Alexander himself.—Arrian.
The Problem of the Succession,—The sudden and unex-
pected death of Alexander the Great before he possessed
adult son unchained a conflict of interests which convulsed
the known world for two generations. Roxana
was expecting an heir, Alexander had only recently
married Statira, a daughter of Darius, and he had an
illegitimate son of three by Barsine, widow of Memnon.
Another claimant to power was his illegitimate half-witted
brother, Philip Arridaeus. Olympias, beloved as being
the mother of the hero, had to be reckoned with, and also
his sister Cleopatra, the widow-queen of Epirus. Cynane,
a daughter of Philip, and her daughter Eurydice, who sub-
sequently married Philip Arridaeus, were also prominent
figures on the stage.
The first fight for power took place almost before
the King's body was cold. Perdiccas, the senior officer of
the Court, who had served with much distinction and in
high posts under Philip as well as under his great son, but
was selfish, cruel, and narrow-minded, took the lead at a ,
meeting of generals, at which it was decided to govern the
empire by means of a council pending the birth of an heir.
The infantry, on the other hand, representing
a lower class
VOL. I 305 x