Alexander : a history of the origin and growth of the art of war from ...

XLIX.THE SUCCESSORS OF ALEXANDER. EUMENES ANDANTIGONUS. PHILOPCEMEN.Alexandek's lieutenants divided up his kingdom, ostensibly for his heirs.But ambition and mutual jealousies soon broke up the empire, and brought onwars. Discipline declined. Corps and armies sold themselves for gold, or betrayedtheir generals. Courage ebbed with discipline, and Oriental devices wereadopted to eke out valor. Still, the old officers trained by Alexander showedthat they were good soldiers, and their campaigns and battles bear the stampof their great master. Fortification especially grew apace, and received itshighest exemplification at the siege of Rhodes. The stratagems emjjloyed byEumenes in manoeuvring against Antigonus, and the third battle of Mantinsea,won by Philopoeraen over the Spartans, are good samples of the work of thesuccessors of Alexander. But Greece had degenerated, and with her Macedon; and finally the proud nation of Philip and Alexander, forgetful of thevirtues which had made her great, sank under the sway of sturdy Rome.Alexander's lieutenants divided up liiskingdom, ostensiblyin trust for his heirs.But ambition and jealousies led towars, and the great empire fell to pieces. Macedon, Egyptand Syria remained the prominent divisions, and a relic ofHellenism in the East still testified to the king's broadmethod. Discipline in the armies declined fast ; mercenarytroops multiplied, and missile-throwers, chariots and elephantscrept into the line of battle.The armies became Asiaticized.Despite this, however, the wars of Alexander's immediatesuccessors show a clear following of the great master'smethods. In some minor respects, these were even improved.After the battle of Ipsus the military art declined fast. Onlybrilliant exceptions, of which the manoeuvres of Antigonusand Eumenes and tlie third battle of Mantinaia are finesamples, remained to testify to its having ever existed.