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Eumenes of Cardia Part 1/2 - Page 2

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Craterus and Antipater, two of Alexander's generals, had gained control of Greece, and were reported to be on the point of invading Cappadocia. Perdiccas was busy fighting Ptolemy, who had taken possession of Egypt, and so Eumenes was left to fight Craterus and Antipater by himself as well as continue the campaign against Neoptolemus. Eumenes' cavalry beat Neoptolemus' foot soldiers, and Neoptolemus and the remnants of his forces went over to join Craterus and Antipater.

Craterus was a very popular figure, and Eumenes realised that his troops would be unwilling to fight him. He managed to conceal the identity of the enemy from his men, and Craterus and Neoptolemus were killed in the fighting, Craterus by a Thracian, and Neoptolemus by Eumenes himself. Perdiccas was killed in Egypt two days before the news of Eumenes' victory reached him, so there were no Macedonians who thought Eumenes worth protecting against Antigonus and Antipater, who joined forces against him (320).

Sources:

Primary Sources:

Cornelius Nepos' Life of Eumenes

Plutarch's Life of Eumenes

Plutarch's Comparison of Sertorius and Eumenes

Secondary Source:

For a good overview of the somewhat confusing history of events after Alexander the Great's death, see Livius' articles on the Diadochoi (successors).

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