Editing Perdiccas (section)

=== Political legacy and motives ===
Perdiccas' death and the transferring of the regency to Antipater has been seen as marking the end "for the empire as Alexander had envisioned it", as Perdiccas was not only quite close to Alexander but, like Alexander, had chosen to centre the empire at Babylon.{{sfn|Heckel|2016|p=183. Alexander wanted to structure his empire in Asia, hence the administrative capital in Babylon. Antipater, once having gained the kings, returned them to Macedon, and thereafter Alexander's cross continental empire was split, and was never again held by a single Macedonian ruler}} Waterfield believes that since Perdiccas represented direct succession from Alexander himself, his assassination was a "momentous step".{{sfn|Waterfield|2011|p=64}}

Perdiccas' motives are debated, though he is typically held to have acted from ambition. Some, such as Romm, believe he may have acted out of a desire to protect Alexander IV and maintain the unity of Alexander's empire.{{sfn|Anson|2014|p=56}} Anson disbelieves this, citing Perdiccas' duplicitous communications with the [[Aetolian League]] against Antipater.{{sfn|Anson|2014|p=57}} Whether for ambition or loyalty, it is agreed that Perdiccas sought to "hold Alexander's legacy intact".{{sfn|Anson|2014|p=80}}{{sfn|Heckel|2016|p=183}} Tarn writes that "Perdiccas ... was a brave and good soldier; he was probably loyal to Alexander's house, and meant to keep the empire together; but he saw that someone must exercise power, and he meant it to be himself".{{sfn|Heckel|2016|p=153, citing Tarn CAH VI, 462}} The regime that succeeded Perdiccas following the [[Partition of Triparadisus]] lasted only a few years, shorter than Perdiccas' regency.{{sfn|Anson|2014|p=83}}

Heckel's view is that "Perdiccas' career is an unfortunate tale of lofty ideals combined with excessive ambition and political myopia", but also that Perdiccas' attempts at keeping Alexander's empire united are "to be admired" and "suggests that he understood Alexander's policies".{{sfn|Anson|2014|p=57}}{{sfn|Heckel|2016|p=169}} In sum, that he was "a great but flawed man, a victim of his own success and the envy of others".{{sfn|Heckel|2016|pp=161, 183}}