Editing Seleucus I Nicator (section)

==Satrap of Babylonia (321–316 BC)==
[[File:Seleukos I Nikator Bronze Roman 100BCE-100CE Museo Archeologico Nazionale Naples AN 5590 1.jpg|thumb|upright|Roman copy of a bronze statue of Seleucus found in [[Herculaneum]] (now located at the [[Naples National Archaeological Museum]])]]
The most powerful man in the empire after the death of Perdiccas was [[Antipater]]. Perdiccas' opponents gathered in Triparadisos, where the empire of Alexander was partitioned again (the [[Treaty of Triparadisus]] 321 BC).<ref name="G21">Grainger 1990, pp. 21–29</ref>

At Triparadisos the soldiers had become mutinous and were planning to murder their master Antipater. Seleucus and [[Antigonus I Monophthalmus|Antigonus]], however, prevented this.<ref name="B211">Bosworth p. 211</ref> For betraying Perdiccas, Seleucus was awarded the rich province of Babylon. This decision may have been Antigonus' idea. Seleucus' Babylon was surrounded by [[Peucestas]], the satrap of [[Persis]]; [[Antigenes (general)|Antigenes]], the new satrap of [[Susiana]] and Peithon of Media. Babylon was one of the wealthiest provinces of the empire, but its military power was insignificant. It is possible that Antipater divided the eastern provinces so that no single satrap could rise above the others in power.<ref name="G21" />

After the death of Alexander, [[Archon of Pella]] was chosen satrap of Babylon. Perdiccas, however, had plans to supersede Archon and nominate [[Docimus]] as his successor. During his invasion of Egypt, Perdiccas sent Docimus along with his detachments to Babylon. Archon waged war against him, but fell in battle. Thus, Docimus was not intending to give Babylon to Seleucus without a fight. It is not certain how Seleucus took Babylon from Docimus, but according to one Babylonian chronicle an important building was destroyed in the city during the summer or winter of 320 BC. Other Babylonian sources state that Seleucus arrived in Babylon in October or November 320 BC. Despite the presumed battle, Docimus was able to escape.

Meanwhile, the empire was once again in turmoil. Peithon, the satrap of Media, assassinated Philip, the satrap of [[Parthia]], and replaced him with his brother [[Eudemus (general)|Eudemus]] as the new satrap. In the west [[Antigonus I Monophthalmus|Antigonus]] and [[Eumenes]] waged war against each other. Just like Peithon and Seleucus, Eumenes was one of the former supporters of Perdiccas. Seleucus' biggest problem was, however, Babylon itself. The locals had rebelled against Archon and supported Docimus. The Babylonian priesthood had great influence over the region. Babylon also had a sizeable population of Macedonian and Greek veterans of Alexander's army. Seleucus won over the priests with monetary gifts and bribes.<ref name="G30">Grainger 1990, pp. 30–32</ref>

===Second War of the Diadochi===
{{Main|Second War of the Diadochi}}
After the death of Antipater in 319 BC, the satrap of Media began to expand his power. Peithon assembled a large army of perhaps over 20,000 soldiers. Under the leadership of Peucestas the other satraps of the region brought together an opposing army of their own. Peithon was finally defeated in a battle waged in Parthia. He escaped to Media, but his opponents did not follow him and rather returned to Susiana. Meanwhile, Eumenes and his army had arrived at [[Cilicia]], but had to retreat when Antigonus reached the city. The situation was difficult for Seleucus. Eumenes and his army were north of Babylon; Antigonus was following him with an even larger army; Peithon was in Media and his opponents in Susiana. Antigenes, satrap of Susiana and commander of the Argyraspides, was allied with Eumenes. Antigenes was in Cilicia when the war between him and Peithon began.<ref name="G33">Grainger 1990, pp. 33–37</ref>

Peithon arrived at Babylon in the autumn or winter of 317 BC. Peithon had lost a large number of troops, but Seleucus had even fewer soldiers. Eumenes decided to march to Susa in the spring of 316 BC. The satraps in Susa had apparently accepted Eumenes' claims of his fighting on behalf of the lawful ruling family against the usurper Antigonus. Eumenes marched his army 300 [[Ancient Greek units of measurement#Length|stadion]]s away from Babylon and tried to cross the [[Tigris]]. Seleucus had to act. He sent two [[trireme]]s and some smaller ships to stop the crossing. He also tried to get the former ''hypasiti'' of the Argyraspides to join him, but this did not happen. Seleucus also sent messages to Antigonus. Because of his lack of troops, Seleucus apparently had no plans to actually stop Eumenes. He opened the flood barriers of the river, but the resulting flood did not stop Eumenes.<ref name="G39">Grainger 1990, pp. 39–42</ref>

In the spring of 316 BC, Seleucus and Peithon joined Antigonus, who was following Eumenes to Susa. From Susa Antigonus went to Media, from where he could threaten the eastern provinces. He left Seleucus with a small number of troops to prevent Eumenes from reaching the Mediterranean. [[Sibyrtius]], satrap of [[Arachosia]], saw the situation as hopeless and returned to his own province. The armies of Eumenes and his allies were at breaking point. Antigonus and Eumenes had two encounters during 316 BC, in the battles of [[Battle of Paraitacene|Paraitacene]] and [[Battle of Gabiene|Gabiene]]. Eumenes was defeated and executed. The events of the Second War of the Diadochi revealed Seleucus' ability to wait for the right moment. Blazing into battle was not his style.<ref name="G43">Grainger 1990, p. 43</ref>

===Escape to Egypt===
Antigonus spent the winter of 316 BC in Media, whose ruler was once again Peithon. Peithon's lust for power had grown, and he tried to get a portion of Antigonus' troops to revolt to his side. Antigonus, however, discovered the plot and executed Peithon. He then superseded Peucestas as satrap of Persia.<ref name="G44">Grainger 1990, p. 44–45</ref> In the summer of 315 BC Antigonus arrived in Babylon and was warmly welcomed by Seleucus. The relationship between the two soon turned cold, however. Seleucus punished one of Antigonus' officers without asking permission from Antigonus. Antigonus became angry and demanded that Seleucus give him the income from the province, which Seleucus refused to do.<ref>Boyi p. 121</ref> He was, however, afraid of Antigonus and fled to Egypt with 50 horsemen. It is told that [[Chaldea]]n astrologers prophesied to Antigonus that Seleucus would become master of Asia and would kill Antigonus. After hearing this, Antigonus sent soldiers after Seleucus, who had however first escaped to [[Mesopotamia]] and then to [[Syria]]. Antigonus executed Blitor, the new satrap of Mesopotamia, for helping Seleucus. Modern scholars are skeptical of the prophecy story. It seems certain, however, that the Babylonian priesthood was against Seleucus.<ref name="G49">Grainger 1990, pp. 49–51, Boiy p. 122</ref>

During Seleucus' escape to Egypt, Macedonia was undergoing great turmoil. Alexander the Great's mother [[Olympias]] had been invited back to Macedon by [[Polyperchon]] in order to drive Cassander out. She held great respect among the Macedonian army but lost some of this when she had Philip III and his wife [[Eurydice II of Macedon|Eurydice]] killed as well as many nobles whom she took revenge upon for supporting Antipater during his long reign. [[Cassander]] reclaimed Macedon the following year at Pydna and then had her killed. [[Alexander IV of Macedon|Alexander IV]], still a young child, and his mother Roxane were held guarded at Amphipolis and died under mysterious circumstances in 310 BC, probably murdered at the instigation of [[Cassander]] to allow the diadochs to assume the title of king.