Editing Perdiccas (section)

== Regent of Alexander's empire ==
Through the [[Partition of Babylon]] in 323&nbsp;BC, a compromise was reached under which Perdiccas was to serve as "Regent of the Empire" ({{Transliteration|grc|epimelētēs|}}) for the disabled Philip III and infant Alexander IV, as well as supreme commander (''{{Transliteration|grc|[[strategos]]|}}'') of the imperial army. Perdiccas soon showed himself intolerant of any rivals and, acting in the name of the two kings, sought to hold the empire together under his own hand. Perdiccas oversaw the distribution of [[satrapies]] to the other generals, sending away officers who threatened his authority.{{sfnm|Heckel|2016|p=168. Heckel notes this failed to help, however, since these officers would built their satrapies for revolt, like Ptolemy. The exact amount of power Perdiccas had in the distribution is unclear; he held supreme power, but he could not afford to offend the other powerful generals while his authority was still new and unproven}} Perdiccas also attached [[Cleomenes of Naucratis]] to Ptolemy in Egypt as a lieutenant. Modern historians believe this was done to limit Ptolemy's power and keep watch on his actions.{{sfn|Anson|2014|p=47}}

The men who remained at court with Perdiccas were probably those he could trust: his brother Alcetas, his brother-in-law Attalus, [[Seleucus I Nicator|Seleucus]], and Aristonous. Alexander the Great's second wife, [[Stateira II|Stateira]], was murdered by Perdiccas, possibly at the urging of Roxana.{{sfn|Heckel|2016|p=168. Stateira and the other Achaemenid princesses were threats to Perdiccas' regime if they birthed a child by Alexander; Roxana's instigation was probably for her own safety and position in Perdiccas' court}} Perdiccas also procured Alexander's "Last Plans" through the help of Eumenes, read the plans out before the army, and rejected them.{{sfn|Heckel|2016|p=170}} This was done because not only were the plans extraordinarily expensive and grand (they included, for example, conquest of all of [[North Africa]] and the powerful [[Ancient Carthage|Carthaginian Empire]], along with the construction of a fleet of a thousand [[warship]]s),{{sfnm|Waterfield|2011|1p=11. Alexander apparently wanted to conquer all of northern Africa, [[Carthage]], Spain, Sicily, and then Italy, and to accomplish this planned to found numerous cities and construct a war fleet of a thousand ships. Some scholars believe Perdiccas invented these plans to consolidate his authority as regent. As |Austin|1994|2p=55 notes, there is a lot of debate around whether they are legitimate or not}} but also because Perdiccas probably did not want to anger [[Antipater]] by replacing him with [[Craterus]].{{sfn|Heckel|2016|p=169. Craterus had been tasked with returning 10,000 Macedonian veterans to Macedon and to replace Antipater as viceroy of Europe by Alexander}} Alexander's wife Roxana gave birth (in the late summer or early fall of 323&nbsp;BC) and Perdiccas took guardianship over [[Alexander IV of Macedon|Alexander IV]].{{Sfn|Bosworth|2005|p=|pp=9, 61}}

=== Rebellions and refusals ===
As his authority was unstable, possibly as early as the Siege of Babylon Perdiccas had negotiated marriage with [[Nicaea of Macedon]], the daughter of Antipater, to ally himself with the viceroy, acknowledging Antipater's rule in Europe while improving his own position in Asia.{{sfn|Heckel|2016|p=171}}

==== Bactrian Greek revolt ====
During the winter of 323&nbsp;BC in the [[Upper Satrapies]], specifically in [[Bactria]] (in modern-day [[Afghanistan]]), a rebellion had begun consisting of 23,000 Greek mercenaries who had heard of Alexander's death and now wanted to return home.{{sfnm|Heckel|2016|1p=171|Diod.|2loc=18.7.2}}{{Sfn|Bosworth|2005|p=|pp=61-62}} In response, Perdiccas tasked [[Peithon]], another of Alexander's {{Transliteration|grc|somatophylakes}} and satrap of [[Media (region)|Media]], with quelling it, and sent orders for the eastern satraps to contribute troops as well.{{sfn|Heckel|2016|p=171}}{{sfn|Anson|2014|p=37}} Peithon marched east leading 3,800 men, with 10,000 to come from the eastern satraps.{{sfn|Anson|2014|p=28–29}} Although ancient sources suggest Peithon intended to recruit the Greeks and betray Perdiccas, modern historians dispute this.{{sfn|Anson|2014|p=29}} When the armies met, the Greeks surrendered and were partially slaughtered by Peithon's army.{{sfn|Heckel|2016|p=172}} Perdiccas' motive in this affair is not clear; some traditions say he gave the order for the massacre in order to ensure Peithon did not gain an army{{sfn|Heckel|2016|pp=171-172.}} or to punish the rebels,{{sfn|Anson|2014|p=29}} while another hypothesis is that the slaughter of the Greeks may have occurred through the actions of Peithon and then, later, was blamed on Perdiccas.{{sfn|Heckel|2016|p=172}}

==== Conquest of Cappadocia ====
Despite success in the east, Perdiccas' authority as regent was then challenged in the west. Here, Perdiccas had appointed [[Leonnatus]], another {{Transliteration|grc|somatophylax}}, as satrap of [[Phrygia|Hellespontine Phrygia]] on the western coast of [[Asia Minor]].{{sfn|Heckel|2016|p=172}} At the Partition of Babylon, Perdiccas' supporter Eumenes was given the satrapies of [[Cappadocia]] and [[Paphlagonia]], but both were unconquered.{{sfnm|Anson|2015|1p=78|Heckel|2006|2p=121}} Perdiccas thus used his authority as regent of the joint kings to order Leonnatus and [[Antigonus I Monophthalmus|Antigonus]] (satrap of [[Phrygia]], [[Pamphylia]] and [[Lycia]]) to aid Eumenes in securing his satrapy.{{sfn|Heckel|2016|p=172}}{{sfn|Plut. ''Eum.''|loc=3.2}} Perdiccas probably gave Eumenes 5000 [[Talent (measurement)|talents]] of gold for the reconquest of Cappadocia, allowing Eumenes to hire mercenaries.{{sfn|Anson|2015|p=80}}
[[File:Map Anatolia ancient regions-en.svg|thumb|280x280px|Map of Anatolia, also called [[Anatolia|Asia Minor]], and its regions. Perdiccas moved into [[Cappadocia]], then [[Cilicia]], and then [[Pisidia]] in his successful restabilizing of the peninsula.]]
Antigonus refused Perdiccas' order.{{sfn|Plut. ''Eum.''|loc=3.5}} Leonnatus accepted, mustering an army and marching to Cappadocia, arriving in the spring of 322&nbsp;BC.{{sfn|Heckel|2016|p=172}} Leonnatus, however, received a letter from Macedon from [[Cleopatra of Macedon|Cleopatra]], Alexander the Great's full sister, and Antipater, both asking him to come west – Cleopatra (probably influenced by her mother [[Olympias]]) offered herself as Leonnatus' bride (which would give Leonnatus claim to the Macedonian throne), while Antipater, who was besieged at [[Lamia (city)|Lamia]] by the Greeks led by [[Leosthenes]] as part of the [[Lamian War]], asked Leonnatus for urgent assistance.{{sfn|Heckel|2016|p=172}} Leonnatus told Eumenes of his plan to head west, attempting to convince him to join him; Eumenes refused and departed to Perdiccas' court, informing him of Leonnatus' intentions.{{sfn|Heckel|2016|p=172}} For this information, Perdiccas elevated Eumenes to the ruling council of the Empire.{{sfnm|Heckel|2016|1p=172|Waterfield|2011|2p=38}}{{sfn|Anson|2015|p=84}} This incident may have been what made Perdiccas "regard Cleopatra as a means of gaining supreme power".{{sfn|Heckel|2016|p=173}}

Upon learning of Leonnatus' departure, in the early summer of 322&nbsp;BC Perdiccas marched the imperial army towards [[Asia Minor]] to reassert his dominance as regent, install Eumenes in Cappadocia, and confront Antigonus. It also allowed him to "complete the conquest of Alexander's empire" as Alexander had ignored Cappadocia.{{sfn|Anson|2014|p=47}}{{sfn|Heckel|2016|pp=172-173. Alexander had installed a satrap there, but the man disappears from history and Ariarathes is known to have been in revolt, independent, throughout Alexander's "reign" over Cappadocia}} In a single campaigning season, Perdiccas defeated [[Ariarathes I]] and his large army (30,000 infantry, 15,000 cavalry) in two decisive [[pitched battles]], capturing more than 5,000 soldiers and killing 4,000 others, allowing his supporter Eumenes to claim his satrapy.{{sfnm|Anson|2014|1p=47|Diod.|2loc=18.16.2}} This greatly contributed to Perdiccas' prestige; Perdiccas took Ariarathes captive, [[torture]]d and killed him, and apparently [[impalement|impaled]] most of his family.{{sfn|Heckel|2016|p=173, who notes the cruel nature of this treatment. Perdiccas likely wanted no more trouble in Cappadocia, but evidently Ariarathes I's family line survived; see: [[Ariarathes II]]}} Perdiccas ordered Leonnatus to appear before him to stand trial for disobedience, but Leonnatus died during the [[Lamian War]] before the order reached him. At some time during the first year of his reign, Perdiccas crowned Alexander IV, Roxana and Alexander's child, as king alongside Philip III.{{sfn|Bosworth|2005|p=62. When it occurred is not known exactly; Bosworth places it at the end of Perdiccas' Cappadocian conquest}}

==== Conquest of Pisidia, Isauria, Larandia ====
[[File:Coin of Ariarathes I of Cappadocia, minted in Gaziura.jpg|thumb|260x260px|Coin of [[Ariarathes I of Cappadocia|Ariarathes I]], minted in [[Gaziura]], dated 333–322 BC. Perdiccas defeat and execution of the 82 year old Ariarathes, among his other conquests in Asia Minor, brought him to the height of his power.{{sfn|Anson|2014|p=51}}]]
Having settled Cappadocia, Perdiccas planned to send Eumenes to subdue the [[Satrapy of Armenia]], which was being mismanaged by [[Neoptolemus (general)|Neoptolemus]].{{sfn|Heckel|2016|p=173. Neoptolemus may have been sent in the first place by Perdiccas to defeat the remnants of Ariarathes' supporters, who had fled east after their destruction by Perdiccas}} He marched with Eumenes to Cilicia in the autumn of 322&nbsp;BC and added the formidable [[Silver Shields]] to his army.{{sfn|Anson|2014|p=49}} Perdiccas then gave Eumenes his orders,{{sfn|Anson|2015|pp=88, 89}} and marched to [[Pisidia]]. The native [[Isaurians]] and [[Karaman|Larandians]] living here had revolted, murdering Alexander's satrap.{{sfn|Heckel|2016|p=174}} Perdiccas campaigned against them next, easily conquering and destroying their cities in "short and brutal struggles", acquiring great amounts of [[Looting|plunder]] and prestige; "Victorious in the field ... Perdiccas now enjoyed his greatest success".{{sfn|Heckel|2016|p=174}}{{sfn|Anson|2014|p=51. Perdiccas may have appointed his brother Alcetas to command of Pisidia following his conquest of it}}{{sfn|Green|1990|p=12}}

=== Marriage and war ===
To strengthen his control over the empire when his authority was weak, Perdiccas had agreed to marry Nicaea, the daughter of [[Antipater]], the regent of Macedon. But now, in the winter of 322-321&nbsp;BC, with his position greatly strengthened, Perdiccas was reconsidering the engagement.{{sfn|Heckel|2016|p=175}} Furthermore, Olympias, mother of Alexander the Great, offered him the hand of Cleopatra of Macedon, who was residing at [[Sardis]]. Eumenes urged Perdiccas to marry Cleopatra,{{sfn|Anson|2015|p=94}} while Perdiccas' brother Alcetas advised marriage to Nicaea.{{sfn|Diod.|loc=18.23.3}} Alcetas' faction believed that Perdiccas, in control of the royals, imperial army, and treasuries, could afford to wait for Antipater's death (he was very old) instead of incurring his wrath; Eumenes' faction argued Perdiccas ought to begin to formally rule and that the dual kingship of Philip III and Alexander IV was a sham.{{sfn|Anson|2014|p=54}}

Rejecting Nicaea here would begin war with Antipater; as Perdiccas had yet to deal with Antigonus, he married Nicaea for the time being.{{sfn|Heckel|2016|p=175}} During this winter, Antipater, having subdued [[Classical Athens|Athens]] in the Lamian War, deferred the decision regarding the [[Samos|Samian]] exiles to Perdiccas; they were allowed to return to Samos on Perdiccas' order.{{sfn|Anson|2014|p=53}}

==== Bid for kingship ====
Perdiccas decided, however, that he wished to win the Macedonian throne, and had designed a plan for this; marriage to Cleopatra, and the return of Alexander's body, son (Alexander IV), and brother (Philip III) to Macedonia with Olympias' approval which, combined, would have made him "invincible" and virtually guaranteed the kingship.{{sfnm|Heckel|2016|1p=174|Anson|2015|2p=86}}{{sfn|Anson|2014|p=56}} Given the intellectual disability of Philip III and the limited acceptance of the infant, [[Alexander IV of Macedon|Alexander IV]], due to his mother being a Persian, the marriage in particular would have given Perdiccas a claim as Alexander's true successor as king, not merely as regent. Feeling "full of confidence and well able to handle all his rivals," Perdiccas set about planning his march on Macedon.{{sfn|Waterfield|2011|p=46}}

At around the same time, [[Cynane]], Alexander's half-sister and widow of [[Amyntas IV]], arranged for her daughter, [[Eurydice II of Macedon|Eurydice II]], to marry the king, Philip III.{{sfn|Heckel|2016|p=176. Trying to marry Perdiccas would have been pointless since Cleopatra was a much better royal marriage option for him than Eurydice}} Perdiccas, knowing this marriage would undermine his control over Philip III,{{sfn|Green|1990|p=12}} sent an army under his brother Alcetas to order Cynane to return to Macedon. Cynane refused, and Alcetas' army killed her.{{sfn|Heckel|2016|p=177}} Whether Perdiccas ordered this killing or not is debated, but it initiated a reversal of his ascendancy; "His officers grew increasingly suspicious of his aspirations, the common soldier was alienated by his acts of barbarity".{{sfn|Heckel|2016|p=177}}{{sfn|Anson|2014|p=55}} Perdiccas' army was furious at Cynane's murder and effectively [[mutiny|mutinied]]. This widespread discontent compelled Perdiccas to spare Eurydice II and marry her to Philip III after all, eroding his control over the royal family. Though Perdiccas was able to regain overall control, this incident probably demonstrated to him that "the marriage to Cleopatra, despite the risks involved, was essential if the empire was to remain intact".{{sfn|Anson|2014|p=49}} Eumenes, accordingly, was sent by Perdiccas to Cleopatra with gifts to discuss marriage once again, and plans were set in place for the marriage to go forward.{{sfn|Anson|2015|pp=101, 104}}

Perdiccas had, in the meantime, ordered Antigonus to stand trial for insubordination (failing to help Eumenes in Cappadocia) and other charges.{{sfn|Heckel|2016|p=175}} Antigonus was an entrenched and powerful satrap in Asia Minor; his refusal of Perdiccas' order undermined the authority of his government and Perdiccas wanted to rectify this.{{sfn|Anson|2014|p=52}} In response Antigonus, fearing confrontation with the regent, fled to Antipater's court in Macedon, bringing news of not only Perdiccas' murder of Cynane, but his kingly aspirations and intention to marry Cleopatra instead of Nicaea.{{sfn|Heckel|2016|pp=175, 177}}{{sfn|Anson|2015|p=103. Perdiccas' marriage to Cleopatra would give him a claim to the Macedonian throne}} Craterus and Antipater, having subdued most of Greece in the Lamian War, were infuriated by Antigonus' news. They suspended their plans for more campaigns in Greece and prepared to march into Asia and depose Perdiccas.{{sfn|Anson|2015|p=103}}{{sfn|Anson|2014|p=57}}{{sfn|Heckel|2016|p=177}}