Editing 311 BC

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Year '''311 BC''' was a year of the [[Roman calendar|pre-Julian Roman calendar]]. At the time, it was known as the '''Year of the Consulship of Brutus and [[Quintus Aemilius Barbula|Barbula]]''' (or, less frequently, '''year 443 ''[[Ab urbe condita]]'''''). The denomination 311 BC for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the [[Anno Domini]] [[calendar era]] became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.

== Events ==
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=== By place ===
==== Babylonia/Media/Susiana ====
* Upon entering [[Mesopotamia]] [[Seleucus I Nicator|Seleucus]] manages to persuade some of the Macedonian veterans settled at [[Carrhae]] to join his cause. He then marches on to his old [[satrapy]] (province) of [[Babylonia]] gathering additional force along the way.<ref name=Diod1991>{{cite book|last=Siculus|first=Diodorus|title=Library|url=https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Diodorus_Siculus/19F*.html#91|volume=XIX|chapter=91}}</ref>
* Seleucus manages to persuade Polyarchus, the [[Antigonid]] commander of one of the local districts, to join his cause. Polyarchus joins Seleucus with 1,000 soldiers.<ref name=Diod1991/>
* The remaining [[Antigonid]] loyalists in [[Babylonia]] retreat to the citadel of [[Babylon]]. They also put Seleucus' remaining friends in Babylon there (under a strong guard). Seleucus besieges the citadel and manages to take it by storm.<ref name=Diod1991/>
* [[Nicanor (satrap)|Nicanor]], [[Antigonus I|Antigonus]]' commander of the [[Upper Satrapies]], marches against Seleucus from [[Media (region)|Media]] (where he was stationed) with 10,000 infantry and 7,000 cavalry. Seleucus hides his much smaller army (3,000 infantry and 400 cavalry) along Nicanor's line of march and launches a night attack on his camp, catching his opponent by surprise; Nicanor flees the ensuing battle while his army quickly surrenders.<ref name=Diod1992>{{cite book|last=Siculus|first=Diodorus|title=Library|url=https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Diodorus_Siculus/19F*.html#92|volume=XIX|chapter=92}}</ref>
* Seleucus marches to eastern [[Elam|Susiana]] and negotiates a treaty with the [[Cossaei]] (a warlike tribe) in the mountains between Susiana and [[Media (region)|Media]].<ref>[[Babylonian Chronicles]], rev. lines 11–12</ref>
* Seleucus reestablishes himself as [[satrap]] of [[Babylonia]] and asserts control over [[Medes|Media]] and [[Susiana]] ([[Elam]]).

==== Asia Minor/Syria/Palestina  ====
* [[Ptolemy I Soter|Ptolemy]] tries to occupy [[Syria]]; he himself campaigns in [[Coele-Syria|Coele Syria]] (southern Syria) while he sends Killes, one of his generals, into northern Syria to finish off the remnants of [[Demetrius Poliorcetes]]' army. Demetrius [[Battle of Myus|defeats Killes at Myus]] and [[Antigonus I Monophthalmus|Antigonus]] enters Syria in force. So, after only a few months, Ptolemy evacuates his forces from Syria.<ref name="Diodorus105">{{cite book|last=Siculus|first=Diodorus|title=Library|url=https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Diodorus_Siculus/19F*.html#105|volume=XIX|chapter=105}}</ref>
* In view of the threat by Seleucus to his control of the East, Antigonus decides to make peace with all of his adversaries, except Seleucus, who now holds Babylon. All of the [[diadochi]] confirm the existing boundaries and the freedom of the Greek cities. Ptolemy and [[Lysimachus]] are confirmed as satraps of [[Ancient Egypt|Egypt]] and [[Thrace]], respectively, and Antigonus and [[Cassander]] are confirmed as commanders of the army in Asia and Europe. Antigonus, no longer regent but now titled the [[strategos]] (officer in charge) of the whole of Asia, rules in Syria from the [[Hellespont]] to the [[Euphrates]], including [[Asia Minor]].<ref name="Diodorus105"/>
* It is agreed by all parties that the young king [[Alexander IV of Macedon]], son of [[Alexander the Great]], will become king of the whole empire when he comes of age in six years' time.<ref name="Diodorus105"/>
* The peace agreement between the diadochi is soon violated. On the pretext that garrisons have been placed in some of the free Greek cities by Antigonus. Ptolemy and Cassander renew hostilities against him.<ref name="Diodorus105"/>
* [[Antigonus I Monophthalmus|Antigonus]] sends one of his generals, Athenaeus, with 4,000 light infantry and 600 cavalry to make a [[raid (military)|raid]] on [[Petra]], the capital city of the [[Nabateans]], to carry off hostages and possessions. The raid is initially successful, but a surprise attack by the Nabateans destroys Athenaeus' raiding force, only 50 horsemen escaping.<ref>Diod. XIX 94,1–95,5</ref>
* Through clever diplomacy [[Antigonus I Monophthalmus|Antigonus]] is able to lull the [[Nabateans]] into a false sense of security. [[Demetrius Poliorcetes|Demetrius]], with a force of 4,000 light infantry and 4,000 cavalry, is sent to make another raid on [[Petra]]. The Nabateans, reacting quickly, are able to foil the attack. Demetrius negotiates terms with the Nabateans and returns to his father with hostages and gifts (including 700 camels)<ref>Diod. XIX 96,1–98,1; Plut. ''Dem.'' 7,1</ref>

====Greece====
* During the winter of 312/11 [[Antigonus I Monophthalmus|Antigonus]]' nephew [[Telesphorus (general)|Telesphorus]], who had been subordinated to Antigonus' other nephew [[Ptolemy (general)|Ptolemy]] in 312, decides to rebel, considering his subordination to be insulting. Ptolemy is able to keep the situation under control and persuades Telesphorus to return to the fold.<ref>Diod. XIX 87,1–3</ref>
* [[Cassander]] opens up negotiations with [[Ptolemy (general)|Ptolemy]].

====Italy====
* The [[Second Samnite War]] continues, the [[Roman Republic|Roman]] [[Roman consul|consuls]] [[Gaius Junius Bubulcus Brutus]] and [[Quintus Aemilius Barbula]] divide their command.
::* Barbula campaigns against the [[Etruscans]].<ref>Livy IX 30—32; Diod. XX 3.</ref>
::* Brutus campaigns against the [[Samnites]].
* The Samnites take the Roman garrison of Cluviae and scourge their prisoners. Junius liberates the city and then moves on Bovianum and sacks it. The Samnites try to ambush the Romans, but the Romans are able to overcome their assailants.
* The Etruscans are besieging Sutrium, an ally which the Romans see as their key to [[Etruria]]. Barbula marches to their aid, and a battle is fought; the Romans start to gain the upper hand, but darkness stops the battle. Barbula's campaign ends indecisive.<ref>Livy, VIII 9.31–32.</ref>

==== Sicily ====
* The [[Carthage|Carthaginian]] general [[Hamilcar]] crosses the [[Mediterranean]] with an army and wins the [[Battle of the Himera River (311 BC)|Battle of Himera]] against [[Agathocles of Syracuse|Agathocles]], the [[tyrant]] of [[Syracuse, Sicily|Syracuse]].
* Hamilcar then proceeds with laying [[Siege of Syracuse (311–309 BC)|siege to Syracuse]], where Agathocles had retreated.
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== Births ==
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== Deaths ==
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== References ==
{{Reflist}}

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[[Category:311 BC| ]]