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==Campaigns In the aftermath of Eumenes the death of Cardia ==By 321 Perdiccas was Alexander the most powerful of all Great his Empire fell into the successors and he controlled all Asia and this led to hands of a great deal series of resentment from the satraps ambitious warlords who feared he was growing too powerfulsought to seize as much land and power as they could. In 321 BC Antipater send Craterus into Asia Minor, from Macedonia, where he was to be joined by the satrap The majority of Armenia these were former commanders in an attack on PerdiccasAlexander’s army and were Macedonian nobles. He However, one of the successors or Diadochi of Alexander was on his way to Egypt to deal with Ptolemy and he placed a Greek by the name of Eumenes in charge of Asia Minor despite his lack Cardia (361 – 316 BC).  Eumenes became one of military experience. The former secretary the leading players in the first two wars of the Diadochi and scholar was he showed a natural leader and inflicted considerable military aptitude. Eumenes is now largely forgotten figure but he had a serious defeat decisive impact on the satrap Hellenistic World. Despite being one of Armenia <ref> Ansonthe few Greeks in the Macedonian army, p 34</ref>. However, this satrap was able he attempted to unite his forces with Craterus and threated Eumenes province ensure that the Argead dynasty of Cappadocia. At a battle on Macedonia remained the borders monarchs of Cappadocia (320 BC), Eumenes inflicted a devastating defeat on his enemies and killed one united Empire. If he had succeeded he would have changed the course of the enemy commanders in single combatHellenistic World. This made the Greek master  ====Background====Eumenes was probably born in Cardia and was of all Asia MinorGreek origin. However, his senior commander Perdiccas was assassinated by his own commanders. At His father came into the service of the Macedonian monarchs of the settlement made at Triparadisus (320 BC)ancient Argead dynasty, and it seems likely that Eumenes was a member of the various generals divided the Empire among themselvesnobility. Antigonus, the one-eyed general, There are tales that he was given the task son of hunting down Eumenesa wagoner, because he had been a partisan of Peridiccasbut this is not likely to be true. Despite being outnumbered Most likely, the Greek was able young Eumenes came to evade Antigonus and held up in the stronghold attention of Nora in Cappadocia (modern Turkey) <ref>Anson, Edward M. "The siege King Phillip II and soon became part of Nora: A source conflicthis inner circle and friendly with the young Alexander the Great." Greek, Roman, and Byzantine Studies 18, noEumenes remained close to Alexander until his death. 3 (1977): 251-256 </ref>Eumenes also accompanied Alexander on his conquest of the Persian Empire. The political situation changed He was to eventually become in 330 BC Alexander’s principal secretary and Antigonus offered him keeper of the role of his second in command in his army as he clearly recognized the brilliance of the former secretary and archivistRoyal Archives. As part of While this settlement he was given control of the Royal Treasury not a particularly glamorous position, but it gave Eumenes real power and the elite Silver Shieldsdemonstrated that Alexander trusted him.<ref> Anson, the seasoned veterans Edward. Eumenes of Alexander’s army. HoweverCardia: a Greek among Macedonians (Amsterdam, Brill, 2015), p 17 </ref>  Eumenes as played a Greek believed central role in the idea administration of a united Empire and one that was headed the territories conquered by a member of the Royal House of Macedonia <ref>great king. After It seems that during the death invasion of Antipater, Polyperchon became regent (319 AD) India that Eumenes was given command of a military unit and gained invaluable experience. However, he was often in possession of the Royal Family conflict with Alexander’s best friend and was the only legitimate authority probable lover Hephastion, but despite this, he remained in the Empire in the eyes conqueror’s favor.<ref> Plutarch, Life of many. He asked Eumenes to change sides , 3, 4, 8</ref> When the great king died in 323 BC in Babylon, he was present and to support was appointed as governor of the family yet- unconquered province of AlexanderCappadocia in what is now northern Turkey. The Greek agreed and betrayed Antignous and entered into an alliance with Polyperchon and  With the support of Peridiccas, the titular head of the Royal Family. Indeed, it seems that army he was even in regular contact with Alexander’s sister Cleopatra <ref>Waterfield, pable to subdue this area and made it his power base. 78</Perdicas wanted the Macedonian Royal family to continue to rule a united Empire, albeit under his regency. However, many Macedonian generals or satraps had different ideas and wanted to create their own independent kingdoms.<ref>Westerfield, Peter. Antignous was by now Dividing the Spoils: The War for Alexander the most powerful successor and he sought to crush Eumenes and Polyperchon who represented the royalist causeGreat's Empire (Oxford, Oxford University Press, and this led to the Second War of Diadochi. In the naval battle of the Bosporus (3182012), p Antignous defeated the royalist fleet and thus isolated 6</ref> ====Campaigns of Eumenes from Polyperchon, who fought a civil war against Casander in Macedonia, with the backing of Alexander’s mother, Olympia <ref> Waterfield, pCardia====[[File: Alex One. 81</ref>. The one-eyed general used his superior numbers to put great pressure on Eumenes. However, jpg|250px|thumb|left| Alexander the Greek from Cardia Great]]By 321 Perdiccas was resourceful the most powerful of all the successors, and built up an army. On one occasion Eumenes was nearly ambushed by the Macedonian but he was saved by intelligence sent by Cleopatra. He was forced out of controlled all Asia Minor , and briefly occupied Phoenicia (Lebanon) after beating Ptolemy’s Egyptian forcesthis led to a great deal of resentment from the satraps who feared he was growing too powerful. Antignous pursued Eumenes and forced him further east with his army. After a series In 321 BC Antipater send Craterus into Asia Minor, from Macedonia, where he was to be joined by the satrap of small battles Armenia in which an attack on Perdiccas. He was on his way to Egypt to deal with Ptolemy and he inflicted minor defeats of the Antigonid army, placed Eumenes then took in charge of Asia Minor despite his forces into modern Iraq lack of military experience. The former secretary and Iran. He often claimed to have received messages from the great conqueror in his dreams scholar was a natural leader and associated himself with inflicted a serious defeat on the cult satrap of Alexander by holding meetings with an empty throne where the spirit of the great monarch was meant to be seated <ref> Plutarch 11Armenia.<ref> Anson, p 34</ref>. This meant that even though he was Greek he  However, this satrap was able to gain the loyalty unite his forces with Craterus and threated Eumenes province of the Macedonian hoplites, especially the Silver ShieldsCappadocia. He was able to obtain At a battle on the support borders of some eastern Satraps who had grown suspicious Cappadocia (320 BC), Eumenes inflicted a devastating defeat on his enemies and killed one of Antigonus ambitionsthe enemy commanders in single combat. The Antigonid army chased Eumenes. The two armies came to face at Paraitakene, to the northeast This made the Greek master of Susa, in what is now Iran in 317 BCall Asia Minor. EumenesHowever, despite being outnumbered devised a brilliant strategy that almost overwhelmed his senior commander Perdiccas was assassinated by his own commanders. At the the army of his opponent <ref>Waterfieldsettlement made at Triparadisus (320 BC), p 80</ref>the various generals divided the Empire among themselves. Atigonus was almost totally defeated and suffered heavy casualties Antigonus, the one-eyed general, while was given the task of hunting down Eumenes army suffered only light casualties, because he had been a partisan of Peridiccas. The two armies then withdrew Despite being outnumbered the Greek was able to their respective winter quarters. In 316 BC evade Antigonus and held up in the two armies met again stronghold of Nora in what is Cappadocia (modern Iran at Gabiene (316 BCTurkey). Once again Alexander’s former private secretary was to show his military brilliance<ref>Anson, Edward M. He was able to inflict heavy casualties on Antigonus and won an inconclusive victory"The siege of Nora: A source conflict. Then a chance event ruined his moment of glory" Greek, Roman, and Byzantine Studies 18, no. His army’s baggage train was captured by Antigonid cavalry <ref> Waterfield, p 863 (1977): 251-256 </ref>. This meant that all  When the personal wealth and often the wives political situation suddenly changed, Antigonus offered Eumenes the role of the Sacred Band were his second in command in the hands of the Antigonid his armybecause he recognized Eumenes military accomplishments. The elite hoplites sought their wealth As part of this settlement he was given control of the Royal Treasury and wives back from the elite Silver Shields, the seasoned veterans of Alexander’s army. However, Eumenes, unlike Antigonus, fervently believed in a united Empire and one-eyes general. He agreed to their demands but on one condition that they hand over to was headed by a member of the Royal House of Macedonia. Eumenes would eventually alienate him Eumenes. The Silver Shields who were all Macedonians had no real loyalty to their Greek generalfrom Antigonus.  After the death of Antipater, Polyperchon became regent According to Plutarch ‘’ they fell upon him, took away his sword, (319 AD) and was in possession of the Royal Family and bound his hands behind him with his own girdle’’ <ref>Plutarch, 17</ref>was the only legitimate authority in the Empire in the eyes of many. Antigonus apparently only wanted He asked Eumenes to change sides and to imprison him but his generals demanded that Eumenes be executed. After weeks support the family of indecision the Macedonian general reluctantly had his one-time ally killedAlexander. This was the de-facto end of the Second Diadochi War The Greek agreed and betrayed Antignous and entered into an alliance with Polyperchon and it left Antigonus as the ruler of most of the possessions of Alexander the Great. An interesting footnote is Royal Family. Indeed, it seems that the one-eyed Macedonian general had the Silver Shields who had betrayed Eumeneshe was even in regular contact with Alexander’s sister Cleopatra.<ref>Waterfield, sent to what is now Afghanistan to battle local rebelsp. Plutarch reports that he instructed their commander to use them in ways so that ‘’ not one of them might return to Macedonia’’ <ref> Plutarch, 19, 378</ref>.[[File: Alex One.jpg|250px|thumb|left| Alexander the Great]]__NOTOC__==Eumenes and Antigonus was by now the First most powerful successor of Alexander and sought to crush Eumenes and Polyperchon who represented the royalist cause. This split led to the Second War of Diadochi Wars==The Greek was an outstanding leader and general. He was a key player in the first two wars . In the naval battle of the successors of Alexander. His brilliant victory over Craterus meant that Bosporus (318), Antignous defeated the cause of Perdicas was not lostroyalist fleet and thus isolated Eumenes from Polyperchon, even after his assassination. His continued defiance who fought a civil war against Casander in Asia Minor of Antigonus meant that Macedonia, with the War backing of the First Diadochi was to be prolonged even after the death of PerdicasAlexander’s mother, Olympia. Moreover<ref> Waterfield, p. 81</ref> The one-eyed general used his defeat of Craterussuperior numbers to put great pressure on Eumenes.  However, perhaps one of the most popular Macedonian generals removed someone who could have become a major player in the events of the timeEumenes was resourceful and built up an army. The former private secretary of Alexander On one occasion Eumenes was to play an even greater role in nearly ambushed by the Second Diadochi WarMacedonian, but intelligence sent by Cleopatra saved him. His decision to break with Antigonus He was forced out of Asia Minor and to become the ally of Polyperchon and the Macedonian royal family lead to the overthrow of the Triparadisus settlement briefly occupied Phoenicia (320 BCLebanon). In effect after beating Ptolemy’s Egyptian forces. Antigonus pursued Eumenes made another round of civil wars inevitableand propelled him further east with his army. His decision to throw After a series of small battles in his lot with the Regent and the relatives of Alexander was one which he inflicted minor defeats of the sparks that ignited the second war of the successorsAntigonid army, Eumenes then took his forces into modern Iraq and Iran. The Greek was arguably someone who helped He often claimed to destabilize have received messages from the territories that were conquered by great conqueror in his dreams and associated himself with the phalanxes cult of Alexander.==Eumenes and by holding meetings with an empty throne where the fate spirit of the Empire==Crucial to understanding the Cardian great monarch was his desire meant to maintain the unity of the Empirebe seated. Many believe that he was the only successor who believed in Alexander’s desire to unite east and west. Because <ref> Plutarch 11</ref> These religious messages allowed Eumenes, even though he was not a Macedonian he did not believe in the exclusion Greek, to gain the loyalty of the conquered peoples from Macedonian hoplites, especially the army and governmentSilver Shields. This was not shared by He has obtained the other successors and they firmly believed that the Macedonians should form a ruling military elitesupport of some eastern Satraps who had grown suspicious of Antigonus ambitions. The death of Antigonid army chased Eumenes ensured that the states that emerged after the fragmentation . The two armies faced each other at Paraitakene, northeast of the Empire were not pluralistic societies but rather they were to be dominated by a small Greek-Macedonian elite who largely excluded the natives and monopolized power Susa, in their own hands what is now Iran in 317 BC. Eumenes, despite being outnumbered devised a brilliant strategy that almost overwhelmed his opponent.<ref> Waterfield, p 15680</ref>.  Eumenes had been raised in the court of Phillip II defeated Antigonus who suffered heavy casualties, and did seem to be genuinely loyal Eumenes' army suffered only light casualties. The two armies then withdrew to the Argead dynastytheir respective winter quarters. His campaigns and even his break with AntignousIn 316 BC, can be seen as an attempt to protect the rights and the interests of the Argeads and the sons of Alexander the Greattwo armies met again in what is modern Iran at Gabiene (316 BC). The various successors claimed to be only holding their territories until one Once again Alexander’s former private secretary demonstrated his military brilliance. He inflicted heavy casualties on Antigonus and won an inconclusive victory. Then a chance event ruined his moment of the sons of Alexander glory.  His army’s baggage train was crowned, but in reality they had no such intention captured by Antigonid cavalry. <ref> AnsonWaterfield, p 6786</ref>. Eumenes was This meant that all the last hope personal wealth and the wives of the Argead dynasty and his defeat meant that no Macedonian monarch would once again rule Sacred Band were in the lands won by hands of the son of Phillip IIAntigonid army. If Eumenes had won it is possible that The elite hoplites sought their wealth and wives back from the one of the descendants of the conqueror of the Persians could have united the lands -eyes general. He agreed to their demands but on one condition that Alexander had conqueredthey hand over to him Eumenes. Instead soon after The Macedonian Silver Shields decided to betray the defeat of Greek, general. the last Argead king Alexander IV was murdered According to Plutarch ‘’ they fell upon him, even though he was only a boytook away his sword, and this effectively ended the almost 500-year-old dynastybound his hands behind him with his own girdle.’’ <ref>Plutarch, 17</ref> Antigonus apparently only wanted to imprison him but his generals demanded that Eumenes be executed. After weeks of indecision the Macedonian general reluctantly had his one-time ally killed. This was the de-facto end of the Second Diadochi War and left Antigonus as the ruler of most of the former Empire of Alexander the Great.  An interesting footnote is that the Antidonus sent the Silver Shields who had betrayed Eumenes to what is modern day Afghanistan to battle local rebels. Plutarch reports that he instructed their commander to use them in ways so that ‘’not one of them might return to Macedonia.’’ <ref> Plutarch, 19, 3</ref> ====Eumenes and the First and the Second Diadochi Wars====Eumenes was an outstanding leader and general. He was a key player in the first two wars of the successors of Alexander. His brilliant victory over Craterus meant that the cause of Perdicas was not lost, even after his assassination. His continued defiance in Asia Minor of Antigonus meant that the War of the First Diadochi was prolonged even after the death of Perdicas.  Moreover, his defeat of Craterus, one of the most popular Macedonian generals, removed someone who could have become a major player in the events of the time. The former private secretary of Alexander played an even more significant role in the Second Diadochi War. His decision to break with Antigonus and become the ally of Polyperchon and the Macedonian royal family lead to the overthrow of the Triparadisus settlement (320 BC).  In effect, Eumenes success made another round of civil wars inevitable. His decision to throw in his lot with the Regent and the relatives of Alexander was one of the sparks that ignited the second war of the successors. He was arguably someone who destabilized the territories that were conquered by the phalanxes of Alexander. ====Eumenes and the fate of the Empire====

==Conclusion==Crucial to understanding Eumenes was his desire to maintain the unity of the Empire. Many believe that he was the only successor who believed in Alexander’s desire to unite east and west. Because he was not a brilliant man Macedonian and he did not believe in the exclusion of the conquered peoples from the army and government. This belief was regarded not shared by the other successors and they firmly believed that the Macedonians should form a ruling military elite.  The death of Eumenes ensured that the states that emerged after the fragmentation of the Empire were not pluralistic societies but rather they were to be dominated by a small Greek-Macedonian elite who largely excluded the natives and monopolized power in their own hands. <ref> Waterfield, p 156</ref> Eumenes had been raised in antiquity the court of Phillip II and did seem to be genuinely loyal to the Argead dynasty. His campaigns and even his break with Antignous can be seen as an attempt to protect the rights and the interests of the Argeads and the sons of Alexander the Great. The various successors claimed to be only holding their territories until one of the most brilliant men sons of Alexander was crowned, but in reality, they had no such intention. <ref> Anson, p 67</ref>  Eumenes was the last hope of the Argead dynasty and his defeat meant that no Macedonian monarch would ever rule the lands won by the son of Phillip II. If Eumenes had won it is possible that one of the descendants of Alexander could have united the Empire. Instead, soon after the defeat of Eumenes, the last Argead king Alexander IV was murdered, even though he was only a boy which effectively ended the early Hellenistic Worldalmost 500-year-old dynasty. ====Conclusion====Eumenes was an extraordinary man. Despite his limited military experience, he proved to be a brilliant leader and military tactician. However, he ultimately failed in to accomplish his projects goals and his protect Alexander's legacy. His impact on the development of the Hellenistic World was negligible. His determination and strategy helped only to prolong the First War of the Diadochi. His was also a very significant factor in the Second Diadochi War and this was to lead to a civil war from Asia Minor to Iran and only further added to the fragmentation of the Alexander's Empire that had been won by Alexander. The Greek He attempted to keep alive the vision of Alexander of a great and unified Empire that would enable the unification of European and non-European, but he failed. Moreover, with his defeat, which marked the end of the Second Diadochi War, which led to the fate destruction of the Argead dynasty was sealed and soon passed into history.  ====Further Reading====* Bosworth, A. "History and artifice in Plutarch’s Eumenes." <i>In Plutarch and the historical tradition</i>, pp. 64-97 (London, Routledge, 2002).* Meeus, Alexander. "Alexander’s Image in the Age of the Successors." <i>Alexander the Great: A New History </i> (2009): 235-250.* Holt, Frank L. & Richard A. Billows. <i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0520208803/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0520208803&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=9f4da9c281929fad7036a1f19e192db3 Antigonos the One-Eyed and the Creation of the Hellenistic State]</i>. (Berkeley and Los Angeles: University of California Press, 1991)* Jouguet, Pierre. <i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415868017/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0415868017&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=57070b9023167e622b902ea166b0a134 Macedonian Imperialism] </i> (New York and London, Routledge, 2013) ====References====<references/> Update January 22, 2019