James Baquet Probably everybody reading this has heard of the Greek king Alexander III of Macedon, better known as Alexander the Great. And you probably know that he conquered much of the “known world” (at least, known to the Greeks) in a series of undefeated military campaigns, from Greece itself to northwestern India. What you may not realize is that he died while still on campaign, possibly from poison, in June 323 B.C. in Babylon at the age of 32. Other causes have been suggested, including malaria and typhoid fever, but he definitely did not die in battle. His unexpected demise, without a clear successor, left Alexander’s empire in a shambles. The next year something called the “Wars of Diadochi” broke out, the Diadochi being the generals, families and friends that Alexander left behind to compete for his legacy. At first, an attempt was made to place Alexander’s half-brother Arrhidaeus on the throne, to rule jointly with Alexander’s yet-unborn child, if it were a boy (it was). But soon the intrigues started, with murders and a usurpation by the man named regent. Open war soon followed. The First War of the Diadochi lasted from 322 to 320 B.C.; the second, from 318 to 315 B.C. A third ran from 314 to 311 B.C., and a more localized one, called the Babylonian War, from 311 to 309 B.C. There were periods of relative albeit brief stability between each of these confrontations. Though a few flare-ups followed, the Fourth (and final) War of the Diadochi took place from 308 to 301 B.C., and with the final battle of that war occurring at Ipsus in Phrygia (now part of eastern Turkey). In the end, the empire was carved up into jurisdictions under four successors: Ptolemy in Egypt (a dynasty which ended three centuries later with the death of Cleopatra); Cassander in Greece; Lysimachus around the Black Sea; and Seleucus with most of Alexander’s conquests in Asia. After thousands of casualties, the primary effect of the Battle of Ipsus was to confirm what had already happened: Alexander’s empire was permanently dismantled, a situation that would affect the region for hundreds of years. Vocabulary: Which word above means: 1. death 2. illegal seizure of a throne 3. something handed down to those who come after 4. schemes, plots 5. a disease transmitted by mosquitoes 6. taken apart 7. although 8. one who comes after 9. one who rules in place of a child 10. a disorganized mess ANSWERS: 1. demise 2. usurpation 3. legacy 4. intrigues 5. malaria 6. dismantled. albeit 8. successor 9. regent 10. a shambles | 