Battle of Byzantium

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Battle of Byzantium (Byzantion)
Part of the Second War of the Diadochi
Locator map Byzantion.PNG
Date 317 BC
Location
near Byzantium
(modern-day Istanbul, Turkey)
40°12′N26°24′E / 40.2°N 26.4°E / 40.2; 26.4
Result Antigonid victory
Belligerents
The coalition of Antigonus Monophtalmus and Cassander The coalition of Polyperchon and Cleitus the White
Commanders and leaders
Antigonus Monophthalmus Cleitus the White
Strength

First battle:
Diod. 100+ ships [1]
Poly. 130 ships [2]

Contents

Second battle:
The sea assault: 60 ships [3]
The land assault: a large force of archers, slingers and peltasts [3]

First battle:
slightly larger [1] [2]

Second battle:
unknown (Cleitus's entire army and fleet) [2] [3]
Casualties and losses
unknown Cleitus's entire force was captured or killed
Cleitus the White  Skull and Crossbones.svg

The Battle of Byzantium (Byzantion) took place during the wars of the successors of Alexander the Great (see Diadochi) between the generals Antigonus Monopthalmus and Cleitus the White. It was a two-day-battle fought near Byzantium at the Hellespont in 317 BC and resulted in a stunning Antigonid victory. [4]

Background

After the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC, his generals immediately began squabbling over his huge empire. Soon the squabbling degenerated into open warfare, with each general attempting to claim a portion of Alexander's vast Empire. One of the most talented successor generals (Diadochi) was Antigonus Monophthalmus, so called because of an eye he lost in a siege. After the First War of the Diadochi in 321 BC, the second partition of the Empire took place, the Partition of Triparadisus; Antipater became the new regent of the empire and Antigonus strategos of Asia (charged him with hunting down and defeating the remnants of the Perdiccan faction). Antigonus took command of the Royal Army and after being reinforced with more reliable troops from Antipater's European army he marched against their enemies in Asia Minor. [5] In 319 BC he first marched into Cappadocia against Eumenes whom he defeated at the Battle of Orkynia. Eumenes escaped to the fortress of Nora where Antigonus invested him. [6] Leaving the siege of Nora to a subordinate [7] Antigonus marched against the remaining Perdiccans and defeated them at the Battle of Cretopolis. [8] Antigonus's coalition partner, Antipater, died of old age (83 years old) that year and left the regency to Polyperchon. Antigonus did not accept Polyperchon authority and formed a coalition with Cassander, Ptolemy and Lysimachus against the coalition of the new regent. [9] In 318 BC, Antigonus drove Cleitus the White, the satrap of Lydia, out of his satrapy. Cleitus fled to Polyperchon who equipped him with a large fleet and sent him to take command of the Hellespont at the beginning of the summer of 317 BC. [10]

Prelude

Antigonus had spent the autumn and winter of 318 BC in western Asia Minor consolidating his position and gathering a fleet. He now sent Nicanor with a fleet of 100–130 ships to do battle against Cleitus in the Hellespont while he himself marched there with an army. Cleitus was in the Hellespont with a slightly larger fleet. [1]

Battles

The two fleets met in battle near Byzantium, Cleitus won a victory in which some 70 ships of Nicanor were captured, sunk or disabled, the remnant managing to escape to Chalcedon, where they were joined by Antigonus and his army. Antigonus ordered the remaining 60 ships to be readied for renewed action, and assigned his strongest and most loyal soldiers as marines to these ships. Meanwhile, the Byzantines transported his archers, slingers and peltast to the European shore, where Cleitus's victorious forces were encamped. At dawn the next day Antigonos launched an assault by land and sea and caught Cleitus completely by surprise; Cleitus’s entire force was captured or killed. [11]

Aftermath

Cleitus managed to escape with a single ship, but he was soon forced to run it aground and tried to reach Macedon by land. He was intercepted and executed by some soldiers working for Lysimachus . [11] This brilliant stroke greatly enhanced Antigonus's reputation for military genius (he had won three stunning victories in a row) and freed him from further worry of Polyperchon interfering in Asia. He at once set out to deal with Eumenes who was causing trouble in Cilicia, Syria and Phoenicia.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Antigonus I Monophthalmus</span> Macedonian general, Diadochus, King of Asia

Antigonus I Monophthalmus was a Macedonian Greek general and successor of Alexander the Great. A prominent military leader in Alexander's army, he went on to control large parts of Alexander's former empire. He assumed the title of basileus (king) in 306 BC and reigned until his death. He was the founder of the Antigonid dynasty, which ruled over Macedonia until its conquest by the Roman Republic in 168 BC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cassander</span> King of Macedonia, Antipatrid dynasty

Cassander was king of the Ancient Greek kingdom of Macedonia from 305 BC until 297 BC, and de facto ruler of southern Greece from 317 BC until his death.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wars of the Diadochi</span> Series of wars between Alexander the Greats successors, 322–281 BC

The Wars of the Diadochi, or Wars of Alexander's Successors, were a series of conflicts fought between the generals of Alexander the Great, known as the Diadochi, over who would rule his empire following his death. The fighting occurred between 322 and 281 BC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eumenes</span> Greek general and satrap (fl. 362–315 BC)

Eumenes was a Greek general and satrap. He participated in the Wars of Alexander the Great, serving as both Alexander's personal secretary and as a battlefield commander. He later was a participant in the Wars of the Diadochi as a supporter of the Macedonian Argead royal house. He was executed after the Battle of Gabiene in the winter of 316–315 BC.

Polyperchon, was a Macedonian Greek general who served both Philip II and Alexander the Great and then played an active role in the ensuing battles for control between Alexander's generals.

Peithon or Pithon was the son of Crateuas, a nobleman from Eordaia in western Macedonia. He was famous for being one of the bodyguards of Alexander the Great, becoming the later satrap of Media, and claiming to be one of the diadochi.

The Battle of Paraitakene was fought in 317 BC, during the second of the succession wars that were fought after the death Alexander the Great; the so called Wars of the Diadochi. In Paraitakene, a district of Persis, the armies of Antigonus Monophthalmus and Eumenes the Cardian engaged in a long an bloody battle that ended indesicive; since Antigonus suffered the most casualties the battle is seen as a victory for Eumenes. Both armies withdrew after the battle; Antigonus towards his ally Peithon's satrapy of Media, Eumenes towards Gabiene.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Gabiene</span> Part of the Second War of the Diadochi (315 BC)

Battle of Gabiene was the second great battle between Antigonus Monophthalmus and Eumenes, two of Alexander the Great's successors. The battle was fought near Gabiene in Persia in the winter of 316-315 BC and ended the Second War of the Diadochi. It established Antigonus as the most powerful of the successors.

Telesphorus was a nephew and a general in the service of Antigonus Monophthalmus, the ruler and later king of the Asian half of the empire conquered by Alexander the Great, who was sent by him in 312 BC, with a fleet of fifty ships and a considerable army to the Peloponnese, to oppose the forces of Polyperchon and Cassander. At first he was very successful; he drove Polyperchon’s garrisons from all the cities of the peninsula, except Sicyon and Corinth, which were held by Polyperchon himself; but having joined with Antigonid admiral Medius in an attempt to relieve Oreus on Euboea, to which Cassander had laid siege, he was beaten back, with the loss of several ships. The following summer, Antigonus having conferred the chief direction of the war in the Peloponnese upon his other nephew Ptolemy, Telesphorus was so indignant that he shook off his allegiance, and having induced some of his soldiers to follow him, established himself in Elis on his own account, and even plundered the sacred treasures at Olympia. He was, however, soon after, induced by Ptolemy to submit. Antigonus must have forgiven him because a few years later Telesphorus was on the staff of Demetrius, Antigonus’ son.

Cleitus (Clitus) the White was an officer of Alexander the Great surnamed "White" to distinguish him from Cleitus the Black. He is noted by Athenaeus and Aelian for his pomp and luxury, and is probably the same who is mentioned by Justin among the veterans sent home to Macedonia under Craterus in 324 BC.

Nicanor was a Macedonian officer who served the Diadochus Cassander and the son in law of Aristotle. He campaigned on Cassander's behalf in Attica and Hellespont during the early Wars of the Diadochi, but was executed by Cassander after the latter suspected him of plotting a coup.

Aristodemus of Miletus was one of the oldest and most trusted friends of Antigonus Monophthalmus. He is described by Plutarch as an arch-flatterer of Antigonus. Antigonus frequently used him on important diplomatic missions and occasionally entrusted him with military commands as well.

The Second War of the Diadochi was the conflict between the coalition of Polyperchon, Olympias and Eumenes and the coalition of Cassander, Antigonus, Ptolemy and Lysimachus following the death of Cassander's father, Antipater.

The Battle of Orkynia was fought in 319 BCE near Orkynia in Cappadocia. It was one of first battles of the wars between the successors to Alexander the Great, the so called Diadochi. At Orkynia the armies of Antigonus Monophthalmus and Eumenes the Cardian met; the battle resulted in a stunning Antigonid victory.

The Battle of Cretopolis (Kretopolis) was a battle in the wars of the successors of Alexander the Great between general Antigonus Monopthalmus and the remnants of the Perdiccan faction. It was fought near Cretopolis in Pisidia in 319 BC and resulted in another stunning Antigonid victory.

The siege of Megalopolis was a siege battle during the Second War of the Diadochi between Polyperchon, the Regent of the Macedonian Empire, and the people of Megalopolis who supported Polyperchon's rival Cassander. The siege failed and Polyperchon lost a lot of prestige, which was capitalized on by Cassander and his ally Antigonus.

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Diodorus Siculus, Bibliotheca Historica XVIII 72,3.
  2. 1 2 3 Polyainos, Strategemata, book IV 6,8.
  3. 1 2 3 Diodorus Siculus, Bibliotheca Historica XVIII 72,4.
  4. ↑ Diodorus Siculus, Bibliotheca Historica XVIII 72,3–4; Polyainos, Strategemata, IV 6,8.
  5. ↑ Richard A. Billows, Antigonos the one-eyed and the creation of the Hellenistic State, p. 72.
  6. ↑ Richard A. Billows, Antigonos the one-eyed and the creation of the Hellenistic State, p. 77; Diodorus Siculus, Bibliotheca Historica XVIII 41, 1–3; Plutarch, Eumenes, 10,2–4.
  7. ↑ Richard A. Billows, Antigonos the one-eyed and the creation of the Hellenistic State, p. 77; Diodorus, Bibliotheca Historica XVIII 41, 5–7; Plutarch, Eumenes, 10,2–4.
  8. ↑ Diodorus Siculus, Bibliotheca Historica XVIII 44–45; Polyainos, strategemata IV 6,7.
  9. ↑ Richard A. Billows, Antigonos the one-eyed and the creation of the Hellenistic State, pp. 84–85.
  10. ↑ Diodorus Siculus, Bibliotheca Historica XVIII 72, 2–3.
  11. 1 2 Diodorus Siculus, Bibliotheca Historica XVIII 72, 3–4.
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