PLEDGE MANAGER AND PRE-ORDER ARE LIVE
over 4 years ago – Thu, Dec 05, 2019 at 12:48:00 AM

Hello Everyone!

The Backerkit Pledge Manager (PM) is now open, and you should receive an email invitation soon. If not, please check your SPAM folder. If you still can’t see the invitation, please go directly to  https://successors.backerkit.com/  and use your Kickstarter registration e-mail to get your invitation.

After you click the invitation link, please choose your country [Select your country for shipping BUTTON]. This will set up your shipping charge.

Next please choose your language edition [switch your pledge level BUTTON] if your pledge and/or language is wrong.

When your pledge level, language edition and shipping destination are OK, please proceed by clicking [Get Started BUTTON].

Now you will see the instructions of checking and changing your pledge level, if you haven't done this in the previous steps. When everything is fine, mark the Understood point and move next to Add-ons.

Then continue with the add-ons. Please add to your cart the additional items you wish to have in your order - as it is done in a regular web shop. Your pledged amount is your available credit (reduced by the pledge you have choosen, that you already have in your basket, including the game itself and free items, like Usurper’s Ring and Helepolis Siege Engine). But you can purchase any extra items, and total to be paid will be created indlucing the shipping price.

Finally, enter your shipping address, pay the balance, and click "Place Order" and you'll be all set.

Once you respond to your survey, you can still go back later and change your choices until we close the surveys and get our final counts. If you need to review your information or pledge status, you can return to your survey by clicking the link in your survey email or requesting your survey link under "Lost your survey?" on our BackerKit project page at  https://successors.backerkit.com/

If you used your Facebook credentials to log in to your Kickstarter account, the BackerKit survey is sent to the email address you use for your Facebook account. If you have another email address that you prefer to use, please contact support at  https://successors.backerkit.com/faq

If you have any questions about the Pledge Manager or how your order is processed, please make sure to contact Backerkit Support first, as the tool is very user-friendly and has a solid helpdesk. If they can’t help you, please contact Agata Jurczyszyn, our BackerKit Manager: agata.jurczyszyn[at]vertima.trade

The pledge manager will be open until the end of March 2020.

PRE-ORDER

The Pledge Manager is open for anyone who would like to receive the game at the same time as the Kickstarter backers. Here is a link to the preorder page (it works like a regular web shop):  https://successors.backerkit.com/hosted_preorders

Please note that the Helepolis Siege Engine miniature, Artbook and the Usurper’s Ring were Kickstarter Exclusive items and won’t be available in pre-order. Everything else is the same as in the campaign, for the SUCCESSORS Pledge.

1941. Race to Moscow

Two weeks ago we have started a new campaign, which is very important to us, as the game is our in-house design. This is a hybrid game, a cross of euro and war game worlds. Please click on the image below and check out 1941. Race to Moscow!

Happy gaming!

Michal & PHALANX Team

SUCCESSORS Successful!
over 4 years ago – Fri, Sep 13, 2019 at 11:33:09 PM

Hello Everyone,

You’ve done it again! This is yet another project funded by PHALANX at the Kickstarter and all that thanks to the fantastic bunch of supporters we’ve got. And that’s you! Please accept our sincerest thanks for this outstanding campaign. Once again you have proven that there is a huge group of military history buffs who enjoy playing strategic board games - something we hoped for, for all the years before we started the company! And we are very happy that we can work for such community, because our roots are deep in history and conflict simulation games. Thank you very much!

As you may already know, we tend to announce our next project on the very day, when our current campaign is sent to production. And that moment is today. So, while there is a sound of champagne corks popping from the bottles at the party in Michal’s apartment, you may dive into reading what we are up to at PHALANX, starting on Monday. So, without any further ado, here it comes, a game that some of you have been waiting for years…

1941: Race to Moscow

In 1941: Race to Moscow, which by some is considered to be war-themed pick up and delivery and by others a very simple but not simplistic approach to large scale military logistics, the players take the roles of chiefs of staff (or quartermasters) of three massive Army Groups, formed together from close to 200 divisions, which aim at the centers of Soviet Union - Moscow, Leningrad and Rostov. The campaign itself was planned to be swift and daring, with a goal to reach the objectives before the winter comes...

Please visit 1941: Race to Moscow preview page to find out more about this project and click NOTIFY ME ON LAUNCH button. This way you won’t miss the moment when the campaign starts! 

Thank you!

PHALANX Club

If you want to know more about our future plans, please join Phalanx Club - our Facebook group - and you will be among the first to know: https://www.facebook.com/groups/phalanxclub/

The Next Steps

Please read the following info, as this is very important post-campaign data that all of you need to know:

1. We will be setting up the pledge manager as soon as possible - we will use BackerKit.com. It will allow you to:

• manage your pledges (check your items, add or remove items from your pledge, choose language editions of your items),
• purchase extra copies of the game, add-ons etc.,
• enter your delivery addresses.

Please do not send us messages containing the above information, as we will be unable to process it. These kinds of choices are made in the pledge manager ONLY.

2. People who have missed the campaign will be able to pre-order the game in the pledge manager. You will be able to buy the add-ons as well.

3. Once the pledge manager is open, you will receive an email notification. There is also going to be a separate update too. You really can’t miss it, although please check your spam email from time to time. ;)

4. The pledge manager should go live in 1-2 months after the campaign is finished, as we need to make the final quotes for shipping based on the number of backers from each country, and setup all the products in the manager. It will be live for another 2-3 months. The pledge manager works like a standard webshop where you choose the items you want to get for your credit (the amount pledged during the campaign). You will be able to increase your credit, to pay for shipping and add-ons, if you choose any.

5. Current payments are processed by Kickstarter, so please contact their help desk if you have any problems with charging your cards. Sorry, but we can't help you in any way, as this is run solely by Kickstarter and we have no influence over this process.

6. We will keep you updated about game development and production status. We won’t be spamming, but we will try making at least a single update a month, or more, if there is anything important to share.

That’s all for now. See you in the comments section and in the next updates!

Thank you, and happy gaming!

Jaro, Waldek, Michal and PHALANX Team

The Final Day
over 4 years ago – Fri, Sep 13, 2019 at 02:27:10 PM

Hello Everyone,

It is the final day of the SUCCESSORS campaign. You already know that it is a successful one, as you have reached all the Stretch Goals that we have prepared. Thank you very much for your tremendous support!

What could we say more? We can only try to convince all of these who are still on the fence, that supporting this campaign now gives you the best deal possible, with two Kickstarter exclusive items added to your pledge for free, plus a nice, no less than $30 discount off the MSRP. So, please support us now, helping us to publish more history-oriented, conflict simulation games. We know that you like such titles!

You can also upgrade your SUCCESSORS by a bunch of items, that we offer as the campaign add-ons. Please note, that the Giant Playing Mat and Dice Siege Tower will be available for retail distribution (for a bigger price, though), but Painted Miniatures and Artbook are Kickstarter exclusive items and won’t be available in retail. So, this is a good moment to consider adding these items to your pledge. Thank you!

And let’s give some space to Dr. Eric G. L. PINZELLI, as he is going to write about the story behind our Kickstarter exclusive items - Usurper’s Ring and Helepolis siege engine.

ALEXANDER'S ROYAL RING: THE ULTIMATE SYMBOL OF AUTHORITY

By the time of Alexander the Great, signet rings had been used in the Middle East and the Eastern Mediterranean for more than a thousand years. They were a convenient compact evolution from the earlier cylinder seals invented in Ancient Mesopotamia (although cylinder seals were still in use in Achaemenid Persia in the 4th Century BC) in the 4th Millennia BC for the same purpose, to sign or certify legal documents onto soft sealing wax or clay.

As such, signet rings possessed high symbolic value of authority and power. They were either kept under guard in the king’s treasury and archives, or carried by the king himself until he would pass it on to his successor. Alexander handed his signet ring to Perdikkas on his deathbed (or did Perdikkas remove it from his hand?). It was probably taken by Ptolemaîos after Perdikkas’ assassination on the banks of the Nile and kept in Egypt.

Although we do not have a description of his ring, it was certainly made entirely of gold, carrying an oval or circular engraved gemstone (probably a deep red garnet which was fashionable at that time, aquamarine, emerald, lapis lazuli or sapphire) representing the Macedonian royal house’s symbol, the so-called “Vergina Sun”, since the dynasty claimed to be protected by the sun.

Alexander’s court gem-engraver was Pyrgoteles, the only artist authorized to create the king’s intaglios. Other symbols could have been engraved by Pyrgoteles who was also responsible for the coin dies: either Alexander turned into Herakles wearing a lion-skin headdress, the goddess Athena wearing a corinthian helmet, or Zeus, holding an eagle and a scepter, all designs commonly represented in Alexander’s coinage to pay the soldiers, levies and taxes.

THE HELEPOLIS USED BY DEMETRIOS I DURING THE SIEGE OF RHODES

The Helepolis (“Taker of cities”), was a gigantic ironclad movable assault tower and artillery platform. Although siege towers existed since the Assyrians, during the Hellenistic era siege weaponry was brought to another level. Ancient authors claim that the Helepolis was invented by Greek military engineer Polydes of Thessaly who worked for the king Philip of Macedon and participated in the unsuccessful siege of Byzantium (341 BC). Two of Polydes’ students improved on their master’s designs: Charias and Diades served during Alexander’s campaigns, creating prodigious machines to capture enemy strongholds, including Tyre in Phoenicia which had seemed impregnable (332 BC).

The name “Helepolis” was from then on associated with every unusually large siege tower although the one built specifically by Epimachos of Athens for Demetrios I’s siege of Rhodes (305 BC) is the most famous: it was nine stories high, reinforced with iron plates on the front and sides, stood more than 40 m tall, for a staggering weight of 180 t. Its armament is what made it particularly fearsome: with 16 catapults and 4 dart throwers, the two top floors used to shower down darts from above, the Helepolis did not have a drawbridge, rather it was used as an early land “gunship” or tank: with its concentrated firepower it would clear the enemy’s walls from defenders, its large catapults could even destroy ramparts and curtain-walls. Attackers could then bring up battering rams, undermine the walls, or mount a traditional assault with ladders.

The Helepolis, which was mounted on 8 oak wheels (5 m in diameter), was propelled by a capstan and belt drive manned by 200 men. Additional thrust could be provided from the rear. During the siege, the Rhodians managed to knock out some of the iron plates, exposing the timber beneath to incendiary arrows. To avoid its destruction, the huge tower was pull out for repair. Later, the Rhodians and Demetrios reached an agreement and the siege was called off. The Helepolis, along with the other siege machinery left behind were dismantled and sold by the Rhodians for 300 talents of silver. The money and the timber were used to build the colossal statue of the sun-god Helios, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

To the strongest!

Michal & PHALANX Team

Painted Miniatures
over 4 years ago – Thu, Sep 12, 2019 at 01:35:47 PM

Hello Everyone,

Thank you for a warm welcome of yesterday’s update. You have been asking for some additional info about the painted miniatures upgrade, so here it is:

• All 24 in-box miniatures will be pre-painted, but not the Helepolis siege engine, as this is an add-on that will be produced separately.
• It is not an extra set of miniatures - the painted miniatures will come directly in your game box, instead of the unpainted miniatures. This way your base game will differ from the retail edition.
• If you prefer to paint the miniatures yourself, please do not choose this add-on.
• We are checking the possibility of painting the miniatures for HANNIBAL & HAMILCAR. We will keep you updated about this.
   

And the most important thing - photos. Here they are!

Please note, that these samples are just prototypes, and the final quality of both miniatures and painting will be higher than shown in the photos above.

So, if you want to receive the painted miniatures upgrade in your SUCCESSORS box, please click on the Manage Your Pledge button and increase your total pledge for the amount of 24 GBP. You will be able to let us know in the Pledge Manager (after the campaign ends) which items you have added to your order.

And you have asked for printing friendly version of the beta SUCCESSORS Rulebook. Here it is:

Today Dr. Eric G. L. PINZELLI will tell you the story of the last Faction that shaped the history of the Diadochi wars. Please remember, that you will find all Eric’s stories printed in our Artbook campaign add-on:

THE SELEUCID FACTION

Seleukos and Peithon fight side by side in the Seleucid Faction. They knew each other well, having served under Alexander the Great, and later as members of Perdikkas’ staff. Both plotted to have the latter assassinated, opportunely switching their allegiance to Ptolemaîos, before parting their own ways to take possessions of the satrapies attributed to them by Antipatros in the East, as a reward for their betrayal (321 BC). In the autumn of 317 BC, both uneasily ruled over two former wealthy neighboring Persian satrapies, Babylonia and Media. At that time, threatened by powerful adversaries, they had no choice but to band together again.

Peithon found himself in a dire situation after being defeated by a coalition of eastern satraps led by Peucestas (318 BC). His attempt to carve himself an independent empire had backfired, he was on the run and forced to seek refuge in Babylon, at Seleukos’ court. They were solicited by Eumenes of Cardia who arrived from Cilicia desperately seeking reinforcements in the name of the kings. Both satraps refused to rally his faction as he wasn’t Macedonian, and had been condemned to death at the Conference of Triparadisus. Instead, they tried to detach the Silver Shields from him, and sent messengers to Antigonos who was marching towards Susa at the head of a large force.

Seleukos himself had barely established his authority over Babylonia since his arrival in October 320 BC. First, he had to fight off Dokimos, who had been sent by Perdikkas to take over the satrapy from Archon of Pella who was killed in action. After Seleukos’ victory over Dokimos who fled and joined Eumenes’ army, Seleukos bribed the local priests to gain support of the local elites.

With the arrival of Antigonos, both Seleukos and Peithon fought under his command until the battle of Gabiene (315 BC) that ended with Eumenes’ defeat, capture and execution. Soon after, Antigonos had also Peithon eliminated while Seleukos fled to Egypt to avoid suffering the same fate, running away from his beloved Babylon, but pledging that he would return!

AS GREAT AS THE MIGHTY ALEXANDER? SELEUKOS, THE LAST SUCCESSOR.

Little is known of Seleukos’ early life: we only know that he was born in Europos in Macedonia c. 358 BC, which would make him Alexander’s age mate. He seemed to have been a page at the Argead court. Seleukos was present at the end of the Persian campaign as one of the commanders of the hypaspists – the future Silver Shields, and at the Battle of Hydaspes against King Poros in the Punjab (326 BC). After the Susa weddings (324 BC), while most Macedonians got rid of their foreign wives, Seleukos actually kept his Persian wife, Apama, the future queen of the Seleucid Empire and mother of Antiochos I Soter.

When Perdikkas became regent after Alexander’s mysterious demise, Seleukos was appointed commander of the Companion Cavalry of the Empire. During Perdikkas’ failed expedition to Egypt in 321 BC, Seleukos seemed to have been one of the officers involved in the regent’s assassination, along with Antigenes and Peithon.

At the new partition of Triparadisus, Seleukos was rewarded for his betrayal with the governorship of the rich province of Babylonia, heartland of the ancient Babylonian Empire, while Peithon received Media, and Antigenes, Susiana (ancient Elam). Arriving in the fall of 320 BC, Seleukos had to fight and defeat Dokimos to achieve effective control of his satrapy.

When the outcome of the Second War of the diadochi became clear, Seleukos sided with One-Eye Antigonos. Their relationship soon turned to open hostility however, and Seleukos fled to Egypt with a handful of men to place himself under Ptolemaîos’ protection (316 BC). He would spend the following years, during the Third War of the Diadochi (314-311 BC), as admiral of the Ptolemaic fleet.

At the battle of Gaza (312 BC) Ptolemaîos (and Seleukos) finally annihilated Demetrios Poliorketes’ army and his elephants. Peithon, who had been appointed satrap of Babylonia by Antigonos, had also lost his life in the battle: Seleukos asked permission from Ptolemaîos to retake Babylonia which was accepted. In May 311 BC, with 1,000 men given by Ptolemaîos, Seleukos reoccupied Babylonia triumphantly. He then defeated Nikanor of Media’s superior army in a surprise night attack, and in a matter of month also conquered Media and Susiana.

Over the course of nine years (311–302 BC), while Antigonos was occupied in the west, Seleukos brought the whole eastern part of Alexander's empire as far as the Jaxartes and Indus Rivers under his authority.

After a victorious war against Antigonos and his son Demetrios, Seleukos turned his attention East: his campaigns in India were a failure but he achieved a treaty with Chandragupta, king of the Maurya empire, obtaining 500 war elephants (305 BC) in exchange for vast territories west of the Indus.

At the battle of Ipsos (301 BC), Seleukos eliminated his arch enemy Antigonos. In the aftermath of his victory, he also occupied Syria which brought him in direct confrontation against his former superior Ptolemaîos. Seleukos then allied with Demetrios and married his teenage daughter Stratoniki (300 BC). The alliance between Seleukos and Demetrios ended in 294 BC when Seleukos conquered Cilicia. Seleukos took to the field in person and by showing himself to Demetrios’ troops, had them defected en masse to his side. Demetrios was left alone and captured.

Finally, in February 281 BC, took place the last combat among Alexander’s former companions: At Corupedion in Lydia, 77 years old Seleukos defeated 80 years old Lysimachos, (ruler of western Asia Minor, Thrace and Macedonia), who died in action. Now the last Diadoch alive, this victory gave Seleukos nominal control over nearly every part of Alexander's empire, save the Ptolemaic Kingdom. While old Seleukos was about to cross the Hellespont to come back to his native homeland after an absence of 53 years, Ptolemaîos Keraunos stabbed him to death in order to gain control over Macedon (September 281 BC). Ptolemaîos Keraunos then rushed to Lysimachia where he had himself acclaimed king by the Macedonian army. The age of Alexander's Successors was over.

Antiochos I entombed Seleukos' ashes in Seleucia and initiated the posthumous cult of his father, venerated as son of “Zeus Nikator”. Seleukos’ family established an empire that would live for generations to come.

PEITHON, THE AMBITIOUS SATRAP OF MEDIA

There were two prominent Peithon in the Macedonian army that we know of: Peithon, the son of Agenor (satrap of the Indus from 325 BC, and satrap of Babylon from 315 BC until he was killed in action at the battle of Gaza in 312 BC while fighting in Demetrios II’s army), and Peithon, son of a Krateros from Western Macedon, himself satrap of Greater Media, who was executed by Antigonos in 314 BC, the one we will talk about here.

During the campaigns against the immense Persian empire, Peithon, son of Krateros, served as a naval commander and was one of the few royal bodyguards (the somatophylakes ) from 336 BC and until Alexander’s death. At the Partition of Babylon in June 323, Peithon was given southern Media (“Greater Media”, capital Ecbatana); situated north-east of Babylonia, while the northern part was re-attributed to Âtarepâta (Atropates), a Persian general who had been loyal to Alexander since 330 BC. This region eventually was named after him, and came to be known as Atropatene.

When the news of Alexander's death reached the distant Greek settlers established by the king in the eastern regions of the empire, 23,000 of those veterans led by Philon rose in revolt and decided to march back to their homeland. Perdikkas sent Peithon to deal with the situation. He was to have them all neutralized, but instead tried to win them over and to have them join his own forces. The Macedonian troops, that longed for the spoils of war, would have none of this: they attacked, plundered and killed all the Greeks.

Peithon was one of the leading officers in Perdikkas ill-fated expedition against Ptolemaîos during the First War of the Diadochi. Together with Seleukos and Antigenes they betrayed and assassinated the first regent on the bank of the Nile (321 BC). Consequently, with the new settlement of Triparadisus, Peithon was confirmed with an extended satrapy of Media, limited to the North by the Alborz mountain range.

After Antipatros’ death, Peithon started his personal war against the neighboring satrapies (318 BC). He occupied Parthia, had Philip, its satrap, executed, and conquered the other upper satrapies. To check his ambition, a coalition of eastern satraps was formed and defeated him in Parthia. This army led by Peucestas, satrap of Persis (capital Persepolis), then rallied Eumenes’ forces. Peithon was only saved by Antigonos’ arrival. The following years, Peithon served as one of the One-Eyed’s generals (he commanded the entire left wing cavalry at the Battle of Paraitakene) until Eumenes final defeat at the Battle of Gabiene (315 BC).

After dealing with his adversaries and eliminating the Silver Shields’s threat once and for all, Antigonos, who was wintering in Media near Ecbatana, learned that Peithon was apparently fomenting a revolt. Antigonos tricked him to come to his camp to offer him the command of all the upper satrapies. A lured Peithon was thus easily overpowered, swiftly tried for treason and executed (314 BC). In his place, Antigonos appointed Orontobates, an Iranian.

To the strongest!

Michal & PHALANX Team

Now or never!
over 4 years ago – Wed, Sep 11, 2019 at 11:25:08 PM

You Silver Shields!

When we started HANNIBAL & HAMILCAR campaign more than two years ago, we were very anxious. We didn’t know how it would unfold. Would we be able to fund the game? Will we be able to unlock the stretch goals and pimp it up the way we really wanted to? All that was a real fog of war. We came out of this successfully and all that thanks to the group of supporters, who believed in the project as much as we did. I expressed that many times already, but that very Kickstarter was a true cornerstone for PHALANX’ existence on international markets. Since then, we were able to bring you U-BOOT and are just about to deliver Nanty Narking. Both very successful campaigns and very high-rated games. We have also paid back to the community, taking on developing and publishing two projects, which even if they look niche today, we believe would turn out to be great games: Freedom! and Europe Divided. Both from very talented designers, both labour of love and both great 2 player games. That was all possible thanks to the supporters. You. Our Sacred Band. Our Silver Shields.

Having such a group of staunch supporters made us think. And calculate. We just had two days of heated discussions at the company, with involved people threatening to leave, too. The main subject was: how can we architect a final push for the campaign? How to make sure you are getting all the stuff we were working on over the last few months? Honestly, that was worse than planning for a D-Day or Barbarossa. So many conflicting ideas and so little time. Tough choices and economies. So, what we present today is a product of a very long and tiring debate. A debate that has shaken every foundation of PHALANX. So, here we go. Let me present the choices we have made and some rationale behind it.

Good news first.

In order to commemorate and celebrate that fantastic moment of funding of HANNIBAL & HAMILCAR we have decided to add all four new generals miniatures and accompanying cards and standees once we cross the funding value of £263,443 - a funding result of HANNIBAL & HAMILCAR. As we are just about to cross that mark, consider those stretch goals reached NOW. This increases the total number of in-game miniatures from 20 to 24. That’s for starters.

Secondly, we’ve decided to turn one of the four minis into a sculpt of Polyperchon, so those who miss that miniature in the game will have their personal goal ticked. That means now the game contains 4 more generals than previous editions of Successors. And those will be needed in the new scenarios you will be getting with the game. For more info about these new generals (not available in the previous editions of SUCCESSORS!) please check the ‘New Generation’ update. 

Thirdly, adding above WILL NOT impact the Kickstarter price for the backers. It will considerably raise the retail price however, so there is yet another reason to back the game now, rather than wait for late pledge or retail. So, pledge now, if you haven’t yet as you won’t find a better deal later!

Please check below, what Michal was cooking up for you behind the scenes.

Thank you for your help, attention and patience,

Jaro & PHALANX Team

More good news!

We are happy to announce that Pendragon Game Studio will publish the Italian edition of Successors. Congratulations, dear Italian backers! You will be able to choose your language edition in the Pledge Manager, that will be launched after the campaign ends.

And even more good news!

This is a good news Wednesday really, as we are happy to announce that there are three add-ons you can include in your pledges to pimp up your game!

In order to make it easier for you, we’ve grouped those into an ALL-IN pack, which contains all add-ons available for the SUCCESSORS. So, here it is, discounted yet further for another 10GBP based on the Kickstarter prices of these items!

To include add-ons in your pledge, please click on the Manage Your Pledge button. To include any items you would like to receive, simply increase your total pledge for the amount of the add-ons. You will be able to let us know in the Pledge Manager (after the campaign ends) which items you have added to your order.

All the money you spend on add-ons during the campaign will increase the funding total - and this will unlock more stretch goals for the SUCCESSORS game. This way you are improving the final product you will receive!

The add-ons may affect the shipping cost, please check the campaign Add-ons section for details. You need to purchase at least one copy of SUCCESSORS to be able to include any add-ons in your pledge.

And now let the history speak again. Today Eric G. L. PINZELLI writes about the most iconic heroes of the Diadochi wars. All Eric’s texts presented during this campaign will be combined, illustrated and printed in the Artbook that you may buy as an add-on to your pledge. It will be a Kickstarter exclusive item, so it won’t be available in retail distribution.

THE ANTIGONID FACTION

In the new edition of Successors, the Antigonid faction is represented by Antigonos, his son Demetrios I “Poliorketes”, and Kassandros, Antipatros’ eldest son.

Antigonos, at some time, the most powerful of the Diadochi, exercised a great influence over his son who demonstrated the utmost respect to his father during their entire relationship. Of all those who tried to rule Alexander’s empire, only these two never tried to harm each other. Antigonos never felt threatened by his son, an oddity in the midst of the Diadochi’s insane power struggle that tore the other houses apart. According to Plutarch, the father treated his son with great affection and lenity. Although Demetrios proved to be a capable general, his infamous lifestyle of dissoluteness and extravagance off the battlefield was well known but tolerated by his father.

Even after the crushing defeat that young Demetrios (he was 24 at the time) suffered at Gaza against Ptolemaîos and Seleukos (312 BC), losing his entire army, his camp, and treasure, Antigonos did not lose trust in his son and gave him command of another army. After Demetrios’ victory at the naval battle of Salamis (Cyprus, 306 BC), Antigonos assumed the royal title and diadem, immediately associating his son, sending him another diadem, and from then on, addressing him as a king in their correspondence.

After Antipatros’ death (319 BC) and the choice of Polyperchon as the new regent instead of his own son Kassandros, the later sought alliance with Antigonos in what became the Second War of the Diadochi. By 316 BC, Kassandros had managed to become the master of Macedon and reached an agreement with Polyperchon. Eumenes had been eliminated. The former allies, including Kassandros, now all turned against Antigonos and his loyal son.

ONE-EYED ANTIGONOS: LAST SUCCESSOR TO ATTEMPT THE REUNIFICATION OF THE EMPIRE

Antigonos was one of the longest-lived of Alexander’s successors. Born in 382 BC, he was one of the Macedonian officers fighting alongside king Philip and maybe even earlier.

While Alexander was conquering the Persian empire, Antigonos was left to secure Phrygia in Anatolia, a key province where passed the ancient royal road, the vital overland route between Greece and Mesopotamia. With the partition of Babylon (323 BC), Antigonos, who kept Phrygia as his core dominion, was also given Lycia and Pamphilia.

While Perdikkas had ordered him to assist Eumenes in his conquest of Kappadokia, Antigonos refused and instead fled to Macedonia where he persuaded Antipatros and Krateros to unite against the first regent. While Krateros was killed the following spring (321 BC), Perdikkas was also taken out of the game a few days later and the satrapies had to be divided again at the Conference of Triparadisus. Antigonos was named general of the Macedonian troops in Asia to hunt down and kill Eumenes.

Leaving troops to besiege Eumenes in the Taurus mountain fortress of Nora in Kappadokia, Antigonos managed to eliminate the remnants of the rebels led by Alketas, Perdikkas’ brother (319 BC). With Antipatros’ death a few months later, the situation was changed again and Antigonos accepted to let Eumenes leave Nora and even reinstate him in his former satrapy (late spring 318 BC). However, three months later Eumenes received a letter from the new regent Polyperchon asking for his support and naming him general of the royal troops in Asia, which the Cardian accepted, while Antigonos sided with Kassandros, Lysimachos and Ptolemaîos.

Thus the fighting started again between Antigonos and Eumenes and would go on for two more years until, in the aftermath of the battle of Gabiene (316 BC), Eumenes was betrayed by the Silver Shields and handed over to the one-eyed who hesitated for a few days before having him executed.

By 315 BC Antigonos had strengthened his authority over Asia and became powerful to such an extent that his former allies now united against him. Seleukos, expelled from Babylonia, fled to Egypt to seek Ptolemaîos’ protection.

When the Third War of the Diadochi broke out, Antigonos, who now controlled large parts of Asia between the Hellespont and the Hindu Kush, had to fight against a coalition of Kassandros of Macedonia, Lysimachos of Thrace, Ptolemaîos of Egypt, and Seleukos. One of Antigonos' diplomatic initiatives was the proclamation of the independence of the Greek towns, a measure that seriously threatened Kassandros’ authority in mainland Greece. In 311, the compromise Peace of the dynasts enabled Antigonos and his son Demetrios I Poliorketes to concentrate all their efforts against Seleukos who had regained control of his former province of Babylonia.

However, during the Babylonian War (311-309 BC), Seleukos defeated Antigonos and Demetrios I and after his alliance with Chandragupta, became the most powerful ruler since the time of Alexander. In 306 BC, Antigonos was the first of the Successors to assume the royal title (together with Demetrios), soon followed by the other diadochi.

In 302 BC, Antigonos demanded the unconditional submission of Kassandros, attempting to establish his authority over Alexander's former empire, leading to Seleukos, Ptolemaîos and Lysimachos once again joining forces against him. The following year, the united armies of Lysimachos and Seleukos engaged the forces of Antigonus and Demetrius at Ipsos in Phrygia, a region that Antigonos knew so well. Demetrios made an error of pursuing the enemy’s cavalry too far, resulting in his men becoming isolated from the battlefield by Seleukos’ 300 Indian elephants. Antigonos the one-eyed, at the center of the infantry line, was isolated and killed by “a shower of darts” (javelins). He was 80 years old at the time.

Demetrios managed to escape from the battlefield and seek refuge in Ephesos before sailing to Greece to fight another day. Meanwhile, the last chance to reunite the Alexandrine world was definitely over, new kingdoms were being created out of the former empire.

THE FLICKERING FORTUNES OF WAR: DEMETRIOS I “THE BESIEGER”

Demetrios, One-Eyed Antigonos’ loyal son, was one of the most fascinating characters of the early Hellenistic era. Born in 336 BC, he belonged to the 2nd generation of Alexander’s successors, and went through great swings of fortune. Demetrios fought in 3rd and 4th Wars of the Diadochi, survived his father’s disastrous defeat at Ipsos, and even managed to hold the Macedonian crown for a few years.

Demetrios’ first combat experience at leading an army on his own turned out to be a disaster however: At the Battle of Gaza (312 BC), 24 years old Demetrios was no match against Ptolemaîos and Seleukos. They routed his troops, captured his camp, killed or captured all his 43 elephants. Such a humiliation could have broken his will to pursue a military career! After the battle, Ptolemaîos had the courtesy to send him back his personal effects “with a humane and courteous message, that they were not fighting for anything else but honor and dominion” (Plutarch).

During the Babylonian War (311-309) Demetrios and his father attempted to wrestle the eastern satrapies from Seleukos. Although they managed to occupy and loot briefly Babylon twice, they met harsh local resistance and eventually had to retreat to Asia Minor, leaving Seleukos firmly in command of the entire Eastern provinces until the Indus Valley.

In the meantime, Ptolemaîos had occupied the island of Cyprus, taken the island of Kos, and captured the island of Delos, center of the League of the Islanders. Antigonos decided to send Demetrios to retake control of the Aegean. During the 4th War of the Diadochi (308-301), with a fleet of 250 huge polyreme warships, Demetrios swept through the islands, retook control of the Nesiotic League, landed unexpectedly at Athens where he expelled Kassandros’ garrison (307 BC) who lost control of Southern Greece, before destroying Ptolemaîos fleet at the battle of Salamis off Cyprus (in 306 BC where he used large “supergalleys”) and capturing the island itself.

These last amazingly successful campaigns and string of victories were used by Antigonos to claim the title of king and he had another diadem sent to his devoted son. Demetrios then sailed to Rhodes which he attempted to conquer to force the islanders to side with the Antigonids and distance themselves from the Ptolemaic alliance. The siege lasted one year. Demetrios stunned his contemporaries with the size and quantity of his siege machines (including a 56 m long giant ram-tortoise built by Hegetor of Byzantium) and the scientific approach of the siege operations. A compromise with the Rhodians was eventually reached: they offered their loyalty to Antigonos and Demetrios and pledged to support them against all their enemies, except Ptolemaîos. This is where Demetrios’ nickname, “the Besieger” was earned (304 BC).

From Rhodes, Demetrios sailed back to Greece, freed the entire Peloponnese, and created a new Greek League of free and independent cities against Kassandros’ Macedonian rule. The long series of victories came to a brutal end when Lysimachos and Seleukos clashed against Demetrios and his father at Ipsos (301 BC). With Antigonos’ death on the battlefield and the loss of the Antigonid army, Demetrios had to escape with 9,000 men back to Greece where he wasn’t welcomed anymore.

In the following years, Demetrios, who still had control of the sea, proved again to be amazingly resilient. Seleukos allied himself with him against Ptolemaîos, and the Besieger forced Athens to come to terms with him once again. By 294 BC, Demetrios had reconquered the entire Peloponnese. He then intervened in Macedonia which was torn in a dynastic struggle among Kassandros’ heirs and eliminated both young kings, the Macedonian army then proclaimed Demetrios king. This achievement came at a heavy price: his possessions in Asia Minor were all seized by Ptolemaîos, Lysimachos and Seleukos. Demetrios was forced to abandon his kingdom which was divided between Lysimachos and Pyrrhos of Epirus, and to intervene in the East, leaving behind his 31 years old son Antigonos II Gonatas as governor of Greece.

Demetrios assembled his navy and embarked with 11,000 infantry and all his cavalry to attack Caria and Lydia, two provinces held by Lysimachos (287 BC). He was chased across Asia Minor by the armies of Seleukos and Lysimachos. By late 286, the remnant of his army had deserted him. He had to surrender to Seleukos who kept him alive in a luxurious prison at Apamea on the Orontes, where Demetrios proceeded to drink himself to death (283 BC). However, by 276 BC, his son Antigonos II Gonatas, who had tried everything to free his father, was able to re-establish the family's control over Macedon, as well as over most of the Greek city-states.

KASSANDROS, THE BUTCHER OF THE ARGEAD DYNASTY

Kassandros and Alexander were about the same age and apparently brought up together alongside other trusted companions such as Hephasteion or Ptolemaios, all students of the extraordinary Aristotle.

When Alexander was campaigning far and wide in the East from 334 BC, Kassandros’ father Antipatros was once again entrusted with the regency of Macedon and Greece, fighting against insurgencies and an even more virulent enemy: Olympias, Alexander’s authoritative mother. Because of her, in 323 Antipatros was summoned to Babylon by Alexander to be disgraced, but the regent chose to send his son Kassandros instead. Soon after his arrival, the great king died. Some accused Kassandros to have taken part in a plot to eliminate Alexander.

With the Partition of Babylon (323 BC) and the Conference of Triparadisus two years later, old Antipatros remained master of Macedon and Greece, and took over the regency after Perdikkas’ death. The two kings (Philip Arridaeus and Alexander IV) and Roxana were brought to Pella.

A few months later, anticipating his end, Antipatros chose his old trusted companion Polyperchon to take over the regency after his death. Kassandros, who seemed to have been considered “too young” or too fragile by his father, had been appointed chiliarch, second in command.

As soon as Antipatros was buried however (319 BC), Kassandros sought alliance with Antigonos against Polyperchon who reached out for Eumenes’ assistance. Philip Arridaeus and his wife Eurydike II, who sided with Kassandros, were put do death when Olympias and the king of Epirus’ army seized them at Amphipolis (October 317 BC) along with all of Kassandros’ supporters. A few months later Olympias, herself besieged at Pydna, had to surrender to Kassandros who had her also executed in retribution, stoned to death by her victims’ relatives.

To strengthen his legitimacy, Kassandros then married his captive Thessalonike of Macedon, Alexander’s half sister, that would give him three children. During the Third War of the Diadochi (314-311 BC), Kassandros had to fight Aristodemos of Miletos, sent by Antigonos to Greece to raise an army against him.

In 311, after the fragile peace agreement between the Diadochi, Kassandros had Roxana and her son Alexander IV, the legitimate heir of the empire (who was only 13), assassinated by Glaucias to eliminate all possible challenge to his authority. In 309 BC Kassandros finally reached an agreement with Polyperchon who completed the grim task of eliminating anyone linked with Alexander: Barsine (Alexander’s Persian mistress) and her son Herakles were also murdered.

In 305 BC, following Antigonos’ example, Kassandros became the self-proclaimed king of Macedon. The bitter war against Antigonos resumed in 308 BC. Kassandros had to fight hard against Demetrios I, losing Athens (307 BC) and his possessions south of Thessaly, but after the battle of Ipsos (301 BC), Antigonos’ kingdom was carved up between the victors, and Demetrios I was on the run.

Kassandros died of an oedema at Pella in May 297 BC at age 53. Only a few people mourned the ruthless man who had slaughtered the last members of the Argead dynasty and garrisoned Greece. His eldest son Philip IV died three months after, and his widow Thessalonike was assassinated by her own 19-year-old son Antipatros II three years later. Antipatros II also drove out his younger brother Alexander V, who had no choice but to call Demetrios I and Pyrros I of Epirus for military assistance, a critical mistake that would cost both alienated brothers their kingdom and their lives, bringing the Antipadrids to a swift and brutal end.

To the strongest!

Michal & PHALANX Team