1. Historical Events

When Perdiccas was murdered in Memphis and his opponent Ptolemy Lagus refused to replace him and become the guardian of the underage successors of Alexander the Great, the opponents of Perdiccas and Eumenes of Cardia gathered in the city of Triparadisus in northern Syria in 321 (or 320) BC in order to assess the new order.¹ The only capable successor of Perdiccas was now the aged general Antipater, a former associate of Philip II and an evidently loyal supporter of the Argead dynasty. However, he was not widely accepted because, although he guaranteed the union of the empire, his ascension to the office meant that the alleged centre of the empire should be transferred to Europe. As a result, the “guardians of the kings”, Arrhidaeusand Peithon, relinquished power to Antipater, who thanks to Antigonus Monophthalmos and Seleucus hardly managed to escape the rebellion of soldiers that broke out immediately and was instigated by the wife of King Philip III Arrhidaeus, Eurydice; the rebels demanded that they be instantly paid in advance.²

The redistribution of the Asian satrapies offered the lion’s share to Antigonus and Seleucus: Seleucus, who was involved in Perdiccas’ murder, although inexperienced in administration, assumed the command of the critical area of Babylon,³ while Antigonus regained his former satrapies and undertook the task of confronting Eumenes of Cardia, who had been convicted to death by the conference immediately after Craterus’ death became known.⁴ For this reason, Antipater proclaimed him “general” of the royal forces. This made Antigonus equal in status to Antipater, while the appointment of the latter’s son, Cassander, as a chiliarch of the Antigonid cavalry unofficially nominated Antigonus the successor.

Ptolemy, who was absent from the conference, was given his possessions as well as the permission to expand west of Libya. Antigenes, Cleitus and Arrhidaeus were given the governance of Susiane, Lydia and Hellespontic Phrygia respectively as a reward for their turn against Perdiccas, while Cappadocia was given to Nicanor. Philip III Arrhidaeus was granted four bodyguards: Autodicus, brother of Lysimachus; Amyntas, brother of Peucestas; Alexander, son of Polyperchon; and Ptolemy, son of Ptolemy. Antipater was to return to Macedonia.⁵

2. Consequences

The conference confirmed the Macedonian retreat in Europe and led to the complete reversal of the status quo. The major success of Antigonus was that he assumed command of the Macedonian army and was proclaimed guardian of Alexander’s legitimate successors, thus replacing Antipater. Besides, after Perdiccas was murdered, Eumenes, the last supporter of the idea of a united empire, was transformed from victim of ambitious Antigonus, who prevented him from completing his work in Cappadocia, the immolator, whom Antigonus had to confront on behalf of all the Successors.

In addition, the appointment of Seleucus in the region of Babylon signals the onset of the long-lived Seleucid dynasty in Asia. In general terms, the conference led to the permanent revocation of the legitimation of the Argead rule in Asia, thus to the deterioration of the central power of Alexander’s kingdom, and paved the way for the formation of the various Hellenistic kingdoms.