IN RECTO DECVS LONDON: Prime' for T. OSBORNE, in Gray's-Inn; A. MILLAR, in MDCCXLVII. T The divifion of the Macedonian empire. State of things at HE death of Alexander had well nigh proved the diffolution of his empire; for at firft the extreme grief of every body hindered them from paying a proper refpect the death to public affairs; and when thefe high tranfports of affliction of Alexanwere over, their feuds and jealoufies had almoft occafioned the der. fhedding a deluge of Macedonian blood round the dead body of their king (A). A day or two after the death of the king, his friends affembled in the council-room, and fummoned thither all the principal commanders of the army; but the foldiers and people, who were not fummoned, and who neither ought, nor with any propriety could have any fhare in fuch confultations, came in vaft crowds, and fo blocked up the paffages, that many of the great, officers could not get in. Proclamation was then made by a herald, that none should prefume to approach the affembly, or to remain there, but fuch (A) The want of an hiftorian who might be depended on, and the having many on whofe works we cannot fo well rely, have concurred in throwing a dark veil of obfcurity over this part ring. Several motions made, and fucceffors propofed in as were called by name; which proclamation however was very little regarded; and we mention this as a remarkable infrance of the difference between authority and power. Those who had commanded this proclamation to be made, had affumed the adminiftration; but the people prefuming on their own power, and knowing that thefe governors had none but what they could think fit to lend them, gave little heed. to their commands; but, on the contrary, made them give way to their own curiofity, fo that numbers of mean rank and little confideration remained at prefent in the council. Perdiccas Perdiccas, as foon as filence could be obtained, ordered the refigns the chair of Alexander to be brought forth, and having placed the robes and regalia upon it, laid upon them the royal ring, declaring, that he moft willingly refigned any authority that might be intended him by the king when this ring was delivered to him. However, he propofed it as a thing not only expedient, but neceffary, that the empire fhould have a head; and when he had demonftrated this by proper arguments, he told them, that Roxana was with child, and that, if fhe brought forth a fon, he ought to be acknowledged his father's fucceffor. Nearchus applauded the defign of preferving the regal dignity in the family of Alexander; but faid, it would be too long to wait for Roxana's delivery, efpecially as it would be attended with uncertainty. He therefore put them in mind of Hercules the fon of Alexander by Barfina. The foldiers fignified their diflike of this by the clangour of their arms. Ptolomy then propounded, that the chair of Alexander fhould retain the fhadow of fovereignty, and that the ftate fhould be governed by a council of officers; but this being difliked, a motion was made in favour of Perdiccas; but he, out of modefty, refused it. At laft fomebody mentioned Aridaus the brother of Alexander, who had always accompanied the king, and was Aridaus wont to facrifice with him. The Macedonian phalanx, closed appointed immediately with this propofition, and called for Aridaus. to jucceed Perdiccas, Ptolomy and most of the horfe officers, were exAlexander tremely averfe to this measure; and they carried their obfti the coun cil. bis brother nacy fo far, as to retire from the affembly, and even to quit the city. However Meleager at the head of the phalanx, fupported vigorously their firft refolution, and threatned loudly to fhed the blood of those who affected to rule over their equals, and to afume a kingdom which no way belonged to them. Arideus they arrayed in royal robes, put on him the arms of Alexander, and faluted him by the name of Philip, that he might be rendered more popular. CURT. lib. x. DIODOR. SICUL. lib. xviii. JUSTIN. lib. xiii. OROS. lib. i. PLUT. in vit, Alex. & Eumen. WHILE things remained in this fituation, Meleager managed affairs about the new-created king, and Perdiccas tranfacted all things for the other party. Both pretended vaft concern for the public, yet, at the bottom, intended nothing fo much as their own private advantage, each having formed a fcheme of ingroffing the adminiftration, under colour of ferving the interefts of thofe they had drawn, not to favour them perfonally, but their fpecious pretences. In order to apprehend thefe things clearly, let us view all thefe great ones in their proper lights. Perdiccas was a man of high birth, had a fupreme com- The cha mand in the army, was much in favour with Alexander, and racters of trongly confided in by the nobility. Meleager had rendered Perdiccas, himfelf formidable by uniting the Macedonians who compofed Meleager, the phalanx in one opinion, and by raifing one to the king- &c. dom who was wholly under his direction. Aridaus was, as we have heretofore fhewn, the fon of Philip, by a dancer named Phillina; he was of fmall parts, not by nature, but by the practices of Olympias, who by poisonous draughts had taken care to weaken both his conftitution and his mind. He had however for his wife Eurydice his coufin, as we fhall fee hereafter, by whofe affiftance he was able to manage pretty well. At prefent alone, and without counsellors, he acted as the times required, he did what Meleager would have him, but he declared that whatever he did was by the advice of Meleager, fo that he made his minifter accountable for his own schemes, and no way endangered himself. The Macedonians befides their affection for the royal house, began to entertain a perfonal love for Aridaus, now called Philip, on account of his mildness and moderation . BESIDES thefe who were the principal characters on the Eumenes: ftage at this time, there was another who through modefty declined public notice, and was notwithstanding a prime inftrument in adjufting the differences that were now on foot, and made a moft fhining figure in public affairs afterwards. This was Eumenes the Cardian, the late king's fecretary. He was, as far as we find, little diftinguifhed by birth, though his father could not have been a waggoner, as fome report, becaufe he was Philip of Macedon's hoft, who taking a fancy to his fon, retained him about his perfon, and having tried his fidelity, at length made him his fecretary, in which poft Alexander found and continued him. This poft alone would have rendered him very confiderable, but the king had raifed him beide to the higheft military commands, he being one of fo CARRIAN. PLUT. in vit. Eumen. DIOD. CURT. ubi fupra. apud Puor. Biblioth. Cod. xcii. JUSTIN. CURT. ubi fupra. |