Extract

Cassander (d. 297 bce), son of *Antipater (1), represented his father at Babylon (323), where *Alexander (3) the Great treated him with naked hostility. In the struggles of the Successors he first impinges at Triparadeisus (late 321), where he was appointed chiliarch (cavalry commander and grand vizier). Chiliarch he remained at Antipater's death (autumn 319), subordinate to the regent *Polyperchon; but he defected to *Antigonus (1) and with Antigonus’ support established bases in *Piraeus and the *Peloponnese (318/7). An inconclusive invasion of Macedon (?early 317) was followed by a wholly successful one which overthrew the tyrannical dowager, *Olympias. From 316 he was master of Macedon and promoted the memory of *Philip (1) II (whose daughter, Thessalonice, he married) over that of Alexander. He ceremonially refounded *Thebes (1) (316), and had the young *Alexander (4) IV secretly killed at *Amphipolis (c.