Chapter XCVI

FROM THE LAMIAN WAR TO THE CLOSE OF THE HISTORY OF FREE HELLAS
AND HELLENISM.

Antipater purges and remodels the Peloponnesian cities. He
attacks the Ætolians, with a view of departing them across to
Asia. His presence becomes necessary in Asia: he concludes a
pacification with the Ætolians. — Plans of Perdikkas — intrigues
with the princesses at Pella. — Antigonus detects the intrigues,
and reveals them to Antipater and Kraterus. — Unpropitious turn
of fortune for the Greeks, in reference to the Lamian war. —
Antipater and Kraterus in Asia — Perdikkas marches to attack
Ptolemy in Egypt, but is killed by a mutiny of his own troops.
Union of Antipater, Ptolemy, Antigonus, etc. New distribution of
the satrapies, made at Triparadeisus. — War between Antigonus and
Eumenes in Asia. Energy and ability of Eumenes. He is worsted
and blocked up in Nora. — Sickness and death of Antipater. The
Athenian orator Demades is put to death in Macedonia — Antipater
sets aside his son Kassander, and names Polysperchon viceroy.
Discontent and opposition of Kassander. — Kassander sets up
for himself, gets possession of Munychia, and forms alliance
with Ptolemy and Antigonus against Polysperchon. Plans of
Polysperchon — alliance with Olympias in Europe, and with Eumenes
in Asia — enfranchisement of the Grecian cities. — Ineffectual
attempts of Eumenes to uphold the imperial dynasty in Asia: his
gallantry and ability: he is betrayed by his own soldiers, and
slain by Antigonus. — Edict issued by Polysperchon at Pella, in
the name of the imperial dynasty — subverting the Antipatrian
oligarchies in the Grecian cities, restoring political exiles,
and granting free constitutions to each. — Letters and measures
of Polysperchon to enforce the edict. State of Athens: exiles
returning: complicated political parties: danger of Phokion.
— Negotiations of the Athenians with Nikanor, governor of
Munychia for Kassander. — Nikanor seizes Peiræus by surprise.
Phokion, though forewarned, takes no precautions against it.
— Mischief to the Athenians, as well as to Polysperchon, from
Nikanor’s occupation of Peiræus; culpable negligence, and
probable collusion, of Phokion. — Arrival of Alexander (son of
Polysperchon): his treacherous policy to the Athenians; Kassander
reaches Peiræus. — Intrigues of Phokion with Alexander — he tries
to secure for himself the protection of Alexander against the
Athenians. — Return of the deported exiles to Athens — public
vote passed in the Athenian assembly against Phokion and his
colleagues. Phokion leaves the city, is protected by Alexander,
and goes to meet Polysperchon, in Phokis. — Agnonides and others
are sent as deputies to Polysperchon, to accuse Phokion and to
claim the benefit of the regal edict. — Agnonides and Phokion
are heard before Polysperchon — Phokion and his colleagues are
delivered up as prisoners to the Athenians. Phokion is conveyed
as prisoner to Athens, and brought for trial before the assembly.
Motion of his friends for exclusion of non-qualified persons.
— Intense exasperation of the returned exiles against Phokion
— grounds for that feeling. — Phokion is condemned to death —
vindictive manifestation against him in the assembly, furious
and unanimous. — Death of Phokion and his four colleagues. —
Alteration of the sentiment of the Athenians towards Phokion, not
long afterwards. Honors shown to his memory. — Explanation of
this alteration. Kassander gets possession of Athens and restores
the oligarchical or Phokionic party. — Life and character of
Phokion. — War between Polysperchon and Kassander, in Attica
and Peloponnesus. Polysperchon is repulsed in the siege of
Megalopolis, and also defeated at sea. — Increased strength of
Kassander in Greece — he gets possession of Athens. — Restoration
of the oligarchical government at Athens, though in a mitigated
form, under the Phalerean Demetrius. — Administration of the
Phalerean Demetrius at Athens, in a moderate spirit. Census taken
of the Athenian population — Kassander in Peloponnesus — many
cities join him — the Spartans surround their city with walls.
— Feud in the Macedonian imperial family — Olympias puts to
death Philip Aridæus and Eurydikê — she reigns in Macedonia: her
bloody revenge against the partisans of Antipater. — Kassander
passes into Macedonia — defeats Olympias, and becomes master
of the country — Olympias is besieged in Pydna, captured, and
put to death. — Great power of Antigonus in Asia. Confederacy
of Kassander, Lysimachus, Ptolemy, and Seleukus against him. —
Kassander founds Kassandreia, and restores Thebes. — Measures of
Antigonus against Kassander — he promises freedom to the Grecian
cities — Ptolemy promises the like. Great power of Kassander in
Greece. — Forces of Antigonus in Greece. Considerable success
against Kassander. — Pacification between the belligerents.
Grecian autonomy guaranteed in name by all. Kassander puts
to death Roxana and her child. — Polysperchon espouses the
pretensions of Herakles, son of Alexander, against Kassander.
He enters into compact with Kassander, assassinates the young
prince, and is recognized as ruler of Southern Greece. —
Assassination of Kleopatra, last surviving relative of Alexander
the Great, by Antigonus. — Ptolemy of Egypt in Greece — after
some successes, he concludes a truce with Kassander. Passiveness
of the Grecian cities. — Sudden arrival of Demetrius Poliorketes
in Peiræus. The Athenians declare in his favor. Demetrius
Phalereus retires to Egypt. Capture of Munychia and Megara. —
Demetrius Poliorketes enters Athens in triumph. He promises
restoration of the democracy. Extravagant votes of flattery
passed by the Athenians towards him. Two new Athenian tribes
created. — Alteration of tone and sentiment in Athens, during
the last thirty years. — Contrast of Athens as proclaimed free
by Demetrius Poliorketes, with Athens after the expulsion of
Hippias. — Opposition made by Demochares, nephew of Demosthenes,
to these obsequious public flatteries. — Demetrius Phalereus
condemned in his absence. Honorable commemoration of the deceased
orator Lykurgus. Restrictive law passed against the philosophers
— they all leave Athens. The law is repealed next year, and
the philosophers return to Athens. — Exploits of Demetrius
Poliorketes. His long siege of Rhodes. Gallant and successful
resistance of the citizens. — His prolonged war, and ultimate
success in Greece, against Kassander. — Return of Demetrius
Poliorketes to Athens — his triumphant reception — memorable
Ithyphallic hymn addressed to him. — Helpless condition of
the Athenians — proclaimed by themselves. — Idolatry shown to
Demetrius at Athens. He is initiate in the Eleusinian mysteries,
out of the regular season. — March of Demetrius into Thessaly —
he passes into Asia and joins Antigonus — great battle of Ipsus,
in which the four confederates completely defeat Antigonus, who
is slain and his Asiatic power broken up and partitioned. —
Restoration of the Kassandrian dominion in Greece. Lachares makes
himself despot at Athens, under Kassander. Demetrius Poliorketes
returns, and expels Lachares. He garrisons Peiræus and Munychia.
— Death of Kassander. Bloody feuds among his family. — Demetrius
acquires the crown of Macedonia. — Antigonus Gonatas (son of
Demetrius) master of Macedonia and Greece. Permanent rule of
the Antigonid dynasty in Macedonia, until the conquest of that
country by the Romans. — Spirit of the Greeks broken — isolation
of the cities from each other by Antigonus. — The Greece of
Polybius cannot form a subject of history by itself, but only as
an appendage to foreign neighbors. — Evidence of the political
nullity of Athens — public decree in honor of Demochares — what
acts are recorded as his titles to public gratitude.
331-393