15 Facts About Perdiccas

1.

Perdiccas took part in the Macedonian campaign against the Achaemenid Empire, and, following Alexander's death in 323 BC, rose to become supreme commander of the imperial army, as well as regent for Alexander's half brother and intellectually disabled successor, Philip Arridaeus.

2.

Perdiccas was the first of the Diadochi who fought for control over Alexander's empire.

3.

Perdiccas had a brother called Alcetas and a sister, Atalante, who married Attalus.

4.

In 324 BC, at the nuptials celebrated at Susa, Perdiccas married the daughter of the satrap of Media, a Persian named Atropates.

5.

When Hephaestion unexpectedly died the same year, Perdiccas was appointed his successor as commander of the Companion cavalry and chiliarch.

6.

Perdiccas proposed that a final decision wait until Alexander's wife Roxana, who was pregnant, had given birth.

7.

Perdiccas soon showed himself intolerant of any rivals and, acting in the name of the two kings, sought to hold the empire together under his own hand.

8.

Perdiccas appointed Leonnatus, one of Alexander's bodyguards or somatophylakes, as satrap of Hellespontine Phrygia on the western coast of Asia Minor.

9.

Perdiccas ordered Leonnatus to appear before him to stand trial for disobedience, but Leonnatus died during the Lamian War before the order reached him.

10.

When Perdiccas ordered Antigonus to appear before his court, Antigonus fled to Antipater's court in Macedonia.

11.

In late 321 BC, Perdiccas intended to send Alexander's body back to Aegae in Macedonia, the traditional place of burial for the Macedonian Royal Family.

12.

Perdiccas regarded Ptolemy's action as an unacceptable provocation and decided to invade Egypt.

13.

Perdiccas then ordered his war elephants and Silver Shield infantry to attack.

14.

Perdiccas came across one near Memphis, but when he attempted the crossing, the water became deeper, and many of his men drowned.

15.

Perdiccas was murdered by his officers some time in either 321 or 320 BC.