Perdiccas facts for kids

Perdiccas (Greek: Περδίκκας, Perdikkas; c. 355 BC – 321/320 BC) was a powerful general who served Alexander the Great. He was a key leader in the Macedonian army. This army fought against the Achaemenid Empire, a huge Persian kingdom.

After Alexander the Great died in 323 BC, Perdiccas became the main commander of the army. He also became the regent for Alexander's half-brother, Philip Arridaeus. A regent is someone who rules for a king who is too young or unable to rule himself. Perdiccas was the first of the generals, called the Diadochi, who fought for control of Alexander's vast empire.

Perdiccas tried to keep the empire together and stay in charge. But he made enemies with other important generals. These included Antipater, Craterus, and Antigonus. They decided to rebel against him. Perdiccas then invaded Egypt, but his own soldiers turned against him and killed him. This happened when his invasion failed.

Early Life and Military Career

Perdiccas was the son of a Macedonian nobleman named Orontes. His family came from a region in Macedonia called Orestis. We don't know his exact birth date, but he was likely around the same age as Alexander the Great. He had a brother named Alcetas and a sister named Atalantê. His sister married another general named Attalus.

Joining Alexander's Army

Perdiccas was a commander of a group of soldiers called a battalion. These soldiers were part of the Macedonian phalanx, which was a strong formation of heavy infantry. He showed great bravery during the conquest of Thebes in 335 BC. He was badly hurt in that battle.

Later, Perdiccas held an important command during Alexander's campaigns in India. In 324 BC, he married the daughter of the satrap of Media. A satrap was a governor of a province in the Persian Empire. Her name was Atropates.

Becoming a Top Commander

When Alexander's close friend, Hephaestion, died unexpectedly in 324 BC, Perdiccas took his place. He became the commander of the Companion cavalry, Alexander's elite horsemen. He also became a chiliarch, a very high military rank. As Alexander lay dying, he gave his special ring to Perdiccas. This showed that Alexander trusted Perdiccas to lead after him.

After Alexander's Death

Alexander the Great died on June 11, 323 BC, in Babylon. His generals met to decide what to do next. Perdiccas suggested they wait until Alexander's wife, Roxana, gave birth. She was pregnant at the time.

Choosing a New King

Perdiccas proposed that if Roxana's child was a boy, he should become the new king. This plan would make Perdiccas the regent. He would effectively rule Alexander's empire until the boy was old enough. Most of the generals agreed, even though some had doubts.

However, the infantry commander, Meleager, disagreed. He thought Alexander's half-brother, Arridaeus, should be king first. The infantry soldiers supported Meleager's idea. They were even ready to fight for Arridaeus.

Perdiccas as Regent

A compromise was reached through an agreement called the Partition of Babylon. Perdiccas became the "Regent of the Empire" and the supreme commander of the army. Arridaeus and Roxana's unborn child (who would become Alexander IV of Macedon) were named joint kings.

Controlling the Royal Family

Even though General Craterus was officially the "Guardian of the Royal Family," Perdiccas was truly in charge. The young kings were with him in Babylon. Perdiccas quickly showed that he didn't like rivals. He wanted to keep the empire united under his own rule. Alexander's second wife, Stateira, was no longer alive. Perdiccas also had Meleager arrested and removed from power.

Perdiccas's power as regent was soon challenged. He appointed Leonnatus, one of Alexander's bodyguards, as governor of Hellespontine Phrygia. This was a region on the western coast of Asia Minor. But Leonnatus didn't go to his new post. Instead, he sailed to Macedonia. Alexander's sister, Cleopatra, offered to marry him.

When Perdiccas found out, he marched his army towards Asia Minor in 322 BC. He wanted to show everyone he was still in charge. Perdiccas ordered Leonnatus to come to him for trial. But Leonnatus died during a war called the Lamian War before he could be reached.

Dealing with Challenges

Around the same time, Cynane, Alexander's half-sister, arranged for her daughter, Eurydice II, to marry King Arridaeus (Philip III). Perdiccas tried to prevent Cynane from gaining influence, even involving his brother Alcetas. However, the army's strong feelings for Eurydice and their respect for her as a royal family member changed his mind. Perdiccas not only spared her life but also approved the marriage. Still, Perdiccas kept firm control over the royal family's affairs.

As regent, Perdiccas believed it was important to make Alexander's empire stronger. One key step was to conquer Cappadocia, which was still under Persian rule. Perdiccas successfully invaded Cappadocia in 322 BC. But Antigonus I Monophthalmus, a Macedonian governor, refused to help Perdiccas. When Perdiccas ordered Antigonus to appear before him, Antigonus fled to Antipater's court in Macedonia.

To make his control even stronger, Perdiccas agreed to marry Nicaea. She was the daughter of Antipater, the regent of Macedon. However, Perdiccas broke off this engagement in 322 BC. This happened when Olympias, Alexander the Great's mother, offered him the hand of Alexander's full sister, Cleopatra. Philip III had an intellectual disability. Also, Alexander IV was not fully accepted because his mother was Persian. Marrying Cleopatra would have given Perdiccas a strong claim to be Alexander's true successor, not just a regent.

Civil War and Invasion of Egypt

These events made Antipater angry at Perdiccas. Antigonus also had reason to fear Perdiccas. Another general, Craterus, was unhappy because Perdiccas seemed to ignore him. So, Antipater, Craterus, and Antigonus decided to rebel against Perdiccas.

In late 321 BC, Perdiccas planned to send Alexander's body back to Aegae in Macedonia. This was the traditional burial place for Macedonian kings. Arridaeus was chosen to escort the body. However, as Alexander's remains passed through Syria, Ptolemy, the governor of Egypt, bribed the escort. He managed to seize the body. Ptolemy took Alexander's remains back to Egypt, where they were placed in the city of Memphis.

Perdiccas saw Ptolemy's action as a major challenge. He decided to invade Egypt.

Campaign in Egypt

Perdiccas marched his army to attack Ptolemy in Egypt. When he reached the easternmost branch of the Nile River near Pelusium, he found the other side guarded. He then marched upstream to find a good place to cross. He found a shallow area that led to the cities of Tanis and Avaris.

However, a fort defended by Egyptian forces blocked his way. Perdiccas ordered his war elephants and Silver Shield infantry to attack. A larger army led by Ptolemy arrived, making it hard for Perdiccas to win easily. Despite this, the attack continued. But Perdiccas was overwhelmed and had to retreat. He searched for another crossing point.

He found one near Memphis. Perdiccas placed his elephants upstream to block the strong currents. His cavalry was downstream to catch any men swept away. This worked for a while, allowing many of Perdiccas's soldiers to cross to an island in the middle of the river. But the elephants began to sink in the mud, and the currents grew stronger very quickly. This was a disaster for Perdiccas. He had to give up the crossing, leaving many of his infantry stranded on the island. Perdiccas had no choice but to call his men back. Most of these soldiers drowned trying to return to the eastern bank.

Perdiccas's Death

After this terrible campaign, Perdiccas's soldiers became very discouraged. They had lost hope in his leadership. A mutiny, or rebellion, broke out among them. Perdiccas was killed by his own officers. These officers included Peithon, Antigenes, and Seleucus. This happened sometime in 321 or 320 BC. After Perdiccas died, his officers and the rest of his army joined Ptolemy.

Images for kids

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  Coin of Philip III Arrhidaios struck under Perdiccas in Babylon, circa 323-320 BC.