Diodorus Siculus

BOOK XVIII - The Library of History



Page 581 But perceiving that the Thessalians were too strong for him in Horse, he judg'd it most advisable to be quiet for the present, hot daring to attempt to force his Way by the Sword. And therefore he march'd off over Hills, and other craggy Places, not easie to be pursu'd. Antiphilus the Graecian General (who gain'd this glorious Victory over the Macedonians) continu'd with his Army in Thessaly, observing the Motions of the Enemy: And this was the happy Success at that time of the Graecians.

But because the Macedonians were Masters at Sea, the Athenians built so many Ships more as to make up their Fleet an Hundred and seventy Sail: But the Macedonian Fleet consisted of Two hundred and forty, under the Command of Clitus their Admiral, who engag'd in two Sea Fights at the Echinade Islands with Eeton the Athenian Admiral, and beat him in both, sinking many of his Enemies Ships.

About this time Perdiccas (having with him King Philip and the King's Army) undertook an Expedition against Ariarathes Prince of Cappadocia, who though he submitted not to the Empire of the Macedonians, yet Alexander being busi'd in his Wars with Darius, pass'd him by, so that he enjoy'd the Principality of Cappadocia a long time without any Disturbance; and in the mean time he laid up a vast Sum of Money out of the Publick Revenues, and rais'd an Army both from Foreigners, and from among his own People: And claiming the Kingdom as his own just Right, he prepar'd to try it out with Perdiccas, having an Army of Thirty thousand Foot, and Fifteen thousand Horse: At length it came to a Battel, in which Perdiccas was Victor, who kill'd Four thousand upon the spot, and took Six thousand Prisoners, amongst whom was Ariarathes himself, whom together with all his Kindred he first scourg'd, and then crucifi'd. Then he pardon'd all the rest, and after he had settl'd Affairs in Cappadocia, deliver'd up the Province to Eumenes of Cardia, to be govern'd by him as his Share, according to the Allotment in the first Agreement.

About the same time Craterus arriv'd in Macedonia out of Cilicia in order to assist Antipater, and to repair the Losses of the Macedonians. He brought along with him Six thousand Foot which Alexander had taken over with him at first into Asia, and Four thousand of those that he had listed in the way as he march'd, besides a Thousand Persian Darters and Slingers, and Fifteen hundred Horse. As soon as he came into Thessaly, he join'd his Forces at the River Peneius to Antipater's, yielding the chief Command of the Army to him. The whole Army, together with those that came with Leonnatus, amounted to above Forty thousand Foot, Three thousand Darters and Slingers, and Five thousand Horse. The Graecians at that time encamp'd over-against them, being much inferior in Number to the Enemy: For many, by reason of the late Victory, slighted the Macedonians, and were return'd to their several Countries to look after their own private Affairs. For which cause, there were many left in the Camp that observ'd no due Order or Discipline: They were in the whole Five and twenty thousand Foot, and Three thousand five hundred Horse, in whom they plac'd great Confidence of Victory, by reason of the Valour of the Men, and the plain Champain Country that lay before them. At length Antipater drew out his Forces every day into the Field to provoke the Graecians to fight; who after they had waited some considerable time for the return of their Soldiers out of the Cities through the urgency of their present Circumstances, were forc'd to venture all and ingage the Enemy.

Drawing up therefore into Battalia, and designing to decide the Matter by the Horse, they plac'd them in the Van before the Foot; whereupon the Horse on both Sides presently fell to it: And while they were thus hotly engag'd, (and the Thessalian Horse had the better of the Day,) Antipater broke in with his Battalion upon the Foot, and made a great Slaughter among them; so that the Graecians not being able to stand the Enemy's Shock, (who bore them down with their Multitudes pouring in upon them,) they retreated in all hast (but in good order) to the Fastnesses and difficult Passes near at hand. And so having gain'd the higher Ground by that Advantage they easily repuls'd the Macedonians. In the mean time the Graecian Horse (though they had the better) yet perceiving that their Foot was gone, forthwith made after them. And by this means the Horse (leaving off the Fight) were so broken and dispers'd, that the Macedonians got the Day. There were slain of the Graecians in this Battel above Five hundred, of the Macedonians an Hundred and thirty.

The next day Memnon and Antiphalus call'd a Council of War, where it was debated, whether they should expect Aid from the Cities, and wait to see if soldiers sufficient could be rais'd, and so try it out to the last; or yielding to the Time, and bearing their present Disasters, they should send away Agents to treat upon Terms of Peace. At length they concluded to send Heralds to treat accordingly; who executing their Orders,


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