CHAPTER 4 From Cappadocia to Triparadeisus

The invasion of Cappadocia took place in the summer of 322. Eumenes, with Perdiccas and the royal army present, then proceeded to organize his satrapy (Plut. Eum. 3. 14). The two victories over Ariarathes (Arr. Succ. 1a. 11) and the reorganization of Cappadocia would have taken time. The difficulty of the pac- ification is emphasized by the need to send Neoptolemus to western Armenia partially in pursuit of remnants of Ariarathes’ army. Moreover, Armenia con- trolled the main lines of communication, including the Royal Road, the great Persian highway connecting Persepolis and Susa in the east to Sardis in Lydia (Cook 1983: 26, 108). Neoptolemus may have been assigned the area of west- ern Armenia as a province in Babylon, an emended Dexippus (Arr. Succ. 1b. 6) would make Neoptolemus satrap of Armenia, but no other source supports the assignment, and it is more likely the commander’s authority was that given him by Perdiccas to deal with the situation. Diodorus (18. 29. 2) in 320 calls Neoptolemus hegemon, not satrap, and Pierre Briant (1973A: 152–3 n. 8) is likely correct that Neoptolemus’ official title in Armenia was that of strategos, gen- eral. Moreover, there is little doubt that the actual satrap of Armenia at this time was Orontes (see Anson 1990: 125–6). Alexander had initially assigned the area to Mithrenes in 331 (Curt. 5. 1. 44; Arr. Anab. 3. 16. 5; Diod. 17. 64. 6), but it is possible that Mithrenes never took possession of the area, since after the notice of his appointment he disappears from the record. He may have died in his attempt to secure his position (Heckel 2006: 168). Indeed, it appears that at some point after Alexander’s victory at Gaugamela, Orontes made his formal submission to Alexander, who later reassigned him to Armenia (Bosworth 1980: 315; Anson 1990: 125–6; Heckel 2006: 185). Western Armenia, however, may have remained outside of both Orontes’ and Macedonian control and Neoptolemus may have been made general of this area (Anson 1990: 127). It would likely have been fall before Perdiccas, accompanied by Eumenes, left Cappadocia for Cilicia (Plut. Eum. 3. 14–4. 1; Diod. 18. 22. 1).1 The Cardian was now, in addition to being satrap of Cappadocia and Paphlagonia, one of Perdiccas’ chief advisers (Plut. Eum. 3. 12). While in Cilicia, Perdiccas secured the allegiance of Alexander’s former infantry guard, the 3000 hypaspists, who became known as the argyraspids after covering their shields with silver while

1 For an explanation of the chronology, see the Appendix at the end of this chapter.

© koninklijke brill nv, leiden, ���5 | doi ��.��63/9789004297173_006 From Cappadocia To Triparadeisus 89 campaigning in India under Alexander (Curt. 9. 3. 21; Diod. 17. 95. 4).2 These troops had been separated by Alexander from the main force at Opis and sent west with Craterus in 324.3 When Craterus departed Cilicia to join Antipater in Macedonia (Diod. 18. 16. 4), he had left these troops behind to maintain order and to guard the treasury at Cyinda.4 Eumenes did not long remain with Perdiccas; he was soon ordered by the regent to return to Cappadocia (Plut. Eum. 4. 1). Eumenes’ return to his satrapy was due primarily to troubles arising in Armenia. As seen, Neoptolemus had been sent to western Armenia with a siz- able force by Perdiccas, including many Macedonians, but was having difficul- ties achieving his objectives (Plut. Eum. 4; cf. Diod. 18. 29. 4). While the sources do not make clear the exact reason for the campaign, the most likely explana- tion is that it was to pursue the remnants of Ariarathes’ defeated forces which had fled eastward to Armenia (Diod. 31. 19. 5; cf. Diod. 18. 16. 2–3; Plut. Eum. 3. 12–13; Just. 13. 6. 1–3; Arr. Succ. 1a. 12). Even though Diodorus emphasizes the meager numbers of the survivors, Ariarathes’ descendants were able to main- tain their independence in Armenia well into the next century (Diod. 31. 19. 5). Additionally, it is possible that residual Persian forces loyal to the memory of Darius were resident in the same location. Prior to becoming King of Persia, Darius had been satrap of Armenia (Just. 10. 3. 4), which, given the noted hered- itary control of Greater Armenia by Orontes’ family, the Hydarnids, doubtless

2 For the identification of the hypaspists and the argyraspids, see Spendel 1915: 45; Tarn 1948: 151–2; Anson 1981: 117–20; 1988B: 131–3; Yardley, Wheatley, and Heckel 2011: 177). 3 While it is not definitely stated that the hypaspists were included in the 10000, Antigenes, the commander of Alexander’s hypaspists, left Opis with Craterus (Just. 12. 12. 8; cf. Arr. Anab. 7. 12. 4) and later in Egypt is found in command of the argyraspids. Moreover, since Alexander was discharging older veterans (Arr. Anab. 7. 12. 1) and many of the hypaspists had been with him since the initial invasion, it appears certain that the hypaspists accompanied Antigenes west (On the career of the argyraspids prior to their association with Perdiccas, see Heckel 1982: 60–2; 2006: 30 [#1a]). 4 Heckel (1982: 60–2) argues convincingly that the hypaspists remained in Cilicia and later joined Perdiccas. Craterus, while leaving Opis with 10000 veterans, left Cilicia with only 6000 (Diod. 18. 16. 4). Heckel’s claim, however, that these troops joined the regent just prior to his invasion of Egypt in 320 (1982: 62; 2006: 30) is doubtful. It is more likely that they would have joined Perdiccas on his first entry into Cilicia. They were the royal guards and the kings were with Perdiccas. What is interesting is that Craterus chose not to bring the argyraspids with him to Macedonia. Surely the most experienced and best trained unit in Asia would have been useful in aiding Antipater against the rebellious Greeks. Perhaps, they were already exhibiting the independence that was later to characterize them, and Craterus decided to leave this particular problem behind. It is also very possible that, despite claims to the con- trary, these troops did not wish to leave Asia.