Plutarch on the siege of Nora
After the death of Alexander the Great on June 11, 323, Perdiccas was appointed as regent for Alexander's half-witted brother Philip Arridaeus and his baby son Alexander. Soon, Perdiccas lost control of the empire, and he had to fight a civil war against rebel officers like Ptolemy, Antipater, and Craterus.
Perdiccas' most important ally was Eumenes of Cardia, who defeated Craterus. However, Perdiccas himself was assassinated and Antipater divided the empire again (settlement of Triparadisus, 320; text). He made Antigonus Monophthalmus supreme commander in Asia, and ordered him to fight against Eumenes.
The story is told by Plutarch of Chaeronea in his Life of Eumenes 10-12. The anonymous translation belongs to the Dryden series.
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[12.1] The siege continued long, and Antigonus received the news that Antipater was dead in Macedonia,note and that affairs were embroiled by the differences of Cassander and Polyperchon,note upon which he conceived no mean hopes, purposing to make himself master of all, and, in order to his design, thought to bring over Eumenes, that he might have his advice and assistance. He, therefore, sent Hieronymusnote to treat with him, proposing a certain oath, |
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[12.2] which Eumenes first corrected, and then referred himself to the Macedonians themselves that besieged him, to be judged by them, which of the two forms was the most equitable. Antigonus in the beginning of his version of the oath had slightly mentioned the kings as by way of ceremony, while all the sequel referred to himself alone; but Eumenes changed the form of it to Olympias and the kings,note and proceeded to swear not to be true to Antigonus but to them, and have the same friends and enemies, not with Antigonus, but with Olympias and the kings. |
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[12.3] The Macedonians thought this the more reasonable, and Eumenes swore according to it, and raised the siege, sending also to Antigonus that he should swear in the same form to Eumenes. Meantime, all the hostages of the Cappadocians Eumenes had in Nora he returned, obtaining from their friends war-horses, beasts of carriage, and tents in exchange. And collecting again all the soldiers who had dispersed at the time of his flight, and were now wandering about the country, he got together a body of almost 1,000 horse, and with them fled from Antigonus, whom he justly feared. For he had sent orders not only to have him blocked up and besieged again, but had given a very sharp answer to the Macedonians for admitting Eumenes' amendment of the oath. |