A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology. By various writers. Ed. by William Smith. Illustrated by numerous engravings on wood.

EUMENES, EUMENES. 89
the remaining leaders of the party of Perdiccas, vanced into Susiana, where he was joined by Peuwere condemned to death. The conduct of the cestes at the head of all the forces of Media, Perwar against them was assigned to Antigonus; but sia, and the other provinces of Upper Asia. Still
he did not take the field until the following sum- he did not choose to await here the advance of
mer (B. C. 320). Eumenes had wintered at Celae- Antigonus; and leaving a strong garrison to guard
nae in Phrygia, and strengthened himself by all the royal treasures at Susa, he took post with his
means in his power, but he was unable to make army behind the Pasitigris. Antigonus, -who had
head against Antigonus, who defeated him in the followed him out of Babylonia, and effected his
plains of Orcynium in Cappadocia; and finding junction with Seleucus and Pithon, now marched
himself unable to effect his retreat into Armenia, against him; but having met with a check at the
as he had designed to do, he adopted the resolu- river Copratas, withdrew by a cross march through
tion of disbanding the rest of his army, and throw- a difficult country into Media, while Eumenes took
ing himself, with only 700 troops, into the small up his quarters at Persepolis. He had many diffibut impregnable fortress of Nora, on the confines cultids to contend with, not only from the enemy,
of Lycaonia and Cappadocia. (Plut. Eum. 8-1 0; but from the discontent of his own troops, the reDiod. xviii. 37, 40, 41; Corn. Nep. Eum. 5.) laxation of their discipline when they were allowed
Here he was closely blockaded by the forces of to remain in the luxurious provinces of Persia, and
Antigonus; but, confident in the strength of his above all from the continual jealousies and intrigues
post, refused all offers of capitulation, and awaited of the generals and satraps under his command.
the result of external changes. It was not long But whenever they were in circumstances of diffibefore these took place: the death of Antipater culty or in presence of the enemy, all were at once
caused a complete alteration in the relations of the ready to acknowledge his superiority, and leave
different leaders; and Antigonus, who was anxious him the uncontrolled direction of everything. The
to obtain the assistance of Eumenes, made him the two armies first met on the confines of Gabiene,
most plausible offers, of which the latter only when a pitched battle ensued, with no decided
availed himself so far as enabled him to quit his advantage to either side; after which Antigonus
mountain fortress, in which he had now held out withdrew to Gadamarga in Media, while Eumenes
nearly a year, and withdraw to Cappadocia. Here established his winter-quarters in Gabiene. Here
he was busy in levying troops and gathering his Antigonus attempted to surprise him by a sudden
friends together, when he received letters from march in the depth of the winter; but he was too
Polysperchon and Olympias, entreating his sup- wary to be taken unprepared: he contrived by a
port, and granting him, in the name of the king, stratagem to delay the march of his adversary unthe supreme command throughout Asia. Eumenes til he had time to collect his scattered forces, and
was, whether from interest or from real attach- again bring matters to the issue of a pitched battle.
ment, always disposed to espouse the cause of the Neither party obtained a complete victory, and
royal family of Macedonia, and gladly embraced Eumenes would have renewed the combat the next
the offer: he eluded the pursuit of Menander, who day; but the baggage of the Macedonian troops
marched against him by order of Antigonus, and had fallen into the hands of the enemy, and the
arrived in Cilicia, where he found the select body Argyraspids, furious at their loss, agreed to purof Macedonian veterans called the Argyraspids, chase its restoration from Antigonus by delivering
under Antigenes and Teutamus. These, as well up their general into his hands. The latter is said
as the royal treasures deposited at Quinda, had to have been at first disposed to spare the life of
been placed at his disposal by Polysperchon and his captive, which he was strongly urged to do by
Olympias: but though welcomed at first with ap- Nearchus and the young Demetrius; but all his
parent enthusiasm, Eumenes was well aware of other officers were of the contrary opinion, and
the jealousy with which he was regarded, and Eumenes was put to death a few days after he
even sought to avoid the appearance of command- had fallen into the hands of the enemy. (Plut.
ing the other generals by the singular expedient of Eurm. 13-19; Diod. xix. 12-15, 17-34, 37
erecting a-tent in which the throne, the crown and -44; Corn. Nep. Eumn. 7-12; Justin. xiv. 3,
sceptre of Alexander were preserved, and where 4; Polyaen. iv. 8. ~ 3, 4.) These events took
all councils of war were held, as if in the presence place in the winter of 317 to 316 B. C.*
of the deceased monarch. (Plut. Eum. 11-13; Eumenes was only forty-five years old at the
Diod. xviii. 42, 53, 58-61; Polyaen. iv. 8. ~ 2; time of his death. (Corn. Nep. Eum. 13.) Of his
Justin. xiv. 2.) By these and other means Eu- consummate ability, both as a general and a statesmenes succeeded in conciliating the troops under man, no doubt can be entertained; and it is proba-his command, so that they rejected all the attempts ble that he would have attained a far more importmade by Ptolemy and Antigonus to corrupt their ant position among the, successors of Alexander,
fidelity. At the same time he made extensive had it not been for the accidental disadvantage of
levies of mercenaries, and having assembled in all his birth. But as a Greek of Cardia, and not a
a numerous army, he advanced into Phoenicia, native Macedonian, he was constantly looked upon
with the view of reducing the maritime towns, and with dislike, and even with contempt, both by his
sending a fleet from thence to the assistance of opponents and companions in arms, at the very
Polysperchon. This plan was, however, frustrated time that they were compelled to bow beneath his
by the arrival of the fleet of Antigonus, and the
advance of that general himself with a greatly * In the relation of these events, the chronology
superior force. Eumenes in consequence retired of Droysen has been followed. Mr. Clinton (who
into the interior of Asia, and took up his winter- places the death of Eumenes early in 315 B. c.)
quarters in Babylonia. (Diod. xviii. 61-63, 73.) appears to have been misled by attaching too much
In the spring of 317 he descended the left bank importance to the archonships, as mentioned by
of the Tigris, and having foiled all the endeavours Diodorus. See Droysen, Gesck/. d. Nac/f. p. 269,
of Seleucus to prevent his passing that river, ad- not.