Antipater

Son of Iolaus of the Macedonian aristocracy, born c. 400 BC. Senior diplomat under Philip II — negotiated the Peace of Philocrates of 346 alongside Demosthenes and Aeschines — and the regent Alexander left in Macedon when he crossed to Asia in 334. Defeated the Spartan king Agis III at the battle of Megalopolis in 331 (Diod. 17.62–63), ending the last attempt to revolt central Greece against the Macedonian-imperial framework while Alexander was campaigning in the upper satrapies. Crossed to Asia in 322 with reinforcements after the news of Alexander's death and the outbreak of the Lamian War; broke the Greek revolt at Crannon (August 322) and took Athens by garrison. After Perdiccas's death in Egypt 321, presided over the Triparadisus conference (autumn 321, Diod. 18.39) at which the satrapies were redistributed and Eumenes outlawed; named regent of the joint kings and *strategos of Europe*. Took the kings (Philip III, the infant Alexander IV) and Roxane back to Macedon. Died of natural causes at Pella in autumn 319, naming on his deathbed not his son Cassander but the unrelated old Macedonian Polyperchon as his successor in the regency — the choice Cassander would refuse, opening the second Diadochic war.

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