The Beginning of Perdiccas’ Regency and the Difficulties of Establishing Political Leadership in the Shadow of the Image of Alexander the Great

Abstract. The article deals with the crisis period in the history of the Macedonian kingdom after the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC. One of the main roles at the mentioned time was played by Perdiccas son of Orontes. The analysed material for the theme was the plural testimonies of ancient authors such as Diodorus of Sicily, Quintus Curtius Rufus, Plutarch of Chaeronea, Marcus Junianus Justinus and others. The ascent to the leading positions of Perdiccas is substantiated by many factors that comprehensively influenced the decision of the summer meeting in Babylon in 323 BC, when the mentioned person became the regent of the state. Close descent to the royal house and the position held at the time of the monarch’s death were a serious backup. In addition, Perdiccas’ political position, the main representation of which was the keeping
of a united state, evoked sympathy among a certain circle of authoritative members of the Macedonian elite. However, despite the notable winningness of the candidacy, the future regent faced a several difficulties. Already while the new structure of management of the state was being discussed, disagreements arose between the commanders, leading to military conflict. The difficulty of Perdiccas’ position lies in the situation of the jealous guarding of their positions as “unbowed commanders” by the king’s associates and in their unwillingness to obey anyone but Alexander. The paper deals with the problem of the becoming of this historical character as the de facto head of state in the conditions of
growing confrontation between Alexander’s successors.

Keywords: Macedonian state, regency, Hellenistic period, political struggle, dynastic crisis, diadochi.