The Diadochi: Antigonus Proclaims the Freedom of the Greeks

In the spring of 314, the Third War of the Diadochi broke out. Antigonus Monophthalmus, who ruled great parts of Asia between the Hellespont and the Hindu Kush, had to fight against a coalition of Cassander of Macedonia,Lysimachus of Thrace, Ptolemy of Egypt, and Seleucus, who had once beensatrap of Babylonia but had been expelled by Antigonus. One of Antigonus' diplomatic initiatives was the proclamation of the independence of the Greek towns, which would seriously handicap Cassander. The story is told in theWorld History of Diodorus of Sicily (19.61-62). The present translation was made by M.M. Austin.