After the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BCE, his vast empire was divided among his four most trusted generals. These generals, known as the Diadochi, played crucial roles in the subsequent Hellenistic period. The four generals were:
- Ptolemy I Soter: He founded the Ptolemaic Kingdom in Egypt. Ptolemy was a close companion of Alexander and became the ruler of Egypt after Alexander’s death. His dynasty lasted until the Roman conquest in 30 BCE.
- Seleucus I Nicator: Seleucus established the Seleucid Empire, which covered much of the eastern part of Alexander’s empire, including Persia and Mesopotamia. His empire was one of the largest and most powerful of the Hellenistic states.
- Antigonus I Monophthalmus: Antigonus controlled much of Asia Minor and the eastern Mediterranean. He aimed to reunite Alexander’s empire under his rule but was ultimately defeated by the other Diadochi.
- Lysimachus: Lysimachus ruled Thrace and parts of Asia Minor. He was a key figure in the Wars of the Diadochi and played a significant role in the power struggles following Alexander’s death.
These four generals not only divided Alexander’s empire but also laid the foundations for the Hellenistic kingdoms that would dominate the Mediterranean and Near East for centuries.