Battle of Gabiene
| Battle of Gabiene | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Second War of the Diadochi | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
| Antigonids | Eumenes' faction | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Antigonus Monophthalmus | Eumenes | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 22,000 infantry, 9,000 cavalry, 64 elephants, 31,064 total | 17,000 infantry, 6,000 cavalry, 114 elephants, 23,114 total | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| About 5,000 | Heavy | ||||||
Battle of Gabiene (316 BC) was a second great battle (after the Battle of Paraitakene) between two of Alexander the Great's successors: Antigonus and Eumenes in the Wars of the Diadochi.
After the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC, his generals immediately began squabbling over his empire. Soon it degenerated into open warfare, with each general attempting to claim a portion of Alexander's vast kingdom. One of the most talented generals among the Diadochi was Antigonus Monophthalmus ("Antigonus the One-eyed"), so called because of an eye he lost in a siege. During the early years of warfare between the Successors, he faced Eumenes, a capable general who had already crushed Craterus. The two Diadochi fought a series of actions across Anatolia and Persia before finally meeting in what was to be the last clash at Gabiene (Greek: Γαβιηνή).
Antigonus had been a general for Philip II, king of Macedon, and later for Alexander. Skilled and experienced in war, he had proved himself in many battles. Eumenes was not of Macedonian origin, unlike the rest of Diadochi. He had been Alexander's secretary, but Alexander seemed to have recognized a military talent in Eumenes, and gave him several senior commands in the campaign in India. After Alexander's death, Eumenes quickly showed his skill, allying himself with Perdiccas and winning over much of Anatolia.
Since the sole reference of this battle is ultimately from Eumenes' personal aide Hieronymus of Cardia (later transmitted through the historian Diodorus), who later switched his allegiance to Antigonus, he provides a unique perspective from both sides' point of view.
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