Cassander and the Greek city-states (319-317 B.C.)

Abstract

The control and support of the Greek city-states played an essential role
in Cassander’s bid for the regency in Macedonia against Polyperchon. Following
Cassander’s departure from Macedonia in 319 B.C., the Macedonian
garrisons of the poleis constituted his only independent forces and the citystates
themselves his only allies in Greece. Equally, it was Polyperchon’s
main policy to disengage Cassander from that support. In the period from
319 to 317, it was precisely in Polyperchon’s attempts to dislodge Cassander
that he proved his incompetence to the Macedonians, and it was on that very
platform that Cassander displayed his own ability and thereby secured the
regency and his return to Macedonia in 317. The control of Greece Proper
became the key to the control of Macedonia.