Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1811-07-01


ander, to the government; and her return
was an augmentation OF the prevailing trou-
4xA The regency of Polysphercen was
W1ntinued scene Of terrible warfare be-
twtefNhim and Cassander, the son of Anti
pater. The two rivals both contended that
they were the supporters CT the interests of
the son OF Alexander. During their conflicts
Olympias was massacred.
EumeEes, OF AN obscure BIRTH but to whom
Alexander had given the sister of one of his
wives IN marriage, was one of the most ac-
complished of the Macedonian chiefs, as well
in the qualities of the heart as by his talents
tor war. He was the most deserving of all
the captains OF Alexander, but the portion of
territory that fell to his share was the worst
of all. He had Cappadocia, where, never
theless, Ambiguous would not permit him TO
establish himself. His life was a perpetual
combat: He defeated and killed Craterus,
beat Antipater; but was vanquished, deliv-
cred up by treachery to Ambiguous, and per-
isied in the year before Christ SIS.
Craterus had been favorite of Alcxan-
der, to whom he had always Showed himself
a rigid and virtuous courier He enjoyed
such a high reputation among the Macedo-
mans that they were DESTROYS of seeing him
succeed Alexander. He allied himself with
Antipater and was beaten and Killed by Eu-
meres in the year before Christ 32l.
Ambiguous had his partition of empire in
Asia : He was the first that took the title Of
king, and aimed at universal monarchy. He
was ably sSconded by his son Demetrius Po-
iyorcd a, 4bat is. a destroyer of towns,) a
ptinceA4NsS spirit graceiulness, courage
and generoSc, cast peculiar lustre over
this melancholy period of atrocities. The
overgrown power Of Antisonus alarmed tue
other generals of Alexander, who united a.
gainst him, fought the famous battle of the
ipsus, where he was beaten and killed SOL
years before Jesus Christ. Thu action dcci-
ded the Macedonian empire, which was de-
finitiveiy dividedbetweenthe fourgreat chiefs
who had combined against Ambiguous. The
life of Denetrius after the death Of his ia
Their was succession of military adventures,
which eyinced the ardor Of his courage more
than the wisdom of his policy. He conquer
ed and lost provinces, was for a moment
king of Macedonia, and died in the chains of
Seleucus in the year before Christ sS5.
The four kingdoms that grew out Of these
dissentions, were Egypt, Syria, Macedonia,
and Thrace. Ptolemy, who is Believed to
have been the natural brother of Alexander,
and who was one of his most intimate favor
ties. found himself, at the death of the con-
queror, master of Egypt. He was one of the
finest characters of these tempestuous times
Mild, humane, and wise, ne encouraged the
arts and sciences in Egypt, and consulted the
happiness of the people. In the long quarrel
for the succession to Alexander, his rivals
could never make any impression upon him,
and he always had the address to keep the
war out of Egypt From the assistance which
he gave to the people of Rhodes against De-
metrius, he was called Softer, or Saviour.
Ptolemy wrote an account of the campaigns
of Alexander, which has been unhapply
lost, This prince was the founder of the E.
gyYhaa maparchy, and his family reigned
fof25QNeaTs, ending in the person of the
eelSkast Sle3atra' in the time Of Augustus
Sefeucrs, one of the most meritorius cap
tains of Alexander, established himself at
Baby lon, where, after many vicissitudes of
fortune, he founded the empire of upper A
sia, generally known by the name of the
kingdom of Syria. He is the head of the
Seleucide, who reignedin the age Of Pompey,
when that general reduced their states into
the form of Roman province. Seleucus
built Antioch, (Which, for long time, was
considered the capital of the east,) Seleucia,
Laodicea, and nearly forty Other c es.
Lysimachus, who took a part in all the
troubles of the time, was cruel and avarici-
Gus. After the battle of Ipsus, he took for
his portion Thrace, Bythinia, &c. He seized
upon Macedonia, where he rcgned ten years
and rendered himself odious. He was killed
in Asia by Seleucus 2S2 years before Christ.
At his death his kingdom was dismembered,
which occasioned many calamitics, and gave
rise TO new states, the whole Of which how
ever, were eventually Incorporated with the
Roman empire.
Cassander, the son Of Antipater, succeed
ed his father in the government Of Macedo-
MIA, and was conspicuous character in the
conflicts of that day He made war upon
PotspeerccA, seized upon Athens, where
helest Ablished Demetrius Phalerus, destroyed
OlAmSas the inother of Alexander, put to
deaAh his Wife RoXana and the children which
Alexander had by her. Coming at length
to thcthrone Of Macedon by the force of his
crimes, the battle of Ipsus fixed him
there. lie died III the year 297 before Jesus
Christ, leaving, by relative of Alexander's,
| two sons, who persisted unhappily. In these
last was extnguished the legitimate race OF
| Philip, of that Macedonian hero, whose son,
still greater than his father, has filed the
! earth with his name, and seemed for mo-
ment TO give laws to the universe. Nearly
| forty years had expired, and of this fine lus-
tire of glory and Of fortune; Of the employ.
ment OF SO much genius, OF labor, and of vic
tory, what remainedl Philip, Alexander
their wires, their children persisted by vic.
lent deaths their vast empire was no more
and the wrecks of it only served as ahmcn