[1] The unexpected death of Alexander the Great left his vast, and newly created, empire without a clear successor.

This lack of a clear arrangement for succession eventually led to war between his top generals, the Diadochi.

In 319 BC, when Antipater died, he left his domain in the hands of his lieutenant, Polyperchon, as opposed to his son Cassander.

[3] Cleitus fled to Macedon and joined Polyperchon, the new Regent of the Empire, who decided to march his army south to force the Greek cities to side with him against Cassander and Antigonus.

Cassander, reinforced with troops and a fleet by Antigonus, sailed to Athens and thwarted Polyperchon's efforts to take the city.

[7] In the spring of 317 BC he marched his army to Phoenica and raised a naval force on the behalf of Polyperchon.

[9] Then, after settling his affairs in western Asia Minor, Antigonus marched against Eumenes at the head of a great army.

Antigonus now controlled Asia Minor and the eastern provinces, Cassander, Macedon and large parts of Greece, Lysimachus Thrace, and Ptolemy, Egypt, Syria, Cyrene and Cyprus.