Women Who Lead Armies Against Each Other

Alexander the Great ruled as king of Macedonia, one the largest empires the world had ever seen, that stretched from the Lonian Sea to Himalayas. History rates him among the most successful commanders as he was undefeated in battle. After the death of his father King Philip II, Alexander succeeded the throne as heir inheriting an army that was experienced at war and a strong kingdom. Alexander upon being awarded generalship used the position to launch his late father’s military expansion. His true victory and series of repeated conquest began after fighting a number of battles and finally overthrowing the Persian king stretching his empire from Indus River to the Adriatic Sea.

This vast kingdom fell after the death of Alexander the Great in Babylon. He died having not launched a series of conquest and war over Arabia as he had planned. This was primarily as a result of repeated civil war and politics amongst his surviving heirs and general. In addition, battles within the kingdom weakened the kingdom’s military power.

Significant in the fall of the Macedonian empire after the death of Alexander the great is the fights by his family and friends against each other in a battle of supremacy and control over the vast Hellenistic empire. Such relatives include Olympias the mother of Alexander and Adea, the wife of the half brother of Alexander.

The battles fought by these women are the first in history’s record and probably the only one known to be led by women. Olympias engaged in warfare as she was seeking to protect the interests of Alexander son and her grandson, Alexander IV who was son to Roxana, Bactrian princes and wife to Alexander the great. Adea’s share of the Macedonian Kingdom was her service as a regent for the husband. Adea lost in the battle against Olympias as her forces were unable to fight against the respected Olympias. She was imprisoned and died later after being asked to choose her method of suicide. After the death of Alexander, Adea assumed government of the regency. She believed that the kingdom belonged to her and was ready to fight anyone including Olympia in order to retain the throne.

Adea, used several methods to battle, Olympias. For instance, she focused on getting the subjects loyal to her upon hearing rumors of the return of Olympias. She did so by sending a courier to Cassander begging for his aid in fighting Olympias. In addition, she used great promises and gifts to ply the most active Macedonians to be loyal to her. Meanwhile, Olympias with the help of Polyperchon, a loyal general who had served under the rule of both Philip and Alexander the great, and Aeacides of Epirus cousin to Alexander, restored Olympias and his grandson Alexander IV, as king of Macedonia.

Polyperchon played a very fundamental ole in aiding Olympias to restore her status and that of the grandson in the kingdom. He remained in Macedonia as a regent after the first war of the family and generals of Macedonia known as Diadochi. He was later appointed as supreme commander of the army after Antiper’s death. This powerful military affiliation aided him a lot in helping Olympia. The disparity that he had with Cassander, who was to be his chief lieutenant, made the later give allegiance to Adea later n and form an alliance with Adea to fight Olympia. Nevertheless, Polyperchon formed ties and alliance with Eumenes. He was in the beginning successful in securing the government of Greek cities.

Cassander, with his allied relationship with Adea managed to conquer the Greek cities that Polyperchon had secured with a special focus on Athens in the next year. He drove Polyperchon out of Macedonia shortly afterward and took control of Eurydice and her disabled husband Phillip. During this time, Polyperchon was forced to flee to Epirus where he met Olympias, Roxana, and Alexender IV. Together with King Aeacides, they all forged an alliance with Olympias. Olympias was able to lead an army into Macedonia and initially defeat and capture the army of King Philip.

Perhaps the most intriguing fact about the battles that were led by women is the fact that no actual war took place when the two adversaries met. When the armies of both sides met, it was spectacular that the Macedonians changed their allegiance from Adea to Olympias. This decision may have been influenced by the memories they had of Olympias’ son reign and rule over Macedonia or by the fact that they respected Olympias due to the position she held in the kingdom as Alexander’s mother but nevertheless, Olympias won over the unfought battle capturing both Philip and his wife Adea.

Olympias, after having conquest over Adea proceeded to seize and treat her captors in inhumane forms. She imprisoned both of them and treated both of them unlawfully for many days. Eventually, she ordered the Thraciaans to kill Phillip by stabbing him to death. She was of the opinion that Adea should have a greater punishment for having proclaiming that Macedonia belonged to her. She did so by having her choose her method of suicide. She gave Adea a hemlock, a rope and a sword and left her to choose her preferred method of ending her life.

Olympias failed to display any form of respect or dignity in the way she treated Adea while in prison, as recorded in their history. She failed to recognize the victim’s former position and role in Macedonia. However, a fate would have it Olympia was also eventually subjected to a cruel death herself. Adea, after several days of torture in prison ended her life by hanging herself with her own girdle. She displayed no humility for her own misfortunes nor wept for her fate.

Cassander soon returned to the kingdom and captured Olympias, Roxana and her son. He killed Olympias and remained with Roxana and her son under his custody. This forced Polyperchon to flee to Peloponnesus where he still held a number of strong points. While he was there, he controlled a greater area in Peloponnesus including Sicyon and Corinth. A peace treaty was signed between antigonous and his enemies. Around that time, Roxana and his son were murdered. This made Polyperchon retain his administration in those areas. This peace was not to last for long as war broke out again between Antigonus and the rest forcing to send Heracles, Alexander’s reputed son as a bargaining chip. Polyperchon broke up with Antigonus and murdered the boy.

The two women who led battles against each other in Macedonia portray a number of unique characteristics. For instance, Adea defied all norms and customs of Macedonia. She spoke in public to the assembled army. During those times, it was a serious taboo and violation for a woman to speak in public. Her public announcement as an antagonist to Antipater shocked many. Nevertheless, she was able to convince some people the public domain to be on her side. She hardly accepted any defeat. Even while in prison, she resented Olympias and still rebuked and cursed her with a lot of conviction.

Olympias, on the other hand, displays a very strong resilience. All through, she seeks to restore the status of her family in Macedonia. She fights her adversary all through and forms meaningful alliances with influential military personnel. She however is an extremist and goes to torture and murder her captives even after gaining successful victory and conquest. She trumps over her enemies and completely destroys them even after nothing is left to fight upon.

The common belief is that if the two women had focused and channeled their energy on constructive endeavors such as using the influence they had to form an alliance and rule the kingdom together as a team, their lives history would read differently. A lot of bloodshed and civil wars would have been avoided in Macedonia and perhaps, the kingdom wouldn’t have fallen to the level it did. The two women have made history up to date as the only females to ever lead armies to battle. Some historians argue that if the women had focused their energy on constructive endeavors, they would not only be the only women to lead armies to battle, but they would have registered greater triumph in the battles.

Bibliography

Burgan, Michael. 2007. Alexander the Great: world conqueror. Minneapolis, Minn: CompassPoint Books.

Evans, Thammy. 2012. Macedonia. Chalfont St. Peter: Bradt Travel Guides.

Marsico, Katie. 2009. Alexander the Great: ancient king & conqueror. Edina, MN: ABDO Pub.Co.

Phillips, John. 2004. Macedonia: warlords and rebels in the Balkans. London: I. B. Tauris.

Roisman, Joseph, and Ian Worthington. 2010. A companion to ancient Macedonia. Malden, Mass: Wiley-Blackwell.

Stojcev, Vanče. 2004. Military history of Macedonia. Skopje: Military Academy "GeneralMihailo Apostolski".