- Battle of Paraitacene
Infobox Military Conflict
caption=
colour_scheme=background:#ffff99
conflict=Battle of Paraitacene
partof=theSecond War of the Diadochi
date=317 BC
place=Paraitacene (in modernIran )
result=Indecisive
combatant1=Antigonus I Monophthalmus ,
combatant2=Eumenes
commander1=Antigonus I Monophthalmus
commander2=Eumenes
strength1=28,000 heavy infantry, 6,900 light cavalry, 3,700 heavy cavalry, 65war elephant s
strength2=28,000 infantry, 6,000 cavalry, 6,000 mercenaries, 125 war elephants
casualties1=7,700, inc. 3,700 killed
casualties2=1,540, inc. 540 killedThe Battle of Paraitacene (317 BC ) was abattle in the wars of the successors ofAlexander the Great (seediadochi ) betweenAntigonus I Monophthalmus andEumenes .Background
After the death of
Alexander the Great , his generals immediately began squabbling over his huge 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 successor generals (Diadochi) wasAntigonus Monophthalmus , so called because of an eye he lost in a siege. During the early years of warfare between theDiadochi , he facedEumenes , a capable general who had already crushedCraterus . The two Diadochi fought a series of battles acrossAnatolia andPersia .In the summer of
317 BC Eumenes, trying to capitalize on an earlier victory, was on the move against Antigonus. The two armies came to face one another in the lands of the Paraetaceni, to the northeast ofSusa .Battle
Antigonus deployed his army obliquely, the right wing leading, in the same fashion used by Alexander and Philip. Antigonus deployed his light horse on the left, his heavy cavalry and light infantry were placed on the right flank resting on the hills. While his phalanx held the center. While the elephants were spread across the line.Eumenes, also placed his phalanx in the center, with the elite
Argyraspides . His left flank, resting near the hill, was made up of cavalry, elephants and auxiliaries. The right flank was led by Eumenes himself with his heavy cavalry.The battle began with Antigonus' light horse attacking Eumenes line. Eumenes dispersed this force with a flanking attack of his own light cavalry squadrons brought over from his left flank.
In the center, the phalanxes engaged, again to Eumenes’ advantage due to the incredible skill of the Argyraspides who, despite their age (60 to 70 years old), seemed invincible. With his light horse in ruins, and his phalanx being pushed back, the situation looked grave for Antigonus.
However, Antigonus observed that the very success of the Argyraspides had led them forward to reveal a gap in the battle line as it detached from their left flank. In a bold move Antigonus charged his heavy cavalry into this gap, wheeling to the rear of Eumenes' cavalry. The attack proved successful – ending what seemed to be the start of a Eumenes victory over another opponent. The battle slowed as both side tried to rally broken units. As the day ended, both armies retired to their camps. Antigonus claimed victory, even though he lost some 3,700 infantry to death, and a further 4,000 wounded. Eumenes came off with a loss of only 540 infantry killed and some 1,000 injured. Their next major confrontation would be the
Battle of Gabiene .External links
* [http://ccwf.cc.utexas.edu/~warfare/Lectures/lect14.html Lecture Notes for Week Fourteen]
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