This article concerns the period 319 BC – 310 BC.

Events

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319 BC


By place

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Macedonian Empire
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318 BC

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By place

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Macedonian Empire
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  • Antigonus resolves to become lord of all Asia, and in conjunction with Cassander and Ptolemy. He enters into negotiations with Eumenes; but Eumenes remains faithful to the royal house. He raises an army and forms a coalition with the satraps of the eastern provinces. He then captures Babylon from Antigonus.
  • Antigonus marches against Eumenes, so Eumenes withdraws east to join the satraps of the provinces beyond the Tigris River.
  • Cassander, who has allied himself with Ptolemy and Antigonus, declares war on the regent, Polyperchon. Most of the Greek states support him, including Athens. Cassander further effects an alliance with Eurydice, the ambitious wife of King Philip III Arrhidaeus of Macedon.
  • Although Polyperchon is initially successful in securing control of the Greek cities, whose freedom he proclaims, his fleet is destroyed by Antigonus.
Greece
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  • In a power struggle in Athens after the death of Antipater, Phocion is deposed as the ruler of Athens, convicted of treason, and executed by those Athenians hoping to restore democracy to the city. Shortly afterward, the Athenians decree a public burial and a statue in his honor.
China
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  • The state of Qin moves into the Sichuan basin, giving them control of that great food-producing plain.

By topic

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Music
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317 BC

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By place

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Macedonian Empire
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Sicily
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  • Acestorides, a native of Corinth, is made supreme commander by the citizens of Syracuse.
  • After twice being banished for attempting to overthrow the oligarchical party, Agathocles returns with an army and banishes or murders about 10,000 citizens (including the oligarchs), and sets himself up as tyrant of Syracuse. Acestorides is banished from the city.

By topic

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Art
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  • Private funeral monuments are banned in Athenian cemeteries.
Literature
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316 BC

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By place

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Macedonian Empire
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  • Eumenes and Antigonus, rivals to Cassander for control of Macedonia, meet in the Battle of Gabiene in Media to the northeast of Susa. Antigonus defeats Eumenes, with the aid of Seleucus and Peithon (the satraps of Babylonia and Media, respectively). The result is inconclusive. However, some of Eumenes' soldiers take matters into their own hands. Learning that Antigonus has captured many of their wives, children and the cumulative plunder of nearly 40 years of continuous warfare, they secretly open negotiations with Antigonus for their safe return. They hand over Eumenes and his senior officers to Antigonus in return for their baggage and families. Eumenes is put to death by Antigonus after a week's captivity.
Greece
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Sicily
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Roman Republic
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China
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  • King Hui of Qin decides, on the advice of General Sima Cuo, to invade and annex the ancient states of Ba and Shu in Sichuan, in order to increase Qin's agricultural output and obtain a strategic platform from which to defeat the state of Chu.

315 BC

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By place

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Macedonian Empire
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Greece
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Cyprus
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  • Ptolemy's armies fight supporters of Antigonus in Cyprus. Ptolemy is able to re-conquer the island.
Sicily
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Roman Republic
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India

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  • The Indian king Porus, ally of Alexander The Great, is killed by Eudemus, another general of Alexander. The son of Porus, Malayketu, seizes his territory back by killing Eudemus.

314 BC

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By place

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Macedonian Empire
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Greece
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Roman Republic
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  • Success seems to be going the Samnites' way in their ongoing battles against the Romans. Campania is on the verge of deserting Rome. Peace is established between Rome and some Samnite towns.
  • The Roman consuls march their combined army to Tarracina and defeat a Samnite army there; killing 10,000 Samnites in the battle and the subsequent pursuit.[14]
  • While the consuls are fighting the Samnites at Tarracina, the Romans elect Gaius Maenius as Dictator with Marcus Foslius Flaccinator as his Magister Equitum (Master-of-Horse, Second-in-Command) and send them into Campania at the head of a large army. When Maenius and Foslius arrive near Capua, the Campanians, hearing about the defeat of the Samnites at Tarracina, start negotiating terms with the Romans; they surrender those who are guilty of the uprising and in turn are reinstated in their alliance with Rome.[14]
China
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313 BC

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By place

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Syria
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Egypt
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Asia Minor
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  • Prepelaus arrives in Caria and starts making plans with Asander. They decide on a surprise attack on Ptolemy, the commander of Antigonus' forces in western Asia Minor. Eupolemus, one of Prepelaus' lieutenants, is sent with 8,000 infantry and 200 cavalry. However, some deserters from Eupolemus' strike force betray their plans to Ptolemy who quickly gathers 8,300 infantry and 600 cavalry from their winter quarters and marches against Eupolemus. In the middle of the night Ptolemy launches a surprise attack on Eupolemus' camp capturing the entire force with ease.[18]
  • Antigonus, after finding a pass across the Taurus Mountains that was still open, marches his main army into Asia Minor and goes into winter quarters in Celaenae in Phrygia. Meanwhile, Antigonus' admiral Medius is ordered to sail the new Antigonid fleet from Phoenicia into the Aegean. On route he captures one of Cassander's fleets (the one that had escorted Prepelaus to Asia Minor).[19]
  • Asander agrees to send all his soldiers to Antigonus to help keep Greek cities autonomous[20]
  • Asander sends emissaries to Ptolemy and Seleucus asking for help[20]
Thrace
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  • In the spring of 313 a revolt against Lysimachus is under way in the Greek cities of the northwestern Black Sea coast. Callatis, Istria and Odessus rebel. The latter two are quickly taken by Lysimachus, but Callatis holds out. Antigonus sends a fleet and an army under a general named Pausanias to aid the city, he also persuades the Thracian king Seuthes to rebel. Lysimachus leaves part of his army to continue the siege, while he himself marches against Pausanias. He fights his way past Seuthes through the Haemus Mountains and captures Pausanias' force, enrolling them in his army. Pausanias is killed in battle, but most of his officers are ransomed back to Antigonus.[21][22]
Greece
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Italy
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  • The Romans capture Nola by setting fire to the buildings near the city walls and storming the city after the walls collapse.[29]
Sicily
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  • Deinocrates, the leader of the Syracusan exiles, sends envoys to the Carthaginians to ask them for help against Agathocles, the tyrant of Syracuse. The Carthaginians, fearing for their own possessions in Sicily, send a large force to the island.[31]
  • The exiles send Nymphodorus (a friend of Deinocrates) with some soldiers to take Centoripini (some of whose elite had promised to assist the exiles in taking the city). Nymphodorus is killed in the failed attempt to capture the city. Agathocles executes everyone he suspects of sedition in the city.[32]

312 BC

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By place

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Cyrenaica
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  • The people of Cyrene in the Cyrenaica rise up in a revolt against Ptolemy, putting the Ptolemaic garrison, which occupies their citadel, under siege. After they execute Ptolemy's envoys, who came to bade them to cease their sedition, he sends Agis (one of his generals) with an army and Epaunetus (another general) with a fleet to put down the rebellion. Agis storms the city, captures the rebels, and sends the ringleaders to Alexandria.[33][34]
Cyprus
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Syria/Mesopotamia/Babylonia
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Asia Minor
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  • At the start of the year, Asander (Antigonus' governor of Caria) rebels, forcing Antigonus (wintering with his main army in Phrygia) to invade Caria. Calling all his forces from their winter quarters, he divides them into four columns: the first is sent to take Miletus; the second, under his nephew Ptolemy, campaigns through central Caria from east to west; a third marches to and takes Theangela; Antigonus himself with the main army campaigns from north to south capturing Tralles, Iasus and Kaunos. Caria is taken in the space of weeks.[40]
  • Antigonus sends his nephew Telesphoros with an army of 5,000 infantry and 500 cavalry to mainland Greece to carry on the war against Cassander.[41]
Greece/Macedon/Thrace
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  • The people of Epirus elevate Aeacides' brother, Alcetas, to the kingship.[42]
  • Alcetas advances on the Macedonian garrison of Acarnania under Lyciscus, a general of Cassander. Three battles are fought and a defeated Alcetas flees to a fortress in Epirus. Cassander marches the main Macedonian field army into Epirus and forces Alcetas to ally with him.[43]
  • Cassander marches on Apollonia, which people had driven out his garrison with the help of the Illyrians, but the Appolonians and Illyrians defeat him in battle, driving him out of western Greece for the time being.
  • The people of Epirus, tired of Alcetas (who ruled Epirus harshly), rose up and murdered him and his sons.
  • Telesphorus arrives in to the Peloponnese and starts expelling Cassander's garrisons. He successfully liberates all cities and towns that are being held for Cassander by Polyperchon and his son Alexander; all except Sicyon and Corinth who are being defended by Polyperchon and Alexander themselves.[44]
  • Cassander sails against the city of Oreus on Euboea with a fleet of 30 ships. He blockades its port trying to force the city's surrender.
  • Telesphorus comes to the aid of Oreus from the Peloponnese with 20 ships and 1,000 infantry, while Antigonid admiral Medius sails to relieve Oreus with a 100 ships from Asia Minor; they break Cassander's blockade.
  • Cassander receives reinforcements from Athens (under Thymochares the Sphettian, descendant of Thymochares) and defeats Telesphoros' squadron.[45]
  • Antigonus sends his nephew Ptolemy, whom he has made Strategos of Greece, with 5,000 infantry, 500 cavalry and 150 warships (he had recalled and reinforced Medius' fleet) to take command of all Antigonid forces and affairs in Greece.[46]
  • Cassander abandons the siege of Oreus, concentrating his forces at Chalcis to counter Ptolemy who has landed at Bathys in Boeotia and has been reinforced by the Boeotian League with 2,200 infantry and 1,300 cavalry.[47]
  • Antigonus marches his main field army to the Hellespontine region threatening to invade Europe and attack Macedon, forcing Cassander to retreat to Macedon to prepare its defences.[48]
  • Antigonus arrives at the Propontis and tries to negotiate an alliance with Byzantium, but the city, at the urging of Lysimachus, remains neutral; without it Antigonus gives up on the idea of crossing over into Europe.[49]
  • The Corcyraeans come to the aid of Apollonia and Epidamus and help the Apollonians and the people of Epidamus to remove the garrisons Cassander put there. They free Apollonia, but give the city of Epidamus to the Illyrian king Glaucias.[50]
  • Ptolemy captures Chalcis, removes Cassander's garrison, but does not install a garrison of his own. Eretria and Carystus, both on Euboea as well, join Antigonus' alliance. Ptolemy crosses over to mainland Greece and captures Oropos, again removing Cassander's garrison, he then hands it over to Antigonus' ally, the Boeotian League. After Oropos he invades Attica putting pressure on Athens to negotiate a truce. From Attica he marches on Thebes, captures it and removes Cassander's garrison. He moves on to Phocis, drives out Cassander's garrisons in that region as well, and moves into Opuntian Locris, where he besieges Opus.[51]
  • Telesphorus, who had been subordinated to Antigonus' other nephew Ptolemy considered this an insult and ends his friendship with Antigonus through betrayal.[52]
  • Telesphorus enters Elis, fortifies its citadel, and enslaves the city. He then marches on Olympia and plunders its sacred precinct collecting 500 talents; with his booty Telesphorus stars hiring mercenaries.[52]
  • Ptolemy soon restores the situation and persuades Telesphorus to give up his revolt.[53]
Sicily
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  • Agathocles, tyrant of Syracuse, increased the size of his forces until they surpassed the Carthaginian garrison forces on the island.[54]
  • Carthage, concerned with Agathocles' increasing powers, decided to send 130 warships and 14,200 soldiers under the command of a general named Hamilcar (son of Gisco, grandson of Hanno the Great).[55]
  • Hamilcar's fleet was caught by several storms which sank 60 warships and destroyed 200 transports.[56]
  • After landing on Sicily, Hamilcar gathered the remnants of his army, he also started to hire mercenaries, enlist those Sicilians opposed to Agathocles and enroll soldiers from the Carthaginian garrisons already on Sicily. In this way he was able to muster a large army.[57]
  • Agathocles, fearing Gela would turn against him, took over the city, executed 4,000 leading Geloans he suspected of treason, and confiscated their property.[58]
Italy
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311 BC

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By place

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Babylonia/Media/Susiana
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  • Upon entering Mesopotamia Seleucus manages to persuade some of the Macedonian veterans settled at Carrhae to join his cause. He then marches on to his old satrapy (province) of Babylonia gathering additional force along the way.[60]
  • Seleucus manages to persuade Polyarchus, the Antigonid commander of one of the local districts, to join his cause. Polyarchus joins Seleucus with 1,000 soldiers.[60]
  • The remaining Antigonid loyalists in Babylonia retreat to the citadel of Babylon. They also put Seleucus' remaining friends in Babylon there (under a strong guard). Seleucus besieges the citadel and manages to take it by storm.[60]
  • Nicanor, Antigonus' commander of the Upper Satrapies, marches against Seleucus from Media (where he was stationed) with 10,000 infantry and 7,000 cavalry. Seleucus hides his much smaller army (3,000 infantry and 400 cavalry) along Nicanor's line of march and launches a night attack on his camp, catching his opponent by surprise; Nicanor flees the ensuing battle while his army quickly surrenders.[61]
  • Seleucus marches to eastern Susiana and negotiates a treaty with the Cossaei (a warlike tribe) in the mountains between Susiana and Media.[62]
  • Seleucus reestablishes himself as satrap of Babylonia and asserts control over Media and Susiana (Elam).
Asia Minor/Syria/Palestina
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  • Ptolemy tries to occupy Syria; he himself campaigns in Coele Syria (southern Syria) while he sends Killes, one of his generals, into northern Syria to finish off the remnants of Demetrius Poliorcetes' army. Demetrius defeats Killes at Myus and Antigonus enters Syria in force. So, after only a few months, Ptolemy evacuates his forces from Syria.[63]
  • In view of the threat by Seleucus to his control of the East, Antigonus decides to make peace with all of his adversaries, except Seleucus, who now holds Babylon. All of the diadochi confirm the existing boundaries and the freedom of the Greek cities. Ptolemy and Lysimachus are confirmed as satraps of Egypt and Thrace, respectively, and Antigonus and Cassander are confirmed as commanders of the army in Asia and Europe. Antigonus, no longer regent but now titled the strategos (officer in charge) of the whole of Asia, rules in Syria from the Hellespont to the Euphrates, including Asia Minor.[63]
  • It is agreed by all parties that the young king Alexander IV of Macedon, son of Alexander the Great, will become king of the whole empire when he comes of age in six years' time.[63]
  • The peace agreement between the diadochi is soon violated. On the pretext that garrisons have been placed in some of the free Greek cities by Antigonus. Ptolemy and Cassander renew hostilities against him.[63]
  • Antigonus sends one of his generals, Athenaeus, with 4,000 light infantry and 600 cavalry to make a raid on Petra, the capital city of the Nabateans, to carry off hostages and possessions. The raid is initially successful, but a surprise attack by the Nabateans destroys Athenaeus' raiding force, only 50 horsemen escaping.[64]
  • Through clever diplomacy Antigonus is able to lull the Nabateans into a false sense of security. Demetrius, with a force of 4,000 light infantry and 4,000 cavalry, is sent to make another raid on Petra. The Nabateans, reacting quickly, are able to foil the attack. Demetrius negotiates terms with the Nabateans and returns to his father with hostages and gifts (including 700 camels)[65]
Greece
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  • During the winter of 312/11 Antigonus' nephew Telesphorus, who had been subordinated to Antigonus' other nephew Ptolemy in 312, decides to rebel, considering his subordination to be insulting. Ptolemy is able to keep the situation under control and persuades Telesphorus to return to the fold.[66]
  • Cassander opens up negotiations with Ptolemy.
Italy
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  • The Samnites take the Roman garrison of Cluviae and scourge their prisoners. Junius liberates the city and then moves on Bovianum and sacks it. The Samnites try to ambush the Romans, but the Romans are able to overcome their assailants.
  • The Etruscans are besieging Sutrium, an ally which the Romans see as their key to Etruria. Barbula marches to their aid, and a battle is fought; the Romans start to gain the upper hand, but darkness stops the battle. Barbula's campaign ends indecisive.[68]
Sicily
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310 BC

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By place

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Greece/Macedonia
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Cyprus
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Babylonia
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  • Antigonus orders Nicanor, one of his generals, to invade Babylonia from the east and his son Demetrius Poliorcetes to attack it from the west. Nicanor assembles a large force but is surprised and defeated by Seleucus at the river Tigris, and his troops are either cut to pieces or defect to the enemy. Similarly, Demetrius Poliorcetes fails to oust Seleucus.
Asia Minor
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Sicily and Africa
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Roman Republic
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Illyria
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Births

319 BC

316 BC

315 BC

  • Aratus, Macedonian Greek mathematician, astronomer, meteorologist, botanist and poet (d. 240 BC)

310 BC

Deaths

319 BC

318 BC

317 BC

316 BC

315 BC

314 BC

313 BC

312 BC

310 BC

References

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  1. ^ Diod. XVIII 40–41.
  2. ^ Diod. XVIII 41,1–3; Plut. Eum. 9,2.
  3. ^ Diod. XVIII 45.
  4. ^ Diodorus Siculus, Bibliotheca Historica vol. XVIII 72, 3–4.
  5. ^ Siculus, Diodorus. Library. Vol. IX.
  6. ^ S.N. Consolo Langher. 2000. Agatocle: Da capoparte a monarca fondatore di un regno tra Cartagine e i Diadochi. Messana: Di.Sc.A.M. 79-96
  7. ^ a b Siculus, Diodorus. "60". Library. Vol. XIX.
  8. ^ Siculus, Diodorus. "61". Library. Vol. XIX.
  9. ^ a b c Siculus, Diodorus. "63". Library. Vol. XIX.
  10. ^ Siculus, Diodorus. "65". Library. Vol. XIX.
  11. ^ Rickard, J. "Battle of Lautulae, 315 BC". Retrieved 2011-11-13.
  12. ^ Siculus, Diodorus. "66". Library. Vol. XIX.
  13. ^ a b Siculus, Diodorus. "67". Library. Vol. XIX.
  14. ^ a b Siculus, Diodorus. "76". Library. Vol. XIX.
  15. ^ a b c Siculus, Diodorus. "74". Library. Vol. XIX.
  16. ^ Diod. XIX 79,1–3
  17. ^ Diod. XIX 79,4–5
  18. ^ Diod. XIX 68,5–7
  19. ^ Diod. XIX 69,2–3
  20. ^ a b Siculus, Diodorus. "75". Library. Vol. XIX.
  21. ^ Diod. XIX 73,1–10.
  22. ^ Siculus, Diodorus. "73". Library. Vol. XIX.
  23. ^ Siculus, Diodorus. "66". Library. Vol. XIX.
  24. ^ Siculus, Diodorus. "67". Library. Vol. XIX.
  25. ^ Diod. XIX 67,3–7
  26. ^ Diod. XIX 68,2
  27. ^ Diod. XIX 68,3–4
  28. ^ Livy 9.28.5–6; Diodorus 19.101.2. Livy notes that others say Poetelius Libo Visolus captured Nola.
  29. ^ Livy, IX 28,1–6
  30. ^ Livy, IX 28,7–8
  31. ^ Diod. XIX 102–103
  32. ^ Diod. XIX 103
  33. ^ a b Siculus, Diodorus. "79". Library. Vol. XIX.
  34. ^ Diod. XIX 79,1–3
  35. ^ Diod. XIX 79,4–5
  36. ^ Diod. XIX 79,6–7
  37. ^ Diod. XIX 80–86
  38. ^ Diod. XIX 84,4–86,1
  39. ^ Siculus, Diodorus. "86". Library. Vol. XIX.
  40. ^ Diod. XIX 64,3–6.
  41. ^ Diod. XIX 64.
  42. ^ Diod. XIX 88, 89; Plut. Pyrr. 3.
  43. ^ Diod. XIX 88; Plut. Pyrr. 3.
  44. ^ Diod. XIX 64,1–2.
  45. ^ Diod. XIX 64,6–8
  46. ^ Diod. XIX 77,2–4
  47. ^ Diod. XIX 77,4–5
  48. ^ Diod. XIX 77,4–6
  49. ^ Diod. XIX 77,6–7
  50. ^ Diod. XIX 78,1
  51. ^ Diod. XIX 78,2–5
  52. ^ a b Siculus, Diodorus. "87". Library. Vol. XIX.
  53. ^ Diod. XIX 87,1–3
  54. ^ Diod. XIX 106,1
  55. ^ Diod. XIX 106,2
  56. ^ Diod. XIX 106,3
  57. ^ Diod. XIX 106,5
  58. ^ Diod. XIX 107
  59. ^ Livy VIII 9.29
  60. ^ a b c Siculus, Diodorus. "91". Library. Vol. XIX.
  61. ^ Siculus, Diodorus. "92". Library. Vol. XIX.
  62. ^ Babylonian Chronicles, rev. lines 11–12
  63. ^ a b c d Siculus, Diodorus. "105". Library. Vol. XIX.
  64. ^ Diod. XIX 94,1–95,5
  65. ^ Diod. XIX 96,1–98,1; Plut. Dem. 7,1
  66. ^ Diod. XIX 87,1–3
  67. ^ Livy IX 30—32; Diod. XX 3.
  68. ^ Livy, VIII 9.31–32.
  69. ^ Siculus, Diodorus. "19". Library. Vol. XX.
  70. ^ Siculus, Diodorus. "21". Library. Vol. XX.
  71. ^ "Antipater - regent of Macedonia". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 3 December 2017.