POD: Bessus doesn't just leave the body of Darius III lying in a cart along the road while fleeing from the Macedonian army and has the common sense to bring the body with him. Later on Bessus and the Persian nobles realize their cause is lost and surrender to Alexander in Bactria rather than retreating further east. To cover up the killing of Darius, Bessus convinces Alexander that the Persian Shah took his own life rather than live with the shame of defeat and surrender.
As was his custom, Alexander is merciful to the defeated after making a brief show of grieving for Darius. The surrender of the Bactrian army is accepted and their leaders are pardoned and retain their satrap titles over large parts of Persia for the most part. Alexander still besieges the Rock and marries Roxana, and carries out his Indian campaigns with a few Persian auxiliaries and nobles in his retinue.
Fastforward to 323BC. Alexander unexpectedly dies in Babylon and the army is split over his successor. Having spent the last five years after his surrender laying the groundwork for a future uprising, Bessus takes the opportunity to rebel and is joined by the other Persian-ruled satrapies using a Persian-Bactrian army that was formed in secret as the nucleus of a revolt.
Bessus takes the regnal name of Araxerxes V and proclaims a restored Achaemenid Empire, later on citing the death/murder of Darius' sisters and mother as cause for war after the fact. The Macedonian Army fires back with charges that Bessus was responsible for poisoning Alexander and prepares to conquer Persia a second time. At the same time the Lamian War breaks out in Greece.
Thoughts on what happens next? Would one last war as a single army against an external enemy delay the breakup of Alexander's empire through a rally around the flag effect and provide unity to the post-Alexander state of affairs? Or will the pressure of a two front war be too much for the regency to survive?
Some points to consider:
-Depending on when news of Bessus' proclamation reaches Bablyon, Perdiccas' legitimacy as regent may be strengthened by success against an enemy... or irreparably damaged as soldiers start declaring "Meleager was right [about the Persians]!" He might be immediately disposed in favor of Craterus (who had also warned Alexander to not trust the Persians).
-As a member of the Companions in good standing, Ptolemy wouldn't be allowed to leave the army to take over Egypt until the Persian campaign is concluded. Which also means he doesn't have the chance to bodysnatch Alexander's body and start a war.
-Bessus can probably gather enough manpower to put up a fight, but the advantage in command and troop quality is definitely on the Greek side. He could use the terrain to force a drawn out war in the east though. Bad news for Antipater who desperately needs reinforcements to break the siege of Lamia.
-Time spent campaigning in the east instead of intriguing probably prevents embarrassing incidents for Pediccas like accidentally killing Alexander's sister, breaking the network of marriage alliances set up by Antipater to maintain peace, or convincing Antigonus he was about to execute him.
As was his custom, Alexander is merciful to the defeated after making a brief show of grieving for Darius. The surrender of the Bactrian army is accepted and their leaders are pardoned and retain their satrap titles over large parts of Persia for the most part. Alexander still besieges the Rock and marries Roxana, and carries out his Indian campaigns with a few Persian auxiliaries and nobles in his retinue.
Fastforward to 323BC. Alexander unexpectedly dies in Babylon and the army is split over his successor. Having spent the last five years after his surrender laying the groundwork for a future uprising, Bessus takes the opportunity to rebel and is joined by the other Persian-ruled satrapies using a Persian-Bactrian army that was formed in secret as the nucleus of a revolt.
Bessus takes the regnal name of Araxerxes V and proclaims a restored Achaemenid Empire, later on citing the death/murder of Darius' sisters and mother as cause for war after the fact. The Macedonian Army fires back with charges that Bessus was responsible for poisoning Alexander and prepares to conquer Persia a second time. At the same time the Lamian War breaks out in Greece.
Thoughts on what happens next? Would one last war as a single army against an external enemy delay the breakup of Alexander's empire through a rally around the flag effect and provide unity to the post-Alexander state of affairs? Or will the pressure of a two front war be too much for the regency to survive?
Some points to consider:
-Depending on when news of Bessus' proclamation reaches Bablyon, Perdiccas' legitimacy as regent may be strengthened by success against an enemy... or irreparably damaged as soldiers start declaring "Meleager was right [about the Persians]!" He might be immediately disposed in favor of Craterus (who had also warned Alexander to not trust the Persians).
-As a member of the Companions in good standing, Ptolemy wouldn't be allowed to leave the army to take over Egypt until the Persian campaign is concluded. Which also means he doesn't have the chance to bodysnatch Alexander's body and start a war.
-Bessus can probably gather enough manpower to put up a fight, but the advantage in command and troop quality is definitely on the Greek side. He could use the terrain to force a drawn out war in the east though. Bad news for Antipater who desperately needs reinforcements to break the siege of Lamia.
-Time spent campaigning in the east instead of intriguing probably prevents embarrassing incidents for Pediccas like accidentally killing Alexander's sister, breaking the network of marriage alliances set up by Antipater to maintain peace, or convincing Antigonus he was about to execute him.
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