Let Slip The Dogs of War

Ouch. No Alexander IV then I guess.

I take it Hellenistic civilization is going to last barely 50 years at this point. As if there wasn't enough Diadochoi anarchy OTL!
 
The Athenians Turn of Fortunes
The fortunes of war are always doubtful.
-Seneca The Younger​
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Bust of Demosthenes
It had take several weeks for the news of Alexander's untimely death to reach the Greek states. A ship that left an asian port a couple days after Alexander's death in mid June, would arrivive a few weeks later in early July in an Aegean port. More than likely this port was none other than Piraeus, the largest and busiest trade hub one can find in the Aegean-which belonged to none other than the mighty democratic state and largest Greek military power, Athens.

The fate of many lives and of the city itself, would make a dramatic turn, with the arrival of this news. The rhetores (public speakers) in Athens, had for years defined their political careers on their relationship with Macedon, whether it be Phillip or Alexander. There were the anti-macedonian war hawkes of the likes of Demosthenes and his colleague, the fiery tongued Hyperides. Some, like Demades, chose to collaberate with the Macedonians. Then there was Phocion. Always philosophical, the most elder statesman at the time in Athens, Phocion stood in the middle. He accepted Macedonian rule reluctantly, and only because he held to his belief of Athens being too weak to stand up to them. Difficult decisions had been made by all of these four men since Macedonian domination, as they tried to work with Athens not being the big kid on the block anymore.

However, it would not only be these people who dabbled in the realm of politics who would be brought to the forefront in Athens fate. Intellectuals like the famed Aristotle, would be dragged in. He was not an Athenian by birth, but had been drawn to the city for its rich philosophical past, and its liberality. Athens had granted him honorary citizenship, but his sympathies with Macedon left him suspect by the Athenians so eager to put on the hoplite armor and go to war once more. The fate of Socrates would serve as a warning to Aristotle about what could happen to him in Athens after being on the wrong side of a political divide in a time of war.

Athens was in a sticky position. With the death of Alexander, they had no guidance as to which direction to move towards. Alexander and Antipater had provided stability over the last 15 or so years. Now they had been set adrift amongst rip tides, with rhetores, whom the Athenians relied on for guiding, were completely divided over what to do now: should Athens revolt from Macedonian rule in an attempt to make herself great again. It did not help matters that their two post trusted and notable leaders, Lycurgas and Demosthenes were not there to sway opinion.

Lycurgas, whom thanks to his economic reforms, had managed to make Athens stronger than at any point it had been under Macedonian hegemony, had recently perished. In a scandal, Demosthenes had been driven into exile and stripped of all citizenship rights. Normally, he would be the first one to take the stand in a time of crisis, but now, when the Athenians needed him most, he was not there thanks to their own verdict.
 
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Demosthenes (Calauria, July 323 BC)​
Small opportunities are often the beginning of great enterprises.
Demosthenes​

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The island of Calauria (Poros)​

Demosthenes could not bear being away from Athens at this crucial moment. He had been the one from the start of his career, chanting the rallying cry for the Athenians to stand up to the Macedonian warmongerers. Even before Macedon threatened Athens directly, it was Demosthenes who recognized they were a potential threat. He had advocated for a strike at the Macedonians countless times after Phillip ended their foothold in the woodlands to the north, by taking their colonies. His calls had fell on deaf ears then.

In 338, it was again Demosthenes who brought Athens into an all out war with Phillip and Macedon. Along with Thebes, the two Greek states put together an army of 30,000 Demosthenes himself gearing up in hoplite armor and joining them. They were crushed at Chaeronea, where young Alexander saved the day for Phillip, with his cavalry charge through the gap in the Greek line, something that would become a trademark of Alexander throughout his campaign in the east.

Phillip was generous however, and Athens was allowed to retain its democracy, but was forced to join Phillip's Hellenic league, which made it all but impossible for them to have any control over their foreign policy from that point on. Now though, Athens had well surpassed her pre-war strength and ability, and Demosthenes knew they could take on the Macedonians when the right moment arose. And that news arrived to Demosthenes in the form of something more potent than an entire Athenian army-Alexander was dead, and this time, there was no second Alexander to take his place.

This was welcome news to Demosthenes, but he could do nothing about it, at least for the moment. For he was in exile on Calauria, a small, rocky island in between Attica and the Peloponnese. The Athenians had exiled him for taking illicit money, something he still denied. And the man who lead the prosecution, was none other than his former fiery tongued friend, Hyperides, who used his master oratory skill to convict him. He had played the role of the wounded friend in a partnership that took a wrong turn, saying "You ruined our friendship," and "You made yourself a laughingstock" in front of 1,500 Athenian jurors.
Demosthenes was only 30 miles away from his city, so close he could see it, yet so far from his reach. He had a good idea of what would go down. Demades and Phocion would be ridiculed and insulted, and cast down for their collaboration with the Macedonians. The Athenians would look to the surviving war hawk, Hyperides for guidance and leadership. Demosthenes could not bear that it would be Hyperides, his old friend turned enemy, his name the Athenians would be chanting in victory, his name that would be remembered in history, and not that of Demosthenes.

The last time a Macedonian king had died, Demosthenes remembered it was he who rode to the top. It was Demosthenes that seemed who would be on the right side of history, as a teenager by the name of Alexander would certainly lose all his possessions after the powerful Phillip was assassinated at the height of his power. Only 2 years after being routed from Chaeronea, it seemed like the Athenians had been given a gift from the gods, that was, until Alexander destroyed Thebes, and put Athens back in its place.

There was no second Alexander now, only a bunch of his power hungry generals, and Demosthenes knew they would be too busy fighting each other to worry about a trouble spot like Greece. Now was the chance for Athens to regain their honor that was lost at Chaeronea, to show that it was Greeks who ruled barbarians, and not barbarians who ruled Greeks. Macedonians were barbarians to him, and he laughed at Argaed claims to be Greeks. He once said, "Macedon! A place you can't even procure a decent slave!"

So it was set. Demosthenes knew he had to win his way back to Macedon, and he knew just how. He would use his greatest talents, eloquence, argument, and persuasion, to try to win his way back to Athens. A large series of eloquent letters were sent to Athens begging for them to just recall him and patch up old rifts. He tried everything from arguing for his innocence, to arguing that the Athenians should not dwell on past events. Demosthenes even tried to reach Hyperides himself, hoping the two could join up once again as a powerful team. In every shape or form he could, Demosthenes made the message clear: Let me back into Athens.
 
Phocion (Athens, July 323 BC)
Have I inadvertently said some evil thing?
-Phocion​
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Statue of Phocion

The first to bring the report of Alexander's death to Athens, was a man by the name of Asclepiades. With the news, the council of 500 was alerted immediately, and the people's assembly assembled. The debate over whether to trust the news was at the forefront, as the Athenians were wary ever since the false reports of Alexander's death in 335 lead to the destruction of Thebes. Luckily, thanks to Phocion, Athens narrowly avoided entering the war. When Demosthenes and his crowd fanned the flames for war, Phocion shot back by quoting a line from Homer's Odyssey "Rash fool, why wilt thou stir the wrath of a savage?".
Those were the words Odysseus's crew had spoken to him in a vain attempt to stop him from taunting the blind Cyclops. He ignored them and even shouted his own name, which lead to the crew being drowned in a storm sent by Poseidon- the father of the Cyclops. The point Phocion had made was clear, and the message got through. If Athens failed, it would be the Athenian people, not the war hawk leaders, who would pay the punishment. After the complete destruction of Thebes, Athenians stood awestruck in horror coming to terms with the fact that this very well could have easily been their fate.

His enemies would claim it was the lack of Athenian support which doomed Thebes, and many suspected him of serving Macedon. The claims would soon gain weight, when Alexander demanded that 10 of the famous Athenian orators whom supported the rebellion should be handed over to him for execution. Phocion took center stage, and urged the Macedonians to cast them out, for fear of provoking the cyclops. The Athenians were listening, until he took it one step too far.
Phocion suggested the men voluntarily go to Alexander as a sacrifice to save their great city, as had been done by the Eurechtheus daughters in Greek mythology. He even brought up his close friend Nicocles and proceeded to say, "Athenians, these men," he pointed to Demosthenes and the other war hawks, "have so led their city astray that, even if it were my friend Nicocles here whose name was on that list, I would tell you: Give him up".
The Athenians were outraged at his suggestion to not just avoid provoking the cyclops, but to feed it a grand banquet. Jeers of derision forced Phocion from the speakers platform, and paved the way for Demosthenes to give the speech of his life.
Countering Phocion, he too referenced Greek mythology, bringing up the story of the war between sheep and wolves. Largely due to the sheep alliance with the dogs, the sheep were fairing well against the wolves. This was, until the wolves approached the sheep with an offer to betray and surrender the dogs to them, while in return, promising lasting peace. The sheep eagerly accepted the offer, but afterwards, the wolves, instead of keeping their promise of peace, devoured the sheep who now had no protection from the dogs. Demosthenes then argued Alexander was worse than a wolf, he was a lone wolf. Lone wolves were the most savage of their kind.
The assembly knew they could not throw these ten men to the wolves, but they also knew they could not risk provoking the wolves. It would be the corrupt Demades who would be the one to provide a compromise, by proposing himself and Phocion lead an embassy to Alexander. Alexander, in the face of two of the Athenians he trusted, revoked his demand. Only one of the 10 orators was forced into exile.
Such was Athenian policy for the 12 years since. Compromise and negotiation with the Macedonians was seen as to have far more pull than war had. In his late 70's now in 323 Phocion took solace in the fact he had steered Athens away from destruction and demise. Then the news arrived of Alexander's death, and things took a turn south for old man Phocion.
 
Great updates Slyderfox, but you made a mistake: Parysatis (who was the youngest daughter of Artaxerxes III) was a cousin of Stateira, not her sister.
Darius III's younger daughter was Dypretis, the widow of Hephaestion.
 
Slyderfox,

Excellent! the plot works to perfection;now Athens must not be rush,but exercise careful deplomacy,recreate its alliance,confuse Macedonians regarding its intentions with disinformation,or play one general against the other,whatever suits you best,extend Athenian citizenship and promise it to others(especially powerful islands ex-allies),the metics in Attica and the people of Troezen(your map above) tied to Athens from ancient times,Lesbos,
Chios,Lemnos,attract Rhodos which had been pro-Persian because of Memnon
and anti-Macedonian,and Athens could raise with its allies(and it would need its ally against Thebes,Sparta that has to be reformed) a fleet of over 700 war-ships(triremes) and a great army with very capable leaders(Leosthenes is one...) and the Thessalian cavalry on its side...and your plot is ready to continue in multiple directions...
 
I quite like the name slyderfox. It's catchy.


Anyway, one of the main things I was going to have happen was have Antipater fail to surprise the Lamians and take the city. Lamia being a fortress, he would be forced to abandon attempts to take it, and face the Athenians on the field. With this, he would be surely defeated.

Now after this, like you said, the Athenians play some careful diplomacy, and build up their navy, probably ultimately defeating *instert general who tried to invade here's* navy and keeping their independence. Rhodes will join too, and maybe we will see a new Greek alliance due to the new times, with Sparta, Rhodes, and Athens.
 
I quite like the name slyderfox. It's catchy.


Anyway, one of the main things I was going to have happen was have Antipater fail to surprise the Lamians and take the city. Lamia being a fortress, he would be forced to abandon attempts to take it, and face the Athenians on the field. With this, he would be surely defeated.

Now after this, like you said, the Athenians play some careful diplomacy, and build up their navy, probably ultimately defeating *instert general who tried to invade here's* navy and keeping their independence. Rhodes will join too, and maybe we will see a new Greek alliance due to the new times, with Sparta, Rhodes, and Athens.

Precisely on the point!as for your name...we are in BC time and not WWII...(anyway.it is your name and you to chose its nuances...)
 
Hmmm. I just realized I never added in who got what satrapy. After I'm done setting the stage for the conflict in Greece, I'll add it in.
 
Aristotle (Athens, July 323 BC)

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Bust of Aristotle​

Athens had been Aristotle's home for the past 12 years, arriving just after the destruction of Thebes (and not coincidentally either). As long as Athens remained under Macedonian hegemony, it was a good place for Aristotle to continue his studies, for he had been the former tutor of Alexander, and a friend of the regent, Antipater. However, now that Athens looked like it was gearing up for a clash with Antipater and the Macedonians, Aristotle knew he would be on the wrong side as long as he remained in Athens.
It was originally Alexander's father, Nicomachus, who saw the way the wind was blowing, and placed his bets with the Macedonians, by becoming the Argaed families court physician. Aristotle had become a good friend of Phillip, and when Alexander was a child, Phillip thought the man would be a good tutor for his son. Aristotle became fond of Alexander, and the two became close, though not as close as to become scandalous, as some trying to paint a negative outlook on Alexander have suggested.
Aristotle remained had remained in Macedon until Phillip's assasination in 336, returning to Athens in 335. During his time in Athens, he lectured at the Lyceum, where he was frequently called Peripatic (walking about). He was well respected and liked in Athens during these 12 years. By 323, he was hoping to live in peace in Athens.
Alexander's death changed all this. The war hawks in Athens became encouraged and rallied support for their anti-macedonian cries. Aristotle knew the liberality of Athens had its limits. When the city was in a state of emotional war fervour, anyone was fair game. Aristotle surely knew what had happened to Socrates for being on the wrong side of a war. The aging philosopher had been forced to be exiled or commit suicide. He had chosen suicide. Aristotle did not want it to come to that for himself. For the moment though, he remained in Athens, as the Athenians prepared for war.
 
Very good,I think you have got the Athenian psychology of that moment;I hope nothing will happen to Aristotle;his stature is respected in Athens and simple affiliation with Philip is not enough to condemn him;Socrates was condemned to death because he was found guilty of introducing "koina daemonia"(kind of 'bad' mentality,in this case undemocratic/oligarchic beliefs-his students been infamous/famous oligarchs like Kritias,Alcibiades,Xenophon etc) in his teachings of the youth;he was executed in the usual method by drinking the hemlock.
 
Very good,I think you have got the Athenian psychology of that moment;I hope nothing will happen to Aristotle;his stature is respected in Athens and simple affiliation with Philip is not enough to condemn him;Socrates was condemned to death because he was found guilty of introducing "koina daemonia"(kind of 'bad' mentality,in this case undemocratic/oligarchic beliefs-his students been infamous/famous oligarchs like Kritias,Alcibiades,Xenophon etc) in his teachings of the youth;he was executed in the usual method by drinking the hemlock.

Well I am just gonna let the same thing that happened to Aristotle in real life happen to him here. He will flee soon. The Athenians will not sin against philosophy twice, I assure you. ;)
 
Hyperides (Athens, July 323 BC)
A people's voice is dangerous when charged with wrath.
-Aeschylus​
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Bust of Hyperides
For Hyperides, Alexander could not have chosen a better time to die. From his vantage point, Athens was at her most ready position as it could ever be. To make things better for Hyperides, the recent fallout and exile of Demosthenes made him the sole leader of the anti-Macedonian faction in Athens. Hyperides had spent decades in his colleague's shadow, until he personally led the testimony against his former friend at his corruption trial. Now it was he would call the shots-shots aimed right at Macedon's heart, and it was he who would win all the glory.
Athens had done nothing to summon the almost perfect situation brought before them by July of 323 BC. Indeed, it seemed like the gods were finally smiling upon Athens once again. Both the resources and opportunity for rebellion and war with Macedon, presented themselves at precisely the same moment. We must rewind all the way back 2 years prior from the summer of 323, to understand why Hyperides was certain Athens could not possibly lose this time around in their showdown with Macedon.


Harpalus Arrives In Athens
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Alexander Returns To Babylon​

When Alexander invaded India, it had seemed to those left behind in Asia and Europe, that he had left the known world behind. Some of the satraps began acting like he had left this planet and would never return, and started to act more like autonomous kings than provincial appointees. These satraps had been provided with small token forces to quell unrest and squash rebellions. Many satraps however, bolstered their ranks with hired Greek mercenaries, clearly in an effort to consolidate and expand their influence and power. Their subjects were taxed to death in order to pay for the costs, and the local treasuries skimmed for everything left.
Alexander was not in the best of moods on his return trip from India upon word reaching him of his satraps's disobedience and corruption. Satraps were ordered to to release all mercenaries under their command immediately, and punishments were to be given out by Alexander. Of course the worst offenders had already fled upon hearing of Alexander's return, including a man who was a close friend of his, Harpalus.
Harpalus was no soldier, due to him being disabled at birth. However, he was an old friend of Alexander, who brought him along for his adventures to the east. In the early stages of the Asian campaign, Harpalus had made off with imperial funds, but was forgiven by Alexander, who encouraged Harpalus to rejoin him. Later on in the campaign, Alexander gave Harpalus control of the largest treasury in Alexander's newly forged empire, the treasury in Babylon. While Alexander was away in India, Harpalus lost control, and spent lavishly on pleasures such as imported greek courtesans, and gifts, as well as other luxuries. Upon hearing of Alexander's return, Harpalus, knowing he would most likely not be forgiven twice, panicked and fled the city before Alexander's arrival.
The destination he set off to was Athens. Harpalus had honorary citizenship in the city, so so he set sail in the Spring of 324 for the Athenian harbor of Piraeus. Accompanying him, were 30 warships, 6,000 mercenaries, and a fortune in gold. Sending messages ahead of him, he made it clear he wold use the army and funds with him to sponsor an Athenian revolt from Macedonian rule.
The question remained however, if the Athenians wanted to test their luck with a revolt in the first place. Making the fleet wait off Attica for official permission to dock, the Assembly convened to weight their options. War hawks lead by Hyperides cried out to take up the offer, while Phocion and his followers argued they would be putting themselves and the city in too great of an unnecessary danger. It was Demosthenes who would prove to be the deciding factor in the debate. Changing sides, Demosthenes now argued the time was not ripe for war, and Harpalus should be sent away. His support for the avoidance of war carried the motion.
The war hawks, especially the fiery tongued Hyperides, were taken aback by Demosthenes seeming betrayal of their cause. The thought of having Harpalus and his vast amounts of gold and ships and men, was almost too much to bear. It seemed like Athens would never escape from Macedonian oppression. However, there remained some glimmer of hope.
 
Well Demosthenes had not taken any of that money and 350 talents were remaining in Athens in trust...

Demosthenes had proved his worth when he perceived to stop Phillip's expansion at Byzantium...in which he succeeded.Hepaireides wa just someone who wanted to ingratiate himself...(see Badian and Plutarch 31)

And of course,we have the Rhodian's letter to the Athenians stating unequivocally who received bribes by Harpalus,and although he was a personal enemy of Demosthenes,he didn't include him in the receivers of bribes...
 
Well Demosthenes had not taken any of that money and 350 talents were remaining in Athens in trust...

Demosthenes had proved his worth when he perceived to stop Phillip's expansion at Byzantium...in which he succeeded.Hepaireides wa just someone who wanted to ingratiate himself...(see Badian and Plutarch 31)

And of course,we have the Rhodian's letter to the Athenians stating unequivocally who received bribes by Harpalus,and although he was a personal enemy of Demosthenes,he didn't include him in the receivers of bribes...

I understand that, but that is what he was forced into exile for historically. Demosthenes will make a return though. ;)
 
Ok, so after having started two more Alternate histories since starting this one, I have since learned how to write these better and not to go into 3 pages of background before I actually get to the divergence lol. I'll have an update up soon, though I'm debating whether it should be on this thread or not or I should just restart it with the same POD on a different thread. However, I do have an update ready.
 
Leosthenes

The disbanding of all the mercenaries lead to a tidal wave of now unemployed Greek mercenaries across Alexander's Empire. While he personally planned on hiring the vast majority of them himself, some crossed over the Aegean into Taenaron. The distance from Macedonia, added to Sparta's buffer between the two states, placed them outside Alexander's reach. This became a safe haven for mercenaries everywhere and in a very short time-frame, thousands of mercenaries were crowding around Taenaron, where they came under one central leader in 324, a captain named Leonsthenes, who had lived his entire life around Macedonians, and hated Alexander.

The war hawks in Athens lead by Hyperides were keen to notice that this man was an Athenian by birth. When the Exiles Decree was announced, they opened contact with Leonsthenes, in preparation for a possible outbreak of war.

Exiles Decree
When the Olympics of 324 came around, everybody crowded around in anticipation for the new decree Alexander was about to give through Nicanor. 20,000 of these people were Greek exiles. The exiles went ecstatic when Nicanor announced, " King Alexander thus addresses the exiles from the Greek cities. It is not we who have caused your flights, but we shall be the cause of your return." Alexander was giving the Greek exiles the freedom to return to their former homes.

Almost immediately, Demosthenes and the Athenian envoys entered negotiations with Nicanor to exempt Athens from the decree. Athens had expelled the Samoans from Samos, and were worried that they would have to allow them back and thus give up Samos with it. At the same time though, they also wanted to discuss another pressing matter, the return of Harpalus.

Harpalus had returned a few weeks earlier seeking religious protection with 2 ships and a modest sum of gold and silver, using some of it to bribe the harbor master and gain entry into Athens. Harpalus had been put under house arrest, with the money being moved to the treasury, at the advice of Demosthenes. Now Athens wanted to discuss the terms of extradition to Macedon.

The two sides, both having something they wanted from the other (Macedon Harpalus and Athens to be exempt from the exiles decree). The decision over whether Athens should worship Alexander as a god must have also been discussed, Demosthenes returned to Athens saying, "Let him be the son of Zeus, and of Poseidon too id he wants". At the cost of worshiping Alexander as a god, the Athenians had been granted a postponing of the decree for them, to be heard by Alexander for the final decision.

However, this was yet another betrayal by Demosthenes to the war hawk cause in the minds of Hyperides. Shortly thereafter, the bribery scandal erupted and Hyperides got his revenge.


Bribery Scandal
When Harpalus' money went missing from the treasury, the Athenians panicked. Alexander wanted the money back, and if they didn't give it to them, he would certainly not exempt them from the exiles decree and they could face even harsher retaliation. The fingers were pointed at Demosthenes, no doubt his recent moderation on his policies towards the Macedonians arousing suspicion.

Harpalus got his chance, and when Demosthenes went on trial, he lead the prosecution, using his fiery tongue and playing as the victim of a friendship gone wrong, to arouse support against Demosthenes. Demosthenes was fined, and unable to pay the fine unless he admitted to having stole the money (where else would he have gotten it from), he went into exile.


Partition of Babylon

The various satrapies of Alexander's empire began to be doled out by Perdiccas. As Antipater was already the regent in Macedonia for Alexander, he kept his position, becoming satrap of Macedon and Greece. According to Arrian, this also included Epirus and Illyria. Lysimachus, a former bodyguard of Alexander who had distinguished himself in India, was granted Thrace. Perdiccas recognized that although Lysimachus would probably not be satisfied with this satrapy, but since the area was far from secure from the Dacians to the north, he would be too busy to do anything about it.

In asia minor, Antigonus was allotted Lycia and Pamhylia, in addition to retaining his position as satrap of Greater Phyrigia. Hellespontine Phyrigia was given to Leonnatus, who had only recently been joint regent with Perdiccas, until events got him left out. Perdiccas must have assumed Lennatus would be satisfied with this province, despite its steep drop from his previous position.

For his part in mediating and striking a compromise during Meleager's attempted coup, the still untested Eumenes of Cardia was given Paphlagonia and Cappadocia. This came with problems of its own, as Cappadocia was a trouble province, not entirely subdued by Alexander. Persian resistance was still strong in the area, and to help out Eumenes, Perdiccas ordered Antigonus and Leonnatus to join Eumenes in destroying the Persian resistance. Menander was given Lydia, and Philotas was granted Cilicia. Philotas' son, Asander, was granted Caria.

Meanwhile, Ptolemy pressured Perdiccas into awarding him Egypt. It was clear Ptolemy wanted this prestigious satrapy, and his staying loyal to Perdiccas during Meleager's attempted coup left Perdiccas with little choice. Perdiccas granted the satrapy to Ptolemy along with a Greek named Cleomenes, presumably to watch over Ptolemy.

Peucestes was awarded with Persia, and Peithon was given Greater Media. Seleucus was given Babylon. Other less important figures were given satrapies as well, though this does not need to be discussed in detail (the list goes on and on).


Greece

When news of Alexander's death broke out in Greece, Athens the war fervor in Athens revived itself. Phocion found himself swarmed by the hordes of Athenians wanting war immediately. Soon, Demosthenes returned, re-uniting with his old friend, Hyperides. Aristotle saw the way the wind was blowing, and fled the city, not wanting Athens to sin against philosophy twice. However, cooler heads prevailed.

Demosthenes now advocated for a different approach than immediate war.[1] He urged that Athens consolidate, prepare, and reach out for support. The Macedonians, and most importantly Antipater must not know her true intentions. Hyperides, stunned again by Demosthenes seeming betrayal of the war hawk cause, reluctantly went along with it. Phocion seems to have as well went along with it, hoping it would amount to nothing.

With the money from Harpalus, Athens was in a great position to hire Leosthenes' experienced and battle hardened veteran mercenaries. Athens reached out to him and his men, and promise payment in exchange for his services when they were needed. Leonsthenes agreed, and prepared his men to be available when needed by Athens.

Meanwhile, Athens reached out to Sparta and Rhodes. Sparta had never been a part of Alexander's empire, and although it was a shadow of its former self, it still had it uses as an ally. Rhodes meanwhile offered a strategic maritime base, as well as ships for the Athenian navy. It was imperative Athens secured an alliance with both of these Greek cities. All the while, an alliance was worked out between the Athenians and the Anatolians, for future war with Macedon.

At the same time, Athens began construction of a navy that would amount to over 200 warships in time. All the while, Antipater was unaware of the growing threat to his control over Greece....

[1]Finally, the POD is reached!!!!
 
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