The death of Alexander the Great in Babylon in 323 BC left the empire he had conquered without blood heirs ready to take up the heavy burden of governance. Thus, in the days following his passing, that task was left to a small group of Macedonian generals who had fought at his side.
Antigonus One-Eye had not been among them. Instead of following Alexander as he marched ever deeper into Asia, Antigonus had been left in the rear areas to put down lesser enemy forces in Asia Minor, and was made governor of Phrygia.
The senior generals who had taken control of the government predictably had their fallings out, and were soon enough fighting for control of the empire. They came to be known as Diadochi, or Successors, to the great Alexander. Antigonus had poor relations with Perdiccas, the leading Diadoch in Babylon, and cast about for better prospects in the west, far from the post-Alexander government in Babylon.
War Classics – Old Soldiers Never Die