Alexander’s Successors and the Creation of Hellenistic Kingship

This book reconstructs the early ideological development of Hellenistic kingship in the competitive international world of Alexander the Great’s successors (323-276 BC).

What happened to Alexander the Great’s empire when he died, and to the generals and companions that had conquered that empire with him? How did they begin to develop their own power and positions after his death?

Alexander’s Successors and the Creation of Hellenistic Kingship reconstructs how the development of royal ideologies led to five powerful new kingships after Alexander’s death. It reveals how ideological performances and ongoing competition among the post-Alexander elite created the reality of the long-lasting institution of Hellenistic kingship, which would last for generations and even centuries as the model for autocratic power in the ancient world. A parallel study, Royal Traditions and the Consolidation of Power by Alexander’s Successors, then examines the innovative new traditions of royal ideology that were developed in the consolidation of the new Hellenistic kingships.

Ranging from the early regencies and civil wars after Alexander’s death to the formation of multiple independent kingdoms and beyond, the generation of Alexander’s successors (323-276 BC) is comprehensively investigated. With a comparative perspective and detailed studies of diverse evidence, this is the first dedicated study of the beginnings of Hellenistic kingship and the first to put these beginnings in an international context.