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The Battle of Paraitakene was a battle in the wars of the successors of
Alexander the
Great (see Diadochi) between
Antigonus I
Monophthalmus and Eumenes. It was fought in 317.
Opponents:
Antigonids versus Eumenes’ Royalist faction
Commanders and leaders:
Antigonus I Monophthalmus Demetrius I Poliorcetes Peithon
Eumenes Eudamus Peucestas Antigenes Teutamus
Strength:
Antigonus - 28,000 heavy infantry, 5,500 light infantry, 6,900 light cavalry,
3,700 heavy cavalry, 65 war elephants
Eumenes - 17,000 heavy infantry, 18,000 light infantry, 6,000 cavalry, 125 war
elephants
Casualties and losses:
Antigonus - 7,700, inc. 3,700 killed
Eumenes - 1,540, inc. 540 killed
Background:
After the death of Alexander the Great, his generals immediately began
squabbling over his huge empire. Soon it degenerated into open warfare, with
each general attempting to claim a portion of Alexander's vast kingdom. One of
the most talented successor generals (Diadochi) was Antigonus Monophthalmus, so
called because of an eye he lost in a siege. During the early years of warfare
between the Diadochi, he faced Eumenes, a capable general who had already
crushed the popular general Craterus. The two Diadochi
fought a series of battles across Asia Minor in which Antigonos completely
outgeneraled Eumenes. Eumenes retreated to, and was besieged in, the fortress
of Nora. Eventually, after swearing an oath, Eumenes was released.
Unfortunately for Antigonos Eumenes had revised the original oath in a way he
was still able to continue the war without being labeled an oathbreaker.
Eumenes recruited a small army and marched south into Cilicia where he made an
alliance with Antigenes and Teutamos (commanders of the Silver Shields and the
Hypaspists, Alexander's veterans). In Cilicia, Syria and Phoenicia Eumenes
recruited additional troops for his army and ships for his fleet and renewed
the war against Antigonos. Antigonos, having taken care of his enemies in the
West, now marched East after Eumenes. When he arrived in Cilicia he found out
Eumenes had marched to Mesopotamia trying to get the eastern Satraps to join
his cause. After securing Cilicia and Syria he marched to Mesopotamia intent
upon bringing Eumenes to battle. Eumenes avoided battle and the armies marched
and countermarched through Babylonia, Susiana and Media until finally, in the
summer of 316, they faced off across a plain in the lands of the Paraitakenoi,
to the northeast of Susa.
Prelude:
In the summer of 316, Antigonus moved southward from Media towards Persia in
the hope of forcing Eumenes to battle. Eumenes was moving north from Persia.
The two armies met in the region called Paraitakene, between Media and Persia.
Antigonus drew up his army in a strong defensive position. The two armies
surveyed each other for a while, and for four days they lived off the land. On
the fifth day, supplies were running low so Antigonus decided to march away to
Gabiene, where the countryside was rich and unplundered. Unfortunately his
plans were betrayed by some deserters, and Eumenes was able to march off first.
When Antigonus found out his opponent had left he gave chase with his cavalry
while the rest of his army followed at moderate speed. In this way he caught up
with Eumenes's rearguard and forced him to halt his army. When the rest of
Antigonus's army came up both sides prepared for battle.
Battle:
Antigonus deployed his army obliquely, the right wing leading, in the same
fashion used by Alexander and Philip. Antigonus deployed his light horse (c.
7,000 horsemen) on the left under Peithon, his heavy cavalry (3,700 horsemen)
and light infantry were placed on the right flank resting on the hills under
his own command and his phalanx held the center, with the Macedonians on the
right, the Asians in the center and the mercenaries (probably Greeks) on the
left, while the war elephants were spread across the line. Eumenes, also placed
his phalanx in the center, with the elite Argyraspides and Hypaspists on the
right of the phalanx. His left flank, resting near the hill, was made up of
cavalry, elephants, and auxiliaries. The right flank was led by Eumenes himself
with his heavy cavalry (2,900 horsemen). Antigonus's oldest son Demetrius, aged
about twenty, was with his father commanding the heavy cavalry on the right and
making his major combat debut. The battle began with Peithon, ignoring his
orders to hang back, charging Eumenes's heavy cavalry with his more numerous
light cavalry. Eumenes held his own against Pheiton with his heavy cavalry and
elephants and then attacked him in the flank with a couple of his own light
cavalry squadrons brought over from his left flank. Peithon was driven back to
the foothills in rout. In the center, the two phalanxes engaged, again to
Eumenes’ advantage due to the incredible skill of the Argyraspides who,
despite their age (50 to 70 years old), seemed invincible. Antigonus's phalanx
was also driven back to the foothills. Despite these reverses, Antigonus kept
his head and when he observed that the very success of the enemy phalanx had
led them forward opening up a gap between their center and their left flank he
charged his heavy cavalry into this gap, wheeling right and left to the rear of
Eumenes's cavalry and his phalanx. The attack proved successful – ending
what seemed to be the start of a Eumenes victory over another opponent. The
battle slowed as both sides tried to rally broken units. Eumenes tried to claim
victory by occupying the battlefield but his troops insisted on returning to
their baggage and making camp there. Antigonos, who had his troops better in
hand, marched forward and claimed the battlefield.
Aftermath:
Antigonus claimed victory, even though he lost some 3,700 men, and a further
4,000 were wounded. Eumenes came off with a loss of only 540 men and some 1,000
injured. Antigonos used trickery (force marching his army away by night) to get
away from Eumenes, but he would be back the following year. Their next major
confrontation would be the Battle of
Gabiene.
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