The wars of the Diadochi

An early death

The latter years of alexanders campaign were marred by quarrels and misfortune. Haephstion died suddenly, to be followed not long after by Alexander. At Alexanders death his generals fell into two groups, the  Macedonians who  had served under Philip of Macedon  and the Egyptians who were all of a similar age to Alexander himself and had attended Aristotle’s school.  In the latter years of Alexander’s campaign the Macedonians were bitterly critical of Alexander’s fraternising with the Persians.  Alexander died at only 33 and his empire fragmented.

Perdiccas

Because of the circumstances of his death control fell into the hands of Perdiccas, a Macedonian. He contrived a marriage with Alexanders sister Cleopatra  This led to all the other Madedonia Diadochi, (Antipater, Craterus and Antigonus) attacking him. Perdiccas was seen as as making a grab for Macedonian power, perhaps overall power.   Perdiccas though a his ally the Egyptian Eumenes defeated his Macedonian competitors and then marched against Ptolemy who had in Perdicca’s eyes stolen Alexanders Burial.

It was a bad mistake his lieutenants were all Eqyptians and after refusing to move against Ptolemy they murdered Perdiccas .

The death of Roxanne?

The remaining Macedonians fought amongst themselves and in a unsuceessful attempt to re-establish Egyptian power in Macedon, Alexanders Mother, Alexanders Wife/ mistress Barsine and her son Heracles, Alexanders wife Roxanne and her son Alexander on by Roxanne were all killed.

In the aftermath the Egyptians gained control of all but Macedonia and the Greek city states.  Egypt was inherited by Ptolemy and the Persian empire by Seucleus. In Egypt the policy of inbreeding continued. It is not impossible that Ptolemy was Alexander himself, satisfied by ruling his homeland. His mother, Olympias, rather than dying needlessly in Macedonia may have simply moved to Egypt along with his wives and male children. In Egypt  they could have changed their names and identities! Examination of Egyptian history indicates that a death was not always a death but simply a termination of a position of high office.

Ptolemy Philadelphus

Despite having five wives and many children, Ptolemy chose Ptolemy Philadelphus as Ptolemy II, Philadelphus was by no means his eldest male child.  However Philadelphus mother was Berenice I who apparently was Macedonian but had the distinction of also been cared for by the ubiquitous Lagus. We must suspect that Berenice was another half sister. Ptolemy II then married his sister and her daughter. His son married his first cousin and so on, for generation after generation.

The Magi

The Ptolemies then interbred with the Seuclids of Syria, desendants of Seucleus, aother of Alexanders close friends, who now ruled the core area of the Persian Empire conquered by Alexander. The same line breeding techniques used in Egypt were utilized.  For this to have any meaning it must mean that they all believed they were descended from Gods.  The teachings of Zarathrustra were therefore particularly offensive as they acknowledged no physical form for Ahura Mazda, the power behind the universe.

To counteract the hold of Zarathrustra’s teaching on the general population, the role of the Magi was again enhanced. Temples were built and sacrifices introduced.  Extra “wise” books were added to Zarathrustra’s code. Ahura Mazda, became the good god and Ankareh Minu was promoted as the bad god. It now could be called a religion . There were gods to worship a God!  Both Greeks and Romans were satisfied.   A greek philosopher sighed contentedly “Ahura Mazda is really Zeus”.  The religion became known as Zurvanism then Zoroastrianism. Egypt, Syria and Greece were well satisfied with their work, the teachings of Zarathustra had been modified to make them similar to Egyptian beliefs.  At first the underlying code of ethics practiced remained unchanged but slowly but surely the brilliance of Zarathrustra’s beliefs and teaching dimmed, to be held true by only a select few.

And now Rome

The four of the major religions of the ancient world were now fully defined. Greek, Egyptian, Jewish and Zoroastrianism. They all intersected and overlapped, both in philosophy, beliefs and perhaps, more importantly, geographically. In the meantime however another power was rapidly rising. In 200 BC Rome defeated Carthage and by 150 BC  all of Italy was finally controlled by Rome.  Rome now looked  to extend its influence even further.  Egypt prepared to protect its interest by infiltrating the Roman Republic. the result was that  Rome looked east before it had finally secured its norther and very vulnerable borders, why did they do that?

The most dangerous woman in the world

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Extract from The Prisoner of Foix--Chapter 43 -The EntranceNo need to buy a Kindle. Read it on your computer or tablet

John Stanley-26th April 1355

 

'Looks like we are going to see a bit of excitement, John. The Captain tried to get an agreement from the Prince that if there is surf running across the channel to Arcachon we will turn back to Bordeaux, but the Prince would hear none of it. Instead, he has offered to provide insurance for all three ships. If they are damaged or sunk, the owners will be compensated and every sailor who makes the passage will be given a bounty payment. What none of this seems to take into account is that if we sink in rough, fast-flowing waters we might all drown.'

John raised his eyebrows. 'But that is what we are going to do?'

'Yes, despite the fact that surf running accross the entrance is not uncommon and the deep water channel moves continually. In the end, the Prince attacked their captains on their weakest point, their professional pride! He threw down the gauntlet. He offered to take the Sally first through the channel, and to take control during the passage.' He raised his brow. 'We are going into the Bay of Arcachon, come what may! '

Extract from The Eagle of Carcassone -- Chapter 24-- A Real GoddessNo need to buy a Kindle. Read it on your computer or tablet

John Stanley - 22 July 1355

An hour later John walked with Ximene close to the river along the valley below St Feriole. It was the very essence of a summer’s day. The sun was fierce but in the shadow of the trees, it was cool and fragrant. The trees and shrubs along the riverbank hid their progress, from the Château, from St Feriole.

Eventually they reached a point where John thought it was safe to emerge from cover. To his satisfaction the stream extended into a pool with a sandy beach, shaded by trees. Where the stream entered the pool there was a flat grassy area, almost circular. Behind this, the bulk of two mountain ridges provided a splendid backdrop. He looked around once more ‘Not just a good training ground but a great training ground. If the Greek heroes knew about this they might be tempted to join me, to train with me’

Ximene laughed out loud. He turned to look at her. She had removed her outer clothes and was wearing a white chemise, cut short so that it barely reached her knees. Around her waist, she wore a plaited leather belt, obviously fashioned from the multitude of leather straps to be found in the tackle room.

She ran her hands down over her breasts. ‘When you were unconscious I heard you muttering about gods and goddesses, so  I have decided that from now on, for you, I will be the goddess.’

The Prisoner of FoixVol 1 of the series—The Treasure of Trencavel

Aquitaine, an English possession, is in crisis. It is under threat from neighbouring nations and internal dissension.

The Black Prince, King Edward III’s eldest son has been given the task of taking command in Aquitaine.

Suddenly there is an opportunity. Ximene Trencavel is the heiress to the lands of Occitan, to the east of Aquitaine: lands controlled by the Franks. Ximene wants independence, both for herself and for Occitan.

A union between Aquitaine and Occitan would be mutually beneficial. The Black Prince undertakes a secret journey to meet Ximene to negotiate a marriage contract. It is, however, a marriage neither of them really wants.

Meanwhile, the  Franks plot to murder Ximene to prevent ,not just the marriage, but any kind of union between England and Occitan.

The Eagle Of CarcassonneVol II of the series—The Treasure of Trencavel

The loose alliance between Ximene Trencavel and the Black Prince is under threat.

The Prince invades Occitan, to show his support for Ximene but it becomes an invasion which creates more problems than it solves.

The Prince has fallen hopelessly in love with Joan of Kent and Joan is now determined to marry him and become the next Queen of England.

Joan is therefore  determined to convince Ximene that she should not marry the Prince.

Part of her strategy is to encourage Ximene’s relationship with John Stanley—one of the Princes bodyguards—not an easy task as both John and Ximene have doubts about their compatibility.

However, John is grievously injured in a battle and Ximene commits herself to nurse him back to health.