Cassander, Kingdom of

Ptolemy, the Macedonian ruler of Egypt, invades central Greece in 308, capturing Corinth and …

…neighboring Sicyon and …

…Megara.

Pyrrhus, upon becoming ruler of Hellenistic Epirus at the age of twelve, allies himself with Demetrius, son of Antigonus I Monophthalmus of Macedon.

Demetrius, who had been unsuccessful against Ptolemy and against the Nabataeans, liberates Athens from Cassander in 307 BCE, ousting Demetrius of Phaleron, Cassander's governor, and reestablishing the old Athenian constitution.

The grateful Athenians honor Antigonus and Demetrius as divine saviors (theoi soteres).

Cassander's influence in Greece is now broken.

Demetrius defeats Ptolemy's fleet near Salamis on Cyprus in 306, and conquers the island.

Demetrius' victory over Ptolemy gives Antigonus control of the Aegean, of the eastern Mediterranean, and of all of the Near East except Babylonia.

The assembled army proclaims Antigonus king (basileus), and his friends adorn him with the diadem.

For his part, Antigonus appoints Demetrius king and co-regent and sends him the diadem.

This is to become a traditional ceremony in the Hellenistic monarchy.

An exceptional strategist and combat leader, Antigonus is also an astute ruler who cultivates the friendship of Athens and other Greek city-states.

He establishes as his capital city Antigoneia, a little father up on the Orontes than present-day Antakya (Antioch).

Ptolemy temporarily loses Cyrene as well and is unable to hold the important Greek positions of Corinth, …

…Sicyon and …

…Megara.