Ancient Power Vacuum

An era of ancient history I find endlessly interesting is The Wars of the Diadochi: A time of big battles and even bigger egos. Alexander The Great conquered the known world and then died suddenly and mysteriously, leaving no one in charge. The following decades saw his empire tear itself apart as his Successors pressed their claim to rule. It's a time of skyrocketing ambition, doomed nostalgia, desperate survival, hero-worship and emulation, murderous intrigue and truly massive pitched battles. There's no holds barred. There's everything to play for, everything to lose and, of course, so much is lost.

Alexander Sarcophagus, CC James Carnehan
https://www.worldhistory.org/image/2918/alexander-sarcophagus/

A power vacuum is a great situation for an RPG isn't it? It's volatile, charged with potential energy and possibility for impactful change. Whether it's the main focus or a background element it gives players unprecedented opportunities and interesting choices to make, which is always valuable!

The Wars of The Successors provides some great inspiration for who might step forward when the Ruler of the Realm suddenly drops out of the picture.

I have the Throne

The thing about a seat of power is that, once someone is sitting in it, it's very hard to move them if they don't want to be moved. Antipater had been appointed as Regent of Macedonia And Greece, ruling the home countries while Alexander was off conquering the world. In other words he was sitting in the seat Alexander might have been expected to one day return to. The seat that now had many envious eyes on it.

I have the Right

The members of Alexander's Companion Cavalry (his honour guard) each considered themselves First Among Equals, bearing a sense of entitlement that they might succeed their King. In the case of Perdiccas, this stemmed from his tenure as second in command, having served Alexander since the beginning and been gifted with his signet ring. Surely such a clear favourite had the right to rule?

I have the Heir

Roxana's life as a Persian Princess had already taken a sharp turn when Persia was conquered by Alexander. At the time of his death she was married to him and pregnant with his child. She'd travelled with him on campaign and made both enemies and friends among his Generals, those who now squabbled over the empire. She knew her unborn son could not be ignored.

I have the Body

What better way to cement your claim to the crown than by burying the old King? In one of the more wacky plots of this period, Ptolemy stole Alexander's body to have it brought to him in Egypt for a proper funeral.

I have the Army

The Silver Shields were the veteran infantry, hardened soldiers of Alexander's long campaign of military subjugation. Whoever could call on them wielded not only a fearsome weapon of war, but their famous reputation to match. They were also a liability, being a turbulent bunch who, when it came down to it, valued the treasure they'd won in their 40 years of warfare over any ideas of loyalty (No judgement here, that's a lot of treasure!).

I have the People

I don't have a historical example to point to for this one (maybe it says something about this time period that 'the people' suffering under all this fighting are seldom mentioned? If ever?!) but a people's champion would certainly be an interesting addition to the mix here either as a sympathetic candidate or (another) villainous one!

That's it for now, till next time!