Battle of Gabiene | |||||||
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Part of the Second War of the Diadochi | |||||||
Eumenes of Cardia won but killed in the Battle of Gabiene in 316 or 315 BC. Late 17th century print. | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
Antigonids | Eumenes' royalist faction | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Antigonus I Monophthalmus Demetrius I Poliorcetes Peithon |
Eumenes † Eudamus † Peucestas Antigenes † Teutamus | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
22,000 heavy infantry (8,000 Macedonian Phalangites) and an unknown number of light infantry[1] 9,000 cavalry[1] 65 elephants[1] |
36,700 infantry (both heavy and light)[1] 6,000 cavalry[1] 114 elephants[1] | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
About 5,000 | 300 | ||||||
Battle of Gabiene was the second great battle (the third battle in total; see: the battles of Orkynia and Paraitakene) between Antigonus Monophthalmus and Eumenes, two of Alexander the Great's successors (the so-called Diadochi). The battle was fought near Gabiene in Persia in the winter of 316-315 BC and ended the Second War of the Diadochi. It established Antigonus as the most powerful of the successors.
Since the sole reference of this battle is ultimately from Eumenes' personal aide Hieronymus of Cardia (later transmitted through the historian Diodorus), who later switched his allegiance to Antigonus, he provides a unique perspective from both sides' point of view.