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Ipsus [?], 301 BC
Strategic Context
As Alexander the Great lays dying in 323 BC, he is asked who should inherit his vast empire to which he reportedly answers: “the strongest.” Since then, five dominant figures emerge to struggle for the remains of his great empire: Ptolemy in Egypt, Cassander in Macedon, Lysimachus in Thrace, Seleucus in eastern Asia and Antigonus in western Asia. Alliances unsurprisingly shift constantly. Antigonus, occupying the central position, wants a united empire under one leader whereas the others are content to rule and expand their own realms. In 302 BC, the other leaders begin to cooperate effectively against Antigonus and seek to merge forces, mainly supplied by Seleucus and Lysimachus. Antigonus fails to defeat these in detail and now faces their combined might.
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Stakes
+ An Allied victory would end Antigonus’ ambitions of a united empire and cripple his own realm.
+ An Antigonid victory would fracture the coalition, allowing Antigonus to strike and defeat any one enemy.
By Jonathan Webb, 2010

2. Ipsus, 301 BC Strength Allies Well Antigonids Well Seleucus I
Antigonus I
Lysimachus
Demetrius I
64,000 infantry
70,000 infantry
15,000 cavalry
10,000 cavalry
400 war elephants
75 war elephants
120 chariots
By Jonathan Webb, 2010

3. Western Asia c. 303 BC

4. The battlefield consists of a flat, open plain with only low, gently rolling hills off-map towards the top.
Allies
(Seleucus/Lysimachus)
Antigonids
(Antigonus/Demetrius)

5. Heavy infantry Heavy infantry Light infantry Light infantry
Antigonus awaits the return of Demetrius as the Allied war elephants force his light infantry to retreat. The hidden Allied horse-archers exploit the exposed Antigonid right flank by firing arrows into the flanks of the infantry phalanx while war elephants and light infantry disrupt it by showering its front with missiles. On the Antigonid left wing, a fierce battle between war elephants develops.
Seleucus/Lysimachus continue to rake the Antigonid infantry phalanx with missiles, causing casualties and desertions. With Demetrius still out of sight, Antigonus seeks to preserve his force until his return by redeploying infantry to protect his right flank. The elephant battle on the Antigonid left continues inconclusively but is pinning Antigonid forces there.
After patiently wearing down the Antigonid infantry phalanx, Seleucus redeploys his elephants to block Demetrius’ return and launches the decisive attack with his own infantry phalanx. Antigonus is killed early on in the engagement and his force quickly disintegrates, pursued by Allied forces.
Seleucus deploys his infantry in the center with cavalry on the wings, the stronger left wing commanded by his son, Antiochus. The Allied chariots remain to the rear. Most of the Allied line is fronted by war elephants and light infantry commanded by Lysimachus with horse-archers hidden just behind the elephant screen. Seleucus plans to lure away the Antigonid heavy cavalry and hit the infantry phalanx’s open right flank. Antigonus deploys his infantry in the center with his heavy cavalry on the wings, the stronger right wing commanded by his son, Demetrius, and the weaker left wing covered by the meager force of war elephants commanded by Adronicus. Man-made obstacles in front of the Antigonid infantry protect them from the vast Allied war elephant force. Antigonus plans to rout the Allied left wing with heavy cavalry and hit the infantry phalanx from behind.
Antiochus harasses the Antigonid right wing by firing arrows and then retreating when Demetrius charges with his heavier cavalry, a pattern which carries the opposing cavalry forces away from the battlefield. Meanwhile, the Allied war elephants accompanied by light infantry, advance to skirmish with their Antigonid counterparts.
Allies
(Seleucus/Lysimachus)
Seleucus/Lysimachus
Symbol guide
Antiochus
Allies Antigonids
Heavy infantry Heavy infantry
Light infantry Light infantry
Cavalry Cavalry
Light cavalry Light cavalry
War elephants War elephants
Chariots
Obstacles
Allies
(Seleucus I/Lysimachus)
64,000 infantry
15,000 cavalry
400 war elephants
120 chariots
Antigonids
(Antigonus I/Demetrius I)
70,000 infantry
10,000 cavalry
75 war elephants
Andronicus
Demetrius
Antigonus
Antigonids
(Antigonus/Demetrius)

6. Ipsus, 301 BC Casualties & Aftermath
Allies:
Antigonids:
≈3,000 or 4%
≈48,000 or
60%
Demetrius escaped from this disaster but did not continue his father’s aspirations for a united Alexandrian empire. Antigonus’ defeat at Ipsus firmly established that there would be no such empire. The victors carved up the Antigonid realm immediately after the battle, eliminating any buffer between them and eventually leading to further maneuvering against one another for more land. These maneuvers culminated in the six Syrian Wars lasting until 168 BC, far outlasting either side’s leaders and their ambitions.
By Jonathan Webb, 2010

7. The Art of Battle: Animated Battle Maps
By Jonathan Webb, 2010