Antiochus IV Epiphanes vs Cassander

Antiochus IV Epiphanes became king of the Seleucid Empire after the death of his brother Seleucus IV Philopator. He seized power while the rightful heir, Demetrius I, was a hostage in Rome. His reign was marked by ambitious expansion and Hellenization policies.

Antiochus IV invaded Ptolemaic Egypt, capturing much of the country and besieging Alexandria. He was forced to withdraw after the Roman envoy Gaius Popillius Laenas delivered an ultimatum, famously drawing a circle in the sand around Antiochus and demanding an answer before he left it.

Antiochus IV issued decrees forbidding Jewish religious practices, including Sabbath observance and circumcision. He ordered the erection of an altar to Zeus in the Second Temple in Jerusalem and sacrificed pigs, an act known as the 'Abomination of Desolation'. This sparked the Maccabean Revolt.

Antiochus IV died during a military campaign in Persia, possibly from disease or in battle. His death left the Seleucid Empire weakened and facing internal revolts, including the ongoing Maccabean Revolt in Judea.

Cassander founded the city of Cassandreia on the site of the destroyed city of Potidaea in Chalcidice. The city became a major urban center in Macedonia and served as a symbol of his power and Hellenistic patronage.

Cassander ordered the rebuilding of Thebes, which had been destroyed by Alexander the Great in 335 BC. This act was intended to gain favor with the Greek city-states and to counter the legacy of Alexander, but it also demonstrated Cassander's political ambitions.

Cassander ordered the murder of Alexander IV, the son of Alexander the Great, and his mother Roxana. This act eliminated the last Argead heirs and allowed Cassander to claim the throne of Macedonia, though he faced opposition from other Diadochi.

Cassander participated in the coalition against Antigonus I at Ipsus. His forces contributed to the victory, but he did not gain significant territory. The battle secured his position in Macedonia and Greece, though he died a few years later.