EUMENES, a native of Cardia, a city in the Thracian Chersonesus, was born 360 and died 315 B. C. At a very early age he was employed as private secretary by Philip king of Macedonia, on account of his friendship for his
father. On the death of that prince he was confirmed in the same office by Alexander; and it was in this capacity that he accompanied that monarch into Asia. So highly did Alexander esteem him that he gave him in marriage a Persian lady of noble birth, sister to her who had married Ptolemy. Upon the death of Alexander, the provinces and armies were divided amongst his generals, and the countries assigned to Eumenes were Cappadocia and Paphlagonia, with the sea-coast of Pontus as far as Trapezus; but as they were not yet subdued, Leonatus and Antigonus were commissioned to put him in possession. Antigonus disregarded the orders of Perdicas, and Leonatus having in vain attempted to induce Eumenes to accompany him to the assistance of Antipater in Europe, made an unsuccessful attack on his life. Eumenes escaped and joined Perdicas, who assisted him in taking possession of Cappadocia.
About this time Craterus and Antipater, having reduced Greece, determined to pass into Asia and overthrow the power of Perdicas. It may be easily imagined that Cappadocia was the first object of their attack; and accordingly Eumenes was appointed commander of all the forces in the neighbouring countries. But to this Neoptolemus, one of the generals, refused to submit; and being defeated by Eumenes, he fled to Antipater and Craterus. The presence of Antipater was required in Cilicia, and the army destined to act against Eumenes was therefore commanded by Craterus and Neoptolemus. They were, however, completely defeated; Neoptolemus was killed, and Craterus died of his wounds, 321 B. C. The pride of the Macedonians was hurt by this defeat of two of their generals by a person whom they considered as a stranger; and the news having reached them a few days after the death of Perdicas, the Macedonian chiefs condemned Eumenes to death, and charged Antipater and Antigonus with the execution of their order. Eumenes was at first successful, but being defeated through the treachery of one of his officers, he fled to Nora, a strong fortress on the confines of Cappadocia and Lycia. Here he made a successful resistance, and was afterwards appointed by Olympias to command the army against Antigonus, whose intentions could no longer be misunderstood. He gained a battle against his adversary, but was unlucky enough to lose the baggage and wives belonging to his Macedonian phalanx. Antigonus offered to restore them on condition that the soldiers would surrender Eumenes into his hands, which they were base enough to agree to; and Antigonus immediately murdered his opponent, in the fortieth year of his age. (Plutarch, Life of Eumenes; Nepos; Diodor. Sic. xviii. 30.)