CASSAN'DER (Gk. Edo-o-avapos, Kassandros) (c.354-297 n.c.). King of 'Macedonia, the son of Antipater. His first appearance in history is in B.C. 323, when he was sent to Alexander in Baby lon to defend Antipater against the false accu sations of his enemies. On this occasion he incurred the displeasure of the Macedonian King by laughing in his presence at the Persian cus tom of prostration. After the death of Alexan der, he was made ehiliarch with Seknells, and continued in this office after Antigonus became commander-in-chief. When Antipater. who was in charge of Alaeedonia, died in B.C. 319, he appointed, not Cassander, but Polysperchon, au old eomrade-in-arms, as his successor. Cassan der determined to contest the succession, and took refuge with Antigonus in Asia. Polysper ehon joined with Olympias, the mother of Alex ander. When Cassander appeared in Greece, ninny states joined his standard. lie finally secured possession of Olympias, Roxana, and the young son of Alexander, and, after putting to death the first and imprisoning the others, he married, in n.c. 316, Thessaloniea, the sister of
Alexander. It was in honor of Thessaloniea that he built and named the town of Thessaloniea in Macedonia. The next year he rebuilt Thebes, wt Inch had been destroyed by Alexander, and immediately after entered upon a war with Anti gonns. Peace was concluded in B.C. 312, and s•on after Cassander strengthened In position as supreme ruler in Macedonia by causing Rox ana and her son to lie put to death. Later lie joined forces with Lysimachus, Ptolemy. and Seknells, to oppose Antigonus, and Ant igonns was defeated and slain at the battle of Ipsus in n.c. 301. By this victory Cassander secured Macedonia and Greece. In 297 he was succeeded by his son Philip.