Lysimachus was a Macedonian officer and the successor of Alexander the Great. Lysimachus grew up with the status of Macedonians, prominent positions in Alexander’s circle, and an education in the Macedonian court in Pella. During Alexander’s Persian campaigns, he served as one of the future king’s immediate bodyguards.

Due to his successes in India, Lysimachus was one of several individuals named Alexander’s successor. Following Alexander’s death the military and political leaders of the king fought four full-scale wars to settle whether the empire should disintegrate or survive as a unit. Lysimachus became governor of Thrace. He spent many years pacifying his territory in Thrace against the rebellious Thracian tribes and the coastal Greek cities. In 309 he founded Lysimacheia and in 305 proclaimed himself king. During this time he paid very little to Alexander’s other successors in Greece and Asia.

In 302 Lysimachus decided to invade Asia Minor with support from Seleucus Nicator. Still, Lysimachus bore the brunt of the campaign to defeat Antigonus Monophthalmus, King of Asia. In 301 BC he launched a perfectly timed surprise invasion of Asia Minor which eventually leads to the defeat and death Antigonus at Ipsus. The governor was the principal beneficiary of the split of the conquered territories following the battle. His newly acquired dominions stretched from north to south of Asia Minor. This shut his partner Seleucus off from the western seaboard, sowing the seeds of future conflict.

In the last years of his reign Lysimachus’ methods of government became intensely unpopular. His third wife sought to gain succession for her own sons and had Lysimachus, execute his eldest son, Agathocles, on a charge of treason. During the disorder following Agathocles’ death, Seleucus seized the opportunity to invade Asia Minor. Seleucus encountered little resistance from the people when he invaded Lysimachus’ territory in 282. Lysimachus made a stand at Corupedium near Magnesia and was killed in the battle.