Cassander

Cassander (kəsăn`dər), 358–297 B.C., king of Macedon, one of the chief figures in the wars of the Diadochi. The son of Antipater, he was an officer under Alexander the Great, but there was ill feeling between them. After his father's death, Cassander engaged in vigorous warfare against Antipater's successor as regent, Polyperchon. He was successful, and by 318 he had a preponderant influence in Macedonia and Greece. Alexander's mother, Olympias, challenged this and put Philip III, Alexander's half brother, and many others to death. Cassander pursued her, crushed her army, and condemned her to death (316). Later, to strengthen his claim to the throne, he married Alexander's half sister, Thessalonica, and in 311 he murdered Alexander's widow, Roxana, and their son. He resisted the efforts of Antigonus I to rebuild the empire and was one of the coalition that defeated Antigonus and Demetrius at Ipsus in 301. Secure in his position, he founded the cities of Thessaloníki and Cassandreia (on the site of Potidaea) and rebuilt Thebes.

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Cassander 

Born circa 355 B.C.; died circa 298 B.C. Macedonian general and statesman. King of Macedonia from 306 until his death. Son of Antipater.

After his father’s death in 319, Cassander rebelled against Polyperchon, who had been appointed regent by Antipater. In 317, Cassander restored the oligarchy in Athens. In 316 he and the other diadochi waged war against Antigonus I. The mother (316) and later the widow and son (309) of Alexander the Great were murdered on Cassander’s orders. By the terms of the peace treaty among the diadochi in 311, Cassander was recognized as the ruler of Macedonia, and in 306 he took the royal title.