Corupedium
Corupedium is a historically significant plain located beside the Hermus River (known as Gediz Çayı) in Lydia, which is in western Asia Minor, near the modern city of Manisa. This site is renowned for being the battleground of a pivotal clash during the Hellenistic period, specifically between the successors of Alexander the Great. In February 281 BC, the final major battle of the Diadochi period took place here, pitting the commanders Lysimachus and Seleucus I Nicator against each other.
Lysimachus faced a decline in his influence due to oppressive policies in his territories, prompting Seleucus to attack from Syria. The confrontation at Corupedium marked a turning point, resulting in Lysimachus’s defeat and death, which effectively led to Seleucus gaining control over much of Alexander’s former empire in Asia. However, the victory was short-lived, as Seleucus died the following year, leading to a fragmented control of the region by his dynasty. Corupedium serves as a key historical reference point for understanding the dynamics of power and succession in the aftermath of Alexander the Great's empire.
Corupedium
Ķorou (or Kourou) Pedion: A plain beside the river Hermus (Gediz Çayı) in Lydia (western Asia Minor), near Magnesia ad Sipylum (Manisa)
It was here, between the north bank of the Hermus and its tributary the Phrygius (formerly Hyllus) that the last important battle between the successors of Alexander the Great took place. The rival commanders were Lysimachus and Seleucus I (Nicator). When Lysimachus' oppressive policies weakened his rule in northern and western Asia Minor, Seleucus, moving against him from Syria (282 BC), rapidly penetrated the peninsula. Lysimachus, with his Macedonian army, came south to meet him, and in February, 281 the two great armies clashed at Corupedium. Lysimachus was defeated and killed; and the whole of Alexander's Asian empire was at Seleucus' feet. But he too died in the following year, and the dynasty that he founded never retained more than partial control of Asia Minor.