Denude

The death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC left a freshly conquered empire denuded of the charismatic leader upon which it depended. The following day, some of Alexander’s generals, bodyguards, and members of the elite administration of Alexander’s court put forward proposals on what came next. However, no sooner had this select gathering formed than it was promptly gate-crashed by the troops at large, both Macedonian and non-Macedonian, being of the mind that they had an unconditional interest in showing their approval or disapproval of the proposals raised.

The first to speak was Perdiccas, chiliarch and most influential of Alexander’s generals, to whom Alexander himself had passed his signet ring as he was dying. Positioning the empty throne of Alexander before those assembled, upon which he laid the ring, along with the crown, kingly costume, and weaponry, Perdiccas pretended disinterest in acquiring regnal authority for himself.