Eumenes of Cardia was a Greek scholar. He was both a friend and a scribe for Alexander the Great. After Alexander's death, Eumenes ended up in command of a large body of Macedonian and other Greek soldiers fighting in support of Alexander's son, Alexander IV. This was early in the Wars of the Diadochi. His main enemy was Antingonus One-eyed. Eumenes and Antigonus fought a series of battles across Iraq and Iran. The Macedonians in his army were openly skeptical of Eumenes but his skills as a general were undeniable. However, he never commanded their full allegiance and died as a result.
According to Plutarch and Diodorus, Eumenes won a battle but lost control over his army's baggage camp. This baggage was all the loot which the Macedonian veterans (called The Silver Shields (Greek: Argyraspids)) had accumulated over 30 years of successful warfare. It was not only gold and gems but their women and children. Antigonus sent a message to the Silver Shields saying he would give back all their baggage if they gave him Eumenes. The Silver Shields handed over Eumenes. Antigonus, after some consideration, had his enemy executed.
Eumenes is a tragic figure, a man who seemingly tried to do the right thing but was overcome by a more ruthless enemy and the treachery of his own soldiers.
In the ensuing division of the empire, Cappadocia and Paphlagonia were assigned to Eumenes; but as they were not yet subdued, Leonnatus and Antigonus were charged by Perdiccas with securing them for him.
Eumenes, betrayed to them by one of his own officers, fled to Nora, a strong fortress on the border between Cappadocia and Lycaonia, where he held out for more than a year, until the death of Antipater through his opponents into disarray.
Eumenes is a tragic figure, a man who seemingly tried to do the right thing but was overcome by a more ruthless enemy and the treachery of his own soldiers.
This vision Eumenes interpreted at once as boding success to himself, who was to fight for a fruitful country, and at that very time covered with the young ears, the whole being sown with corn, and the fields so thick with it that they made a beautiful show of a long peace.
Eumenes, transported with passion and his inveterate hatred to him, fell to reviling and stripping him, and perceived not that his sword was still in his hand.
Eumenes, having commended them, retired to his tent, and telling his friends he lived among a herd of wild beasts, made his will, and tore up all his letters, lest his correspondents after his death should be questioned or punished on account of anything in his secret papers.
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