Dividing the Spoils: The War for Alexander the Greta's Empire, Robin Waterfield, c. 2011.
Chapter 4:
The triumverate included Ptolemy of Egypt.
Rome depending on largesse of Egypt.
The triumverate ordered Ptolemy to keep the former satrap, Cleomenes, as second-in-command.
Ptolemy had Cleomenes killed; consolidated Ptolemy's kingship.
Ptolemy also annexed five cities of Cyrenaica (northeast Libya): in order to control the caravan trade from the interior of Africa, and especially the export of silphium, a plant (now extinct), unique to the regionn, that was widely used around the Mediterranean for culinary and medicinal purposes, especially contraception.
Ptolemy put his garrisons in charge of these cities; angered Perdiccas (for several reasons -- see page 45) -- but mostly because Perdiccas feared Ptolemy getting stronger putting Perdiccas at risk.
Why Olympias offered daughter Cleopatra to Perdiccas, p. 45. (Cleopatra: Alexander's sister.)
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Meanwhile, Ptolemy in Egypt hijacks/steals Alexander's body and moves it to Alexandria, still under construction.
This means war. Perdiccas was still in Pisidia but would eventually attack Egypt.
Ptolemy was letting the world know that Egypt and Ptolemy were the rightful successors.
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These were the major/main successors vying for Alexander's kingdom:
Ptolemy
Perdiccas
Eumenes
Seleucus
Did their best to align themselves with the house of Argead (Argos; true Macedonians).
Others:
Craterus
Leonnatus
Cassander
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p. 51
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