Page "Battle of Ipsus" Paragraph 9

When Antigonus received news of the invasion, he abandonded preparations for a great festival to be held in Antigonia, and quickly began to march his army northwards from Syria, thorugh Cilicia, Cappadocia, Lycaonia and into Phrygia.

Lysimachus, hearing of the approach of Antigonus's army, held counsel with his officers, and decided to avoid open battle until Seleucus's arrival.

The allies thus defended their camp with entrenchments and pallisades, and when Antigonus arrived offering battle, they remained within the camp.

Antigonus therefore moved to cut off the allies provisions, forcing Lysimachus to abandon the camp and make a night-time march of some 40 miles to Dorylaion.

There, the allies built a new, triple-pallisaded camp amongst the hills, with relatively easy access to food and water.

Antigonus followed closely behind, and laid siege to the allied camp, bringing up catapults for the assault.

Lysimachus sent sorties to try and disrupt the siege-works, but the Antigonid forces always ended with the upper hand in ensuing skirmishes.

With the siege works nearing completion and food running low, Lysimachus decided to abandon the camp, and marched away during a night-time storm.

Antigonus again attempted to follow, but as winter approached with further rain, conditions became difficult, and he abandoned pursuit and dispersed his men into winter quarters instead.

The allied army marched on into Bithynia and went into winter quarters in and around the city of Heraclea.