Arridaeus’ action, in starting without permission, and the defiance of Polemon’s order, were acts of open revolt against the higher authority of the kingdom.  Perdiccas called all loyal followers to the council of war.  Ptolemy, he said, had defied the order of the kings in his behaviour concerning the funeral procession; and he had also given shelter to the exiled satraps of Phrygia.  He was prepared for war, which he hoped to bring about.  It was for them (the loyal ones) to uphold the dignity of the kingdom.  They must try to take him unawares, and to overcome them individually.  The question was, if the Egyptians or the Macedonians ought to be first attacked.  In the end, plans were carefully concerted for an attack on Egypt and the protection of Europe.  In the early spring of B.C. 321, Perdiccas and his colleagues set out for Egypt with the imperial army, ordering the fleet to follow, and leaving Eumenes with skilled officers and troops in general command of Asia Minor for the purpose of guarding the Hellespont.

At the Egyptian frontier, Perdiccas summoned the army together, that the men themselves should give judgment in the case of the satrap of Egypt, in the same way as in the preceding autumn they had given judgment in the case of Antigones.  He expected a decision which would enable him to finish what he had already begun.  The accusations were that he had refused obedience to the kings, that he had fought against and overcome the Greeks of Cyrenaica (who had received freedom from Alexander), and that he had taken possession of the king’s body, and carried it to Memphis.

According to the single account, which tells us of these proceedings, Ptolemy himself appeared to conduct his own defence before the assembled warriors.  He had good reason for reckoning on the impression his confidence in them would make upon them, and on the love that he knew the Macedonians bore towards him.  He knew, too, of the increasing dislike of the imperial regent.  His defence was heard with growing approval, and the army’s judgment was “freedom.”

In spite of this the regent kept to the war.  The decision of the troops alienated him still more from them.  The war with Egypt was contrary to their wishes, and they murmured openly.  Perdiccas sought to put down the refractory spirit with a stern military hand, but the remonstrances of his officers were in vain.  He treated the first in the land in an inconsiderate and despotic manner, removed the most deserving from their command, and trusted himself alone.  This same man, who had climbed the path to greatness with so much foresight, self-command, energy, and statesmanship, seemed now, the nearer he grew to the summit of his ambition, to lose all clearness of sight and moderation, which traits alone could help him to take this last and dangerous step.  He had the advantage of tried troops, the elephants of Alexander, and the fleet under the command of his brother-in-law was near the mouth of the Nile; but he had overstepped the mark.