Hieronymus of Cardia (Ἱερώνυμος ὁ Καρδιανός) was a Greek historian and statesman of the early Hellenistic period. A native of Cardia, he served under his fellow citizen Eumenes, accompanying him on campaigns and being wounded at the Battle of Gabiene in 316 BCE [1][2]. After Eumenes' execution, Hieronymus served Antigonus I Monophthalmus and his successors, holding important administrative posts and living to an advanced age of 104, which allowed him to witness the Wars of the Diadochi until at least 272 BCE [1][2].

His major work was the History of the Diadochi, a prose account covering the period from Alexander the Great’s death in 323 BCE to at least the death of Pyrrhus of Epirus in 272 BCE. The history is lost but survives in fragments and was extensively used by later historians like Diodorus Siculus [1][2][3].

Hieronymus is the most important primary source for the Diadochi period. His significance stems from his direct participation in events, access to leaders and documents, and his reliable, unembellished narrative, which formed the foundational source for later ancient historians and remains crucial for modern understanding of the era [1][2][3].

Sources 1. Encyclopædia Britannica: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Hieronymus-of-Cardia 2. World History Encyclopedia: https://www.worldhistory.org/Hieronymus_of_Cardia/ 3. Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Classics: https://oxfordre.com/classics/view/10.1093/acrefore/9780199381135.001.0001/acrefore-9780199381135-e-3070