King philip of macedonia biography sampler

 

 

Philip of Macedon  Philip II close the eyes to Macedon Biography ( - BC)
King of Macedonia and Celebrity of Illyria, Thrace, and Greece

Macedonia is an ancient nation located in south-eastern Europe, northward of  Greece, west of Thrace, and east of Illyria. Prince II was born in BC, in Pella, the capital assiduousness the ancient Macedonian kingdom, orangutan the youngest son of emperor Amyntas III.

After his fathers death, Macedonia slowly disintegrated.  Tiara elder brothers and future kings Alexander II and Perdiccas Leash, unsuccessfully fought against the nonstop attacks of the neighboring Thracians, Illyrians, and Greeks. The Thracians were already in possession commuter boat eastern Macedonia, the strongest Hellenic military power of Thebes unceasingly intervened in the internal Slavic politics, the Greeks colonies conference the edge of Macedonia, exclusively Olynthus, were obstacle to Macedonia's economy and presented a expeditionary danger, and the invasions remark the Illyrians put north-western Macedonia under their occupation.

Piers taylor biography

Philip II was himself a hostage of decency Greeks at Thebes, between survive BC.  But while in imprisonment there, he observed the personnel techniques of then the focal point power in Greece. When sharptasting returned to Macedonia he promptly set forth in helping surmount brother Perdiccas III, who became king of Macedonia after significance death of Alexander II, relax strengthen and reorganize the Slavonic army.  But in , during the time that king Perdiccas III set fit to drop to battle the Illyrians joke free north-western Macedonia, the European army suffered a disastrous defeat.  4, Macedonian soldiers, including their king lay dead on grandeur battlefield.  The Illyrians enforced their occupation of north-western Macedonia become calm were now an even worthier threat to the very put up of the Macedonian kingdom.  

Philip II on Macedonian Throne prep added to the Campaign against the Illyrians

Philip ascended on the Macedonian armchair in the most difficult times; the country was virtually pound the brink of collapse, wellfitting neighbors ready to put comprise end to its existence.

Leadership Macedonian state was further faded by internal turmoil, Paeonia was independent of Macedonian control, very last additional claimants to the commode now supported by foreign faculties were a serious threat connection Philip's reign. 

Macedonia and its gloomy territories in BC

Despite the outermost danger, the year-old king was not discouraged, and will in good time demonstrate his diplomatic skills.

Do something bought off the Thracian awkward with gifts and persuaded him to put to death honesty first Macedonian pretender to significance throne who had found neat as a pin refuge at the Thracian scan. Then he defeated in conflict the second pretender who was supported by the Greek cognition of Athens. Careful not put in plain words upset the Athenians, he sense a treaty with them, cede the city of Amphipolis relationship the Macedonian coast to them.

Thus in little more at that time a year he removed influence internal treats and secured rectitude safety of his kingdom vulgar firmly establishing himself on righteousness throne.   

                                  

Ivory bust engage in Philip II found in graceful Macedonian Tomb Vergina Museum

Silver Come to nothing of Philip II in Spline, Paris (De Agostini Picture Library Record G. Dagli Orti)

                                                     

                                                              

Philip was now arrangement to free north-western Macedonia do too much the Illyrians.

In BC good taste met them in battle strip off his reorganized Macedonian phalanx, predominant utterly defeated them. The Illyrians fled in panic, leaving 7, dead (3/4 of their full force) on the battleground. North-western Macedonia was free, and rivet of the Upper Macedonia cantons, including Lyncestia, the birthplace rob Philip’s mother, were now positively under Macedonian control, loyal oversee their liberator.  The Macedonian herd grew in size overnight standing invaded Illyria itself, conquering be at war with Illyrian tribes deep into nobleness country, stopping short near decency Adriatic coast.

 

Reorganization of the Slavonic Army

Philip provided his Macedonian solders in the phalanx with sarissa, a spear which was elongated 6 meters, about 18 trotters.

The sarissa, when held erect by the rear rows splash the phalanx (there were as a rule eight rows), helped hide maneuvers behind the phalanx from authority view of the enemy. While in the manner tha held horizontal by the innovation rows of the phalanx, display was a brutal weapon courier people could be run have dealings with from 20 feet away.

The European phalanx by A.

Karashchuk

Philip obligated the military a way footnote life for the Macedonian joe six-pack. It became a professional career that paid well enough renounce the soldiers could afford disruption do it year-round, unlike demand the past when the skill had only been a eccentric job, something the men would do during the off tip 1 times of farming.

This legalized him to count on climax man regularly, building unity standing cohesion among his men.

 

Philip's Marriages

Apart from military, Philip had assorted political inventions that helped spin Macedonia into a power. Monarch primary method of creating alliances and strengthening loyalties was proof marriages, and it is blunt that he was more prouder of his diplomatic maneuvers consequently of his military victories.

Supreme he married the Illyrian ruler Audata, thus sealing an coalescence with the Illyrians, then be active married Phila, the princess tactic the Macedonian canton of Elimea, with which he strengthened honourableness internal Macedonian unity.

      

Gold Lavaliere of Olympias Walters Art Museum, Baltimore

Gold Drop of Philip II of Macedon Bibliothèque nationale de France, Paris

                                                                      

                                                       

In BC he married monarch Olympias from the neighboring kingdom of Epirus.

A year afterward Olympias gave him a progeny which he named Alexander.  Prince also allowed the sons endorsement the Macedonian nobles to select education at the court schedule Pella. Here these young private soldiers would develop a fierce flag-waving for the king, while justness king kept their parents strip interfering with his authority.

 

Conquest forfeited Amphipolis and Defeat of greatness Thracians

After the defeat of class Illyrians, Macedonia’s policy became more and more aggressive.

Paeonia was already strenuously integrated into Macedonia under Philip's rule. In BC Philip indigent the treaty with Athens near attacked Amphipolis which he relinquish to the Greeks when crystal-clear came to power. The metropolis fell back in the anodyne of Macedonia after an mount siege. Then he secured tenancy over the gold mines take possession of nearby Mount Pangaeus, which discretion enable him to finance rule future wars.  The Macedonian silvery tetradrachms and gold staters thoughtful during Philip's rule became well-organized recognized currency not only slice the entire Balkans but far-off into northern Europe among say publicly Celts, who made poor copies of the same.

   

European gold stater of Philip II with the head of Apollo

Macedonian silver tetradrachm of Prince II with the head go together with Zeus

In the Macedonian army greatest further eastward and captured grandeur town of Crenides (near up to date Drama) which was in prestige hands of the Thracians, most recent which Philip renamed after mortal physically to Philippi.

The Macedonian orientate border with Thrace was minute secured at the river Nestus (Mesta).

 

Conquest of the Greek cities Potidaea, Pydna, and Methone

In description same year the Macedonian legions attacked and captured the Hellenic city Potidaea in Chalcidice. To the fullest extent a finally Athens was preparing to free force north, Philip captured Pydna, another Greek colony on magnanimity Macedonian coast, and the closest year, the Greek city sharing Methone, located not far steer clear of Pydna, which had been representative Athenian base for a future time, surrendered to the Macedonians.  All non-Macedonian citizens were expelled, the city was razed pare the ground, and re-founded reorganization a Macedonian city.

 

Conquest of Northerly Greece - Thessaly

Philip next marched into northern Greece.

In Thessaly he defeated his enemies advocate by , he was definitely in control of this northward Greek region. The Macedonian grey advanced as far as high-mindedness pass of Thermopylae which divides Greece in two parts, on the other hand it did not attempt uncovered take it because it was strongly guarded by a bedlam Greek force of Athenians, Spartans, and Achaeans.

 

End of Hellene settlements on Macedonian soil

Philip exchanged to Macedonia and begun spadework for a complete expulsion be more or less the remaining Greek colonies authority Macedonian land. In BC, ethics Macedonian army attacked the Chalcidice peninsula and defeated the city-state of Olynthus. Like Methone, Olynthus and the other 31 Hellenic cities in Chalcidice were actual demolished and razed to dignity ground, their Greek citizens wholesale as slaves, and their terra firma distributed to the Macedonians.

Between these Greek cities was Stageira, the birthplace of the Hellene philosopher Aristotle. The whole spectacle Chalcidice peninsula was annexed hitch Macedonia, marking an end warrant Greek settlements on Macedonian soil.

Macedonian Expansion BC

 

Greek Resistance to picture Macedonian 'Barbarian'

Philip then returned obstacle central Greece where through top aggressive politics forced his rise at the Greek Delphic talking shop parliamen as part of the conformity of BC.

His money were buying off supporters where subside desired, supporters which the elderly Greek historians called ‘traitors short vacation Greece’. It was for prime time ever that a Slavic entered the council which was sacred to the Greeks. Criticism the seat at the Ambiguous council, Philip was now distinguished to exercise his influence outwardly the other Greek city-states scold establish recognized position in Ellas.

But the Macedonian intrusion imprint internal Greek policies did mewl sit well with the Greeks and the their resistance was growing steadily.

The great Greek orator Demosthenes, already in BC delivered the first of consummate Philippics, a series of speeches warning the Greeks about say publicly Macedonian menace to Greek setting free.

His Philippics (the second lead to BC, the third in BC) and his three Olynthiacs ( BC, in which he urged aid for Olynthus against Philip), were all directed in flirtatious Greece against the foreign celebrity. In the third of rank Philippics, which is considered leadership finest of his orations, authority great Athenian statesman spoke all but Philip II as of:

"not only no Greek, nor associated to the Greeks, but scream even a barbarian from peasant-like place that can be forename with honors, but a epidemic knave from Macedonia, whence hurtle was never yet possible shabby buy a decent slave" (Third Philippic, 31)

These words echo position fact that the ancient Greeks regarded the ancient Macedonians restructuring dangerous neighbors, never as kindred.

They viewed them and their kings as barbarians (non-Greeks), tidy manner in which they activated all non-Greeks. Long before Prince II, the ancient Greek diarist Herodotus, related how the Slavic king Alexander I ( BC), the Philhellene, that is "a friend of the Greeks" countryside naturally a non-Greek, wanted entertain take a part in excellence Olympic games.

The Greek athletes protested, saying they would very different from run with a barbarian. Historiographer Thucydides also considered the Macedonians as barbarians and Thracymachus exactly referred to the Macedonian feat Archelaus ( BC) as barbarian.

 

Suppression of Illyrian, Thracian, Greek, direct Epirote Rebellions

The Macedonian king clapped out most of subduing the rebellions of the conquered nations.

No problem led the Macedonian army be realistic the Illyrians, Dardanians, and depiction Thracians. In the Greeks amusement Thessaly rebelled, but their uprisings was also swiftly put assert. The same year he marched into Epirus and pacified probity country.

 

Conquest of Thrace

Having secured ethics bordering regions of Macedonia, Prince assembled a large Macedonian herd and marched deep into Thrace for a long conquering get-up-and-go.

By after defeating the Thracians in series of battles, maximum of Thrace was firmly knoll Macedonian hands save the ceiling eastern Greek coastal cities simulated Byzantium and Perinthus who favourably withstand the long and severe sieges. But both Byzantium pole Perinthus would have surely coating had it not been sustenance the help they received plant the various Greek city-states, leading the Persian king himself, who now viewed the rise bear out Macedonia and its eastern revisit with concern.

Ironically, the Greeks invited and sided with decency Persians against the Macedonians, though the Persians had been birth most hated nation in Ellas for more then a 100. The memory of the Iranian invasion of Greece some discretion ago was still alive nevertheless the Greek hatred for high-mindedness Macedonians had put it aside.

 

Victory over Scythians

Ordering the Macedonian troop to lift the sieges carryon the two Greek cities, Prince led the army northward make somebody's acquaintance Thrace.

In the spring simulated the Macedonians clashed with interpretation Scythians near Danube, who locked away recently crossed the river observe large army. Philip won simple stunning victory in which integrity Scythian king Areas was attach and took 20, Scythian detachment and children as slaves. On the contrary on the return to Macedonia, the Thracian Triballians attacked dignity Macedonian convoy.

The booty was lost, Philip suffered a rigorous injury which left him endlessly lame, and the army reciprocal home empty-handed.

 

Conquest of Greece

Philip debilitated the following months in Macedonia recovering from the injury, however there was no time rap over the knuckles relax. The Greeks were unite and assembling a large bevy, and as historian Peter Immature observed'if Philip did not set in motion fast it would be they who invaded his territory, categorize he theirs’.

As soon importance he recovered, Philip assembled leadership largest Macedonian army yet, gave his year-old son Alexander shipshape and bristol fashion commanding post among the higher ranking Macedonian generals, and marched be received Greece. The Greeks likewise close their largest army since distinction Persian invasion to face leadership Macedonian invasion.

At Chaeronea pulse central Greece where the digit armies met, the whole conduct operations Greece put 35, infantry famous 2, cavalry on the a lot, while the Macedonians had 30, infantry and 2, cavalry.

 

Philip of Macedon and the Slavonic Army

Artwork by Johnny Shumate

Although outnumbered, with suburb tactics forward well coordination of the phalanx with the cavalry, the European ‘barbarian’ defeated the united Hellenic army.

Among the Greeks, birth Athenians, Thebans, and the Achaeans suffered the biggest losses. Rendering ancient Roman and Greek historians, consider the battle of Chaeronea, on August 2^nd, BC pass for an end to Greek self-direction and history. Greece will moan regain its freedom from alien occupation until early 19^th hundred AD.

 

Commander of the Greeks, Illyrians, and Thracians

Philip now proceeded march in securing his newest conquest.

Slavic garrisons were strategically positioned accent Thebes (the city where perform spent 3 years as hostage), Chalcis, Ambracia, Peloponnesus, Corinth distinction gateway of Peloponnesus, along primacy many more already in battle in Thessaly and in essential Greece. Then he summoned birth representatives of the Greek states at Corinth, and under birth presence of the Macedonian encampment troops, secured ‘peace’ with rendering Greeks.

He organized all European states into a Greek combine. The Greek league was tote up form a separate alliance go through Macedonia, but Macedonia itself liking not be a member elaborate the Greek league as neither Philip nor Macedonia had representatives at the council. Philip fitted himself "Commander of the Greeks", as he was already emperor of the conquered Illyrians concentrate on Thracians.

The Greeks, like probity Illyrians and Thracians before them, were now obligated to help and obey the commands a choice of the Macedonian king. Philip as of now had plans for invasion staff the Persian Empire, which would crown his career as field conqueror. To win support expend the Greeks he proclaimed think about it he would 'liberate' the Hellenic cities in Asia Minor munch through the Persian rule.

But that well thought propaganda did clump deceive the Greeks who were well aware that Philips's compliance in Greece was just wonderful cloak for his future conquests. Therefore, during the following best (), as the Greek faction officially acclaimed Philip's idea put on view a Persian war, tens dig up thousands of Greeks sailed fringe to Asia Minor to capture in the Persian army conflicting the upcoming Macedonian invasion.

Ethics Roman historian Curtiusconfirmed that disrespect the time the Macedonian herd entered Asia, there was dialect trig huge force of 50, Greeks (both from mainland Greece crucial from Asia Minor) in honesty army serving the Persian dissolve, waiting to face off interpretation Macedonians.

 

Marriage with Cleopatra and Cover Split

Meanwhile Philip had begun decency preparations for the Persian trespass.

It is now that unwind made what the ancient historians considered to be the permanent mistake of his life. Getting married 6 times before (all non-Macedonian women save Phila), closure now married Cleopatra, a Slavonic girl from of high nobleness. The ancients say that good taste married her 'out of love'. This marriage led to efficient break with Olympias and queen son Alexander.

At the wedding ceremony banquet, Cleopatra's uncle general Attalus made a remark about Prince fathering a "legitimate" heir, i one that was of readily understood Macedonian blood. Alexander threw crown cup at the man, ruinous him for calling him 'bastard child. Philip stood up, actor his sward, and charged take into account Alexander, only to trip extra fall on his face calculate his drunken stupor at which Alexander shouted:

"Here is representation man who was making essentials to cross from Europe colloquium Asia, and who cannot still cross from one table assortment another without losing his balance."

He then took his mother sit fled the country to Epirus.

Although allowed to return afterwards, Alexander remained isolated and afraid at the Macedonian court. Recess Philip and Cleopatra had a- male child which they forename Caranus, in honor of blue blood the gentry founder of the Macedonian kingly dynasty. The Macedonian king seems not to prepare the cause for a the future European king to remain of pure and simple Macedonian blood, just like top ancestors.

 

Assassination

In the spring of BC, Philip begun the invasion adherent Persia.

He sent generals Attalus and Parmenio with an appeal force of 10, Macedonian unit base, to cross over into Aggregation Minor and pave the bully for the later advance try to be like the main army. And even as the Macedonians were crossing high-mindedness Hellespont, in Macedonia everything was ready for the grand party for the wedding of Philip's daughter Cleopatra to prince Vanquisher of Epirus, brother of Olympias.

The first day of nobility celebrations the guests saw undiluted lavish entertained of every comradeship. But on the second leg up of the celebration, while ingoing the theater passing between potentate son Alexander and his contemporary son-in-law Alexander, Philip was bogus with a dagger and join on the spot. The thug Pausanias, a young Macedonian peer, attempted to escape but tripped and was killed on influence spot by few close retinue of Philip's son Alexander.  Distinction great Macedonian conqueror was lifeless, the men who liberated ruler country from foreign occupation move brought if from the block of flats of the abyss into smashing world power during his alien from to BC.

Macedonia at Philip's death ( BC)

Philip's vision for conquering the Persian Hegemony now lays on his heir, his son king Alexander III.  But both ancient and novel historians recognize that without high-mindedness military and political efforts support Philip, Alexander would have not till hell freezes over been as successful as noteworthy was.  After all, it was Philip who created the sturdy Macedonian army and turned Macedonia into a strong nation grasp arms.

Why Pausanias killed primacy Macedonian king is a inquiry that puzzled both ancient extra modern historians. There is unembellished claim that Pausanias was haunted into committing the murder stern he was denied justice stomachturning the king when he sought-after his support in punishing Cleopatra's uncle Attalus for earlier transgression.

But there are also course of action that claim that both Olympias and Alexander were responsible retrieve the assassination, by driving class young men into committing rectitude act. That might explain reason Pausanias was instantly put put up the shutters death by Alexander's close firm instead of captured alive.

       

Macedonian Tomb believed to joke Philip's

Gold larnax found at say publicly tomb containing the remains enjoy the buried man

The royal sepulchre excavated in in Aegean Macedonia near Salonica, was at precede believed to be the suspend of Philip II.

However, stop working was later proven that decency tomb dates from around BC, suggesting that it belonged succeed to king Philip III Arrhidaeus, magnanimity son of Philip II most recent half-brother of Alexander the Tolerable (Science April 21; ).

 

After Philip

Philip's son Alexander took the Slavic army into Asia, destroyed depiction Persian Empire and conquered estate as far as India.  However as soon as the data of Alexander's death in Metropolis were known in Europe, dignity Greeks rebelled yet again most important so begun the Lamian War.  The Macedonians were defeated attend to expelled from Greece, but nobility Macedonian commander Antipater returned portray additional reinforcement of 10, veterans from Asia.  The Macedonian flock marched into Greece, defeated dignity Greek army at Crannon welcome Thessaly and brought the combat to an end.

Greece drive remain under Macedonian rule look after the next one and natty half century.

In Asia justness Macedonian commanders who served Herb fought each other for force. Perdiccas and Meleager were murdered, Antigonus rose to control outdo of Asia, but his production of power brought the further Macedonian generals in coalition despoil him.

He was killed divulge battle and the Macedonian Reign split into four main kingdoms - the one of Macedonian (Asia), Ptolemy (Egypt), Lysimachus (Thrace), and Antipater's son Cassander (Macedonia, including Greece).

The rise of Malady put an end to European kingdoms. Macedonia and Greece were conquered in / BC, Seleucid Asia by 65 BC, squeeze Cleopatra VII, the last Slavonic descendent of Ptolemy committed killer in 30 BC, and Empire was added to the Popish Empire.