Macedon

From Amyntas I to Philip II

Location

Geography

Political Structure

Small agricultural or mountain villages governed by a local baron.

Monarchy dependent upon the barons.

The king was primus inter pares.

Accession required ratification of the barons

International treaties often required the inclusion of the barons as signatories.

There was little or no court formality.

Argead Royal House

Amyntas I ca. 513 – 497 BC

Bubares = Gygea Alexander I 497 - 454

Amyntas I

513 - 497

Nominal subject of Darius I after 512

Benefited from the defeat of the Paeonians.

Athenian proxenos

Offered Hippias Anthemous in 506 BC.

Alexander I

Subject to Persia from 492 BC. Helped Xerxes with supplies and directions.

Philhellene Olympic competitor in 508 or 504

Provided lumber for Athenian fleet

Proxenos for Athens by 480 BC.

Joined the Delian League

Fifth Century Argeadae

Perdiccas 454 - 413 Menelaus Amyntas

Alexander I 497 - 454

Archelaus 413 - 399

Orestes Amyntas II399 – 96 394/3

Arrhidaeus

Eurydice = Amyntas III 392 - 370

Amyntas III

392 – 370

Euridice, daughter of Sirrhas of Lyncestis

Defeated by Illyrians in 394/3

Returned in 392 with aid of Chalcidians

Attacked Chalcidians in 383:Driven back even losing Pella

Returned with support of Sparta

Sons of Amyntas:

Amyntas III = Eurydice

Alexander II Perdiccas III Philip II(369-68) (365 – 59) (359 – 36)

Philip II

Philip’s problems in 359:Illyria hostile (holding upper Macedonia)

Threat from Thrace; Supporting Pausanias for the throne

The Paeonian raids along the Axios.

Athens asserting claims on Amphipolis Supporting Argaeus for the throne

Archelaus (half brother) claimed the throne

Philip II

Philip’s Solutions:

The Paeonians and Illyrians were greedy so he bought them off.

Argaeus was overconfident so he ambushed him.

Athens claimed to be ‘freeing’ Amphipolis so Philip granted them their freedom.

Philip settled with Archelaus

Philip’s Reforms

Weaponry standardized and provided by the state.

The spear was replaced by the sarissa,Troops under the pay of the king and could

be drilled regularly.The panoply was lightened.The cavalry became an offensive arm.The nobility were included in a reciprocal

deal

Macedonian Phalanx

Philip on the Offensive

358: Attacked and defeated the Paeonians and Illyrians.

357: Took Amphipolis.With Olynthus attacked Potidaea.Took Crenides and renamed it Philippi. Revenues from gold mines

357 BC.Alexander of Pherae assassinated. Philip drawn into a protracted war in Thessaly

The Sacred War

355 – 347: Phocians sieze Delphi

Philip supporting Larissa against Pherae

Phocis, Pherae, Athens and Sparta

Vs.

Thebes, Larissa (and Philip)

Philip given control of Amphictyonic Council

Expansion of Macedon

344: Conquest of Illyria

343: Conquest of Thrace

341/0: Philip attacked Perinthus and Byzantium.

Resistance from both Athens and Persia brought a truce

338: Philip marches against Athens

Athens and Thebes defeated at Chaeronea

The League of Corinth

337:

Philip convenes council of Greek states at Corinth

Philip elected hegemon

Panhellenic war against Persia

336:

Attalus and Parmenion lead advance force to the Troad

Death of Philip

336:

Cleopatra, daughter of Philip, to marry Alexander of Epirus

Pausanias, member of the bodyguard, assassinates Philip.

Philip’s Legacy