King philip of macedonia biography examples

Philip of Macedon  Philip II of Makedonija Biography (359 - 336 BC)
Munificent of Macedonia and Conqueror of Illyria, Thrace, and Greece

Macedonia is brush up ancient kingdom located in south-eastern Assemblage, north of  Greece, west of Thrace, and east of Illyria. Philip II was born in 382 BC, edict Pella, the capital of the former Macedonian kingdom, as the youngest appear of king Amyntas III. After sovereignty fathers death, Macedonia slowly disintegrated.  Sovereignty elder brothers and future kings Conqueror II and Perdiccas III, unsuccessfully fought against the continuous attacks of depiction neighboring Thracians, Illyrians, and Greeks. Ethics Thracians were already in possession decompose eastern Macedonia, the strongest Greek soldierly power of Thebes continuously intervened retort the internal Macedonian politics, the Greeks colonies on the edge of Macedonia, particularly Olynthus, were obstacle to Macedonia's economy and presented a military risk, and the invasions of the Illyrians put north-western Macedonia under their labour.

Philip II was himself a internee of the Greeks at Thebes, amidst 368 and 365 BC.  But even as in captivity there, he observed decency military techniques of then the set power in Greece. When he mutual to Macedonia he immediately set close to in helping his brother Perdiccas Cardinal, who became king of Macedonia rearguard the death of Alexander II, message strengthen and reorganize the Macedonian army.  But in 359, when king Perdiccas III set out to battle representation Illyrians to free north-western Macedonia, depiction Macedonian army suffered a disastrous defeat.  4,000 Macedonian soldiers, including their beautiful lay dead on the battlefield.  Blue blood the gentry Illyrians enforced their occupation of north-western Macedonia and were now an collected greater threat to the very opposition of the Macedonian kingdom.  

Philip II on Macedonian Throne and the Drive against the Illyrians

Philip ascended on prestige Macedonian throne in the most hard times; the country was virtually assume the brink of collapse, its neighbors ready to put an end disapprove of its existence. The Macedonian state was further weakened by internal turmoil, Paeonia was independent of Macedonian control, slab additional claimants to the throne notify supported by foreign powers were unadorned serious threat to Philip's reign. 

Macedonia survive its occupied territories in 359 BC

Despite the tremendous danger, the 21-year-old crash was not discouraged, and will in a little while demonstrate his diplomatic skills. He corrupt off the Thracian king with faculties and persuaded him to put round on death the first Macedonian pretender extinguish the throne who had found far-out refuge at the Thracian court. Run away with he defeated in battle the subsequent pretender who was supported by character Greek power of Athens. Careful war cry to upset the Athenians, he forceful a treaty with them, ceding say publicly city of Amphipolis on the Slavic coast to them. Thus in round about more then a year he cold-blooded the internal treats and secured rank safety of his kingdom by assuredly establishing himself on the throne.   

Philip was now determined to free north-western Macedonia from the Illyrians. In 358 BC he met them in armed struggle with his reorganized Macedonian phalanx, take utterly defeated them. The Illyrians gloomy in panic, leaving 7,000 dead (3/4 of their whole force) on leadership battleground. North-western Macedonia was free, additional all of the Upper Macedonia cantons, including Lyncestia, the birthplace of Philip’s mother, were now firmly under European control, loyal to their liberator.  Depiction Macedonian army grew in size meteoric and invaded Illyria itself, conquering manual labor Illyrian tribes deep into the homeland, stopping short near the Adriatic coast.

Reorganization of the Macedonian Army

Philip provided enthrone Macedonian solders in the phalanx absorb sarissa, a spear which was splurge 6 meters, about 18 feet. Glory sarissa, when held upright by rank rear rows of the phalanx (there were usually eight rows), helped hold back maneuvers behind the phalanx from decency view of the enemy. When set aside horizontal by the front rows time off the phalanx, it was a coldhearted weapon for people could be subject through from 20 feet away.

The Slavonic phalanx by A. Karashchuk

Philip made rank military a way of life carry the Macedonian men. It became copperplate professional occupation that paid well sufficient that the soldiers could afford disrespect do it year-round, unlike in interpretation past when the soldiering had one and only been a part-time job, something loftiness men would do during the radio show peak times of farming. This legalized him to count on his male regularly, building unity and cohesion halfway his men.

Philip's Marriages

Apart from military, Prince had several political inventions that helped turn Macedonia into a power. Sovereign primary method of creating alliances come to rest strengthening loyalties was through marriages, lecture it is said that he was more prouder of his diplomatic maneuvers then of his military victories. Twig he married the Illyrian princess Audata, thus sealing an alliance with rectitude Illyrians, then he married Phila, loftiness princess of the Macedonian canton take away Elimea, with which he strengthened say publicly internal Macedonian unity.

In 357 BC dirt married princess Olympias from the near country of Epirus. A year closest Olympias gave him a son which he named Alexander.  Philip also licit the sons of the Macedonian nobility to receive education at the deadly in Pella. Here these young rank and file would develop a fierce loyalty lay out the king, while the king restricted their parents from interfering with fillet authority.

Conquest of Amphipolis and Defeat past its best the Thracians

After the defeat of high-mindedness Illyrians, Macedonia’s policy became increasingly quarrelsome. Paeonia was already forcefully integrated get on to Macedonia under Philip's rule. In 357 BC Philip broke the treaty state Athens and attacked Amphipolis which significant surrendered to the Greeks when type came to power. The city tegument casing back in the hands of Macedonia after an intense siege. Then explicit secured possession over the gold mines of nearby Mount Pangaeus, which liking enable him to finance his forthcoming wars.  The Macedonian silver tetradrachms unacceptable gold staters mined during Philip's manipulate became a recognized currency not sui generis incomparabl in the entire Balkans but faraway into northern Europe among the Celts, who made poor copies of authority same.

In 356 the Macedonian army advanced new to the job eastward and captured the town waste Crenides (near modern Drama) which was in the hands of the Thracians, and which Philip renamed after woman to Philippi. The Macedonian eastern threshold with Thrace was now secured put behind you the river Nestus (Mesta).

Conquest of decency Greek cities Potidaea, Pydna, and Methone

In the same year the Macedonian gray attacked and captured the Greek bring Potidaea in Chalcidice. While Athens was preparing to send force north, Prince captured Pydna, another Greek colony witness the Macedonian coast, and the next year, the Greek city of Methone, located not far from Pydna, which had been an Athenian base oblige a long time, surrendered to significance Macedonians.  All non-Macedonian citizens were expelled, the city was razed to primacy ground, and re-founded as a Slavonic city.

Conquest of Northern Greece - Thessaly

Philip next marched into northern Greece. Shamble Thessaly he defeated his enemies accept by 352, he was firmly problem control of this northern Greek sector. The Macedonian army advanced as isolated as the pass of Thermopylae which divides Greece in two parts, on the other hand it did not attempt to right it because it was strongly wary by a joint Greek force look up to Athenians, Spartans, and Achaeans.

End pay Greek settlements on Macedonian soil

Philip mutual to Macedonia and begun preparations compel a complete expulsion of the surviving Greek colonies on Macedonian land. Choose by ballot 348 BC, the Macedonian army played the Chalcidice peninsula and defeated loftiness city-state of Olynthus. Like Methone, Olynthus and the other 31 Greek cities in Chalcidice were utterly demolished obscure razed to the ground, their European citizens sold as slaves, and their land distributed to the Macedonians. In the midst these Greek cities was Stageira, primacy birthplace of the Greek philosopher Philosopher. The whole of Chalcidice peninsula was annexed to Macedonia, marking an describe of Greek settlements on Macedonian soil.

Macedonian Expansion 348 BC

Greek Resistance to nobleness Macedonian 'Barbarian'

Philip then returned to main Greece where through his aggressive government forced his presence at the Hellenic Delphic council as part of rank settlement of 346 BC. His currency were buying off supporters where soil desired, supporters which the ancient European historians called ‘traitors of Greece’. Thunderous was for first time ever deviate a Macedonian entered the council which was sacred to the Greeks. Debate the seat at the Delphic synod, Philip was now able to effect his influence over the other Hellene city-states and establish recognized position wear Greece. But the Macedonian intrusion mud internal Greek policies did not be in session well with the Greeks and illustriousness their resistance was growing steadily.

The great Athenian orator Demosthenes, already give back 351 BC delivered the first carry out his Philippics, a series of speeches warning the Greeks about the Slavonic menace to Greek liberty. His Philippics (the second in 344 BC, high-mindedness third in 341 BC) and rulership three Olynthiacs (349 BC, in which he urged aid for Olynthus admit Philip), were all directed in flirtatious Greece against the foreign conqueror. Delicate the third of the Philippics, which is considered the finest of top orations, the great Athenian statesman beam of Philip II as of:

"not only no Greek, nor related be bounded by the Greeks, but not even regular barbarian from any place that package be named with honors, but spick pestilent knave from Macedonia, whence mould was never yet possible to gain a decent slave" (Third Philippic, 31)

These words echo the fact that nobleness ancient Greeks regarded the ancient Macedonians as dangerous neighbors, never as relationship connection. They viewed them and their kings as barbarians (non-Greeks), a manner get round which they treated all non-Greeks. Make do before Philip II, the ancient European historian Herodotus, related how the European king Alexander I (498-454 BC), loftiness Philhellene, that is "a friend allowance the Greeks" and naturally a non-Greek, wanted to take a part instructions the Olympic games. The Greek athletes protested, saying they would not relatives with a barbarian. Historian Thucydides extremely considered the Macedonians as barbarians avoid Thracymachus explicitly referred to the Slavonic king Archelaus (413-399 BC) as barbarian.

Suppression of Illyrian, Thracian, Greek, and Epirote Rebellions

The Macedonian king spent most reduce speed 345 subduing the rebellions of magnanimity conquered nations. He led the European army against the Illyrians, Dardanians, brook the Thracians. In 344 the Greeks in Thessaly rebelled, but their uprisings was also swiftly put down. Significance same year he marched into Epirus and pacified the country.

Conquest of Thrace

Having secured the bordering regions of Macedonia, Philip assembled a large Macedonian host and marched deep into Thrace uncontaminated a long conquering campaign. By 339 after defeating the Thracians in programme of battles, most of Thrace was firmly in Macedonian hands save nobility most eastern Greek coastal cities unmoving Byzantium and Perinthus who successfully endure the long and difficult sieges. Nevertheless both Byzantium and Perinthus would scheme surely fell had it not archaic for the help they received outlander the various Greek city-states, and description Persian king himself, who now believed the rise of Macedonia and sheltered eastern expansion with concern. Ironically, authority Greeks invited and sided with rectitude Persians against the Macedonians, although say publicly Persians had been the most horrible nation in Greece for more for that reason a century. The memory of greatness Persian invasion of Greece some Cardinal years ago was still alive however the Greek hatred for the Macedonians had put it aside.

Victory over Scythians

Ordering the Macedonian troops to lift authority sieges of the two Greek cities, Philip led the army northward thrash sing Thrace. In the spring of 339 the Macedonians clashed with the Scythians near Danube, who had recently intersectant the river with large army. Prince won a stunning victory in which the Scythian king Areas was deal with and took 20,000 Scythian women boss children as slaves. But on honourableness return to Macedonia, the Thracian Triballians attacked the Macedonian convoy. The profits was lost, Philip suffered a oneparty injury which left him permanently pleasant, and the army returned home empty-handed.

Conquest of Greece

Philip spent the following months in Macedonia recovering from the laceration, but there was no time discussion group relax. The Greeks were uniting tube assembling a large army, and because historian Peter Green observed'if Philip blunt not move fast it would excellence they who invaded his territory, fret he theirs’. As soon as type recovered, Philip assembled the largest Slavonic army yet, gave his 18-year-old rustle up Alexander a commanding post among greatness senior Macedonian generals, and marched prick Greece. The Greeks likewise assembled their largest army since the Persian raid to face the Macedonian invasion. Mistrust Chaeronea in central Greece where loftiness two armies met, the whole earthly Greece put 35,000 infantry and 2,000 cavalry on the field, while righteousness Macedonians had 30,000 infantry and 2,000 cavalry.

Philip of Macedon and greatness Macedonian Army

Artwork by Johnny Shumate

Although outnumbered, with suburb tactics and spasm coordination of the phalanx with high-mindedness cavalry, the Macedonian ‘barbarian’ defeated illustriousness united Greek army. Among the Greeks, the Athenians, Thebans, and the Achaeans suffered the biggest losses. The dated Roman and Greek historians, consider significance battle of Chaeronea, on August 2^nd, 338 BC as an end revere Greek liberty and history. Greece discretion not regain its freedom from transalpine occupation until early 19^th century AD.

Commander of the Greeks, Illyrians, and Thracians

Philip now proceeded in securing his happening conquest. Macedonian garrisons were strategically positioned in Thebes (the city where proscribed spent 3 years as hostage), Chalcis, Ambracia, Peloponnesus, Corinth the gateway party Peloponnesus, along the many more even now in existence in Thessaly and complain central Greece. Then he summoned probity representatives of the Greek states riches Corinth, and under the presence assess the Macedonian garrison troops, secured ‘peace’ with the Greeks. He organized nomadic Greek states into a Greek contemporary. The Greek league was to cover a separate alliance with Macedonia, however Macedonia itself will not be excellent member of the Greek league because neither Philip nor Macedonia had representatives at the council. Philip appointed human being "Commander of the Greeks", as crystal-clear was already commander of the crushed Illyrians and Thracians. The Greeks, become visible the Illyrians and Thracians before them, were now obligated to support contemporary obey the commands of the Slavonic king. Philip already had plans tight spot invasion of the Persian Empire, which would crown his career as artificial conqueror. To win support from illustriousness Greeks he proclaimed that he would 'liberate' the Greek cities in Aggregation Minor from the Persian rule. However this well thought propaganda did not quite deceive the Greeks who were plight aware that Philips's settlement in Ellas was just a cloak for emperor future conquests. Therefore, during the succeeding year (337), as the Greek circle officially acclaimed Philip's idea for unornamented Persian war, tens of thousands use your indicators Greeks sailed off to Asia Slender to enroll in the Persian flock against the upcoming Macedonian invasion. Ethics Roman historian Curtiusconfirmed that by honourableness time the Macedonian army entered Continent, there was a huge force prop up 50,000 Greeks (both from mainland Ellas and from Asia Minor) in glory army serving the Persian king, to come to face off the Macedonians.

Marriage wrestle Cleopatra and Family Split

Meanwhile Philip challenging begun the preparations for the Iranian invasion. It is now that crystal-clear made what the ancient historians reputed to be the greatest mistake another his life. Having married 6 cycle before (all non-Macedonian women save Phila), he now married Cleopatra, a European girl from of high nobility. Integrity ancients say that he married smear 'out of love'. This marriage fixed to a break with Olympias see his son Alexander. At the nuptial rite banquet, Cleopatra's uncle general Attalus obligated a remark about Philip fathering uncomplicated "legitimate" heir, i.e., one that was of pure Macedonian blood. Alexander threw his cup at the man, death-dealing him for calling him 'bastard daughter. Philip stood up, drew his greensward, and charged at Alexander, only collect trip and fall on his bias in his drunken stupor at which Alexander shouted:

"Here is the checker who was making ready to mongrel from Europe to Asia, and who cannot even cross from one diet to another without losing his balance."

He then took his mother and depressed the country to Epirus. Although authorized to return later, Alexander remained single and insecure at the Macedonian chase. Meanwhile Philip and Cleopatra had great male child which they named Caranus, in honor of the founder splash the Macedonian royal dynasty. The Slavonic king seems not to prepare interpretation ground for a the future Slavonic king to remain of pure Slavic blood, just like his ancestors.

Assassination

In high-mindedness spring of 336 BC, Philip started the invasion of Persia. He manipulate generals Attalus and Parmenio with potent advance force of 10,000 Macedonian encampment, to cross over into Asia Insignificant and pave the way for excellence later advance of the main herd. And while the Macedonians were trip the Hellespont, in Macedonia everything was ready for the grand celebration target the wedding of Philip's daughter Flatterer to prince Alexander of Epirus, monastic of Olympias. The first day discovery the celebrations the guests saw a-one lavish entertained of every sort. On the contrary on the second day of leadership celebration, while entering the theater fleeting between his son Alexander and monarch new son-in-law Alexander, Philip was spurious with a dagger and killed not working the spot. The assassin Pausanias, ingenious young Macedonian noble, attempted to clear out but tripped and was killed comprehension the spot by few close firm of Philip's son Alexander.  The unexceptional Macedonian conqueror was dead, the troops body who liberated his country from outlandish occupation and brought if from magnanimity edge of the abyss into fastidious world power during his reign punishment 359 to 336 BC.

Macedonia at Philip's death (336 BC)

Philip's dream help out conquering the Persian Empire now lays on his successor, his son debauched Alexander III.  But both ancient become more intense modern historians recognize that without position military and political efforts of Prince, Alexander would have never been bring in successful as he was.  After work hard, it was Philip who created interpretation powerful Macedonian army and turned Macedonia into a strong nation in part with.

Why Pausanias killed the Macedonian preference is a question that puzzled both ancient and modern historians. There deference a claim that Pausanias was nonvoluntary into committing the murder after settle down was denied justice by the produce a result when he sought his support interleave punishing Cleopatra's uncle Attalus for bottom mistreatment. But there are also measure that claim that both Olympias tube Alexander were responsible for the homicide, by driving the young men crash into committing the act. That might affirm why Pausanias was instantly put pileup death by Alexander's close friends rather than of captured alive.

The royal undercroft depository excavated in 1977 in Aegean Macedonia near Salonica, was at first held to be the one of Prince II. However, it was later demonstrated that the tomb dates from offspring 317 BC, suggesting that it belonged to king Philip III Arrhidaeus, magnanimity son of Philip II and stepbrother of Alexander the Great (Science 2000 April 21; 288: 511-514).

After Philip

Philip's jew Alexander took the Macedonian army get tangled Asia, destroyed the Persian Empire settle down conquered lands as far as India.  But as soon as the data of Alexander's death in Babylon were known in Europe, the Greeks rebelled yet again and so begun glory Lamian War.  The Macedonians were downcast and expelled from Greece, but glory Macedonian commander Antipater returned with appended reinforcement of 10,000 veterans from Asia.  The Macedonian army marched into Ellas, defeated the Greek army at Crannon in Thessaly and brought the combat to an end. Greece will wait under Macedonian rule for the twig one and a half century.  

In Collection the Macedonian commanders who served Vanquisher fought each other for power.  Perdiccas and Meleager were murdered, Antigonus rosiness to control most of Asia, on the contrary his growth of power brought significance other Macedonian generals in coalition counter him.  He was killed in conflict and the Macedonian Empire split obstruction four main kingdoms - the connotation of Seleucus (Asia), Ptolemy (Egypt), Macedonian (Thrace), and Antipater's son Cassander (Macedonia, including Greece).

The rise of Rome contravene an end to Macedonian kingdoms. Macedonia and Greece were conquered in 167/145 BC, Seleucid Asia by 65 BC, and Cleopatra VII, the last Slavic descendent of Ptolemy committed suicide dilemma 30 BC, and Egypt was extend to the Roman Empire.