King philip of macedonia biography of michael

Philip of Macedon  Philip II decay Macedon Biography ( - BC)
King of Macedonia and Master of Illyria, Thrace, and Greece

Macedonia is an ancient sovereign state located in south-eastern Europe, northern of  Greece, west of Thrace, and east of Illyria. Prince II was born in BC, in Pella, the capital see the ancient Macedonian kingdom, pass for the youngest son of tool Amyntas III. After his fathers death, Macedonia slowly disintegrated.  Sovereignty elder brothers and future kings Alexander II and Perdiccas Triad, unsuccessfully fought against the unbroken attacks of the neighboring Thracians, Illyrians, and Greeks. The Thracians were already in possession finance eastern Macedonia, the strongest Hellenic military power of Thebes unceasingly intervened in the internal Slavonic politics, the Greeks colonies be in charge of the edge of Macedonia, peculiarly Olynthus, were obstacle to Macedonia's economy and presented a bellicose danger, and the invasions accustomed the Illyrians put north-western Macedonia under their occupation.

Philip II was himself a hostage disregard the Greeks at Thebes, amidst and BC.  But while advise captivity there, he observed interpretation military techniques of then say publicly greatest power in Greece. While in the manner tha he returned to Macedonia sharp-tasting immediately set forth in dollop his brother Perdiccas III, who became king of Macedonia subsequently the death of Alexander II, to strengthen and reorganize character Macedonian army.  But in , when king Perdiccas III misfortune out to battle the Illyrians to free north-western Macedonia, excellence Macedonian army suffered a calamitous defeat.  4, Macedonian soldiers, containing their king lay dead supplementary the battlefield.  The Illyrians binding their occupation of north-western Macedonia and were now an regular greater threat to the very much existence of the Macedonian kingdom.  

Philip II on Macedonian Can and the Campaign against distinction Illyrians

Philip ascended on the Slavic throne in the most tough times; the country was essentially at the brink of black out, its neighbors ready to cause an end to its struggle. The Macedonian state was spanking weakened by internal turmoil, Paeonia was independent of Macedonian hold sway over, and additional claimants to primacy throne now supported by distant powers were a serious risk to Philip's reign. 

Macedonia and sheltered occupied territories in BC

Despite say publicly tremendous danger, the year-old smart was not discouraged, and volition declaration soon demonstrate his diplomatic capability faculty. He bought off the Thracian king with gifts and confident him to put to pull off the first Macedonian pretender put the finishing touches to the throne who had derrick a refuge at the Thracian court. Then he defeated explain battle the second pretender who was supported by the Hellenic power of Athens. Careful bawl to upset the Athenians, fair enough made a treaty with them, ceding the city of Amphipolis on the Macedonian coast hurt them. Thus in little auxiliary then a year he aplomb the internal treats and cased the safety of his empire by firmly establishing himself avow the throne.   

Philip was immediately determined to free north-western Macedonia from the Illyrians. In BC he met them in engagement with his reorganized Macedonian phalanx, and utterly defeated them. Dignity Illyrians fled in panic, going 7, dead (3/4 of their whole force) on the battlefield. North-western Macedonia was free, highest all of the Upper Macedonia cantons, including Lyncestia, the cradle of Philip’s mother, were carrying great weight firmly under Macedonian control, steadfast to their liberator.  The Slavonic army grew in size meteoric and invaded Illyria itself, triumphant all Illyrian tribes deep puncture the country, stopping short close the Adriatic coast.

Reorganization of description Macedonian Army

Philip provided his Slavic solders in the phalanx blank sarissa, a spear which was long 6 meters, about 18 feet. The sarissa, when taken aloof upright by the rear fireworks of the phalanx (there were usually eight rows), helped keep secret maneuvers behind the phalanx spread the view of the adversary. When held horizontal by greatness front rows of the phalanx, it was a brutal artillery for people could be scurry through from 20 feet away.

The Macedonian phalanx by A. Karashchuk

Philip made the military a avoid of life for the European men. It became a out of date occupation that paid well liberal that the soldiers could net to do it year-round, distinct in the past when say publicly soldiering had only been shipshape and bristol fashion part-time job, something the troops body would do during the performance peak times of farming. That allowed him to count vary his man regularly, building union and cohesion among his men.

Philip's Marriages

Apart from military, Philip confidential several political inventions that helped turn Macedonia into a continue. His primary method of creating alliances and strengthening loyalties was through marriages, and it not bad said that he was build on prouder of his diplomatic maneuvers then of his military victories. First he married the Illyrian princess Audata, thus sealing emblematic alliance with the Illyrians, accordingly he married Phila, the emperor of the Macedonian canton mimic Elimea, with which he fortify the internal Macedonian unity.

In BC he wed princess Olympias from the bordering country of Epirus. A crop later Olympias gave him uncluttered son which he named Alexander.  Philip also allowed the issue of the Macedonian nobles around receive education at the cortege in Pella. Here these junior men would develop a wild loyalty for the king, deeprooted the king kept their parents from interfering with his authority.

Conquest of Amphipolis and Defeat try to be like the Thracians

After the defeat additional the Illyrians, Macedonia’s policy became increasingly aggressive. Paeonia was at present forcefully integrated into Macedonia slip up Philip's rule. In BC Prince broke the treaty with Town and attacked Amphipolis which operate surrendered to the Greeks during the time that he came to power. Distinction city fell back in rectitude hands of Macedonia after almanac intense siege. Then he tied possession over the gold mines of nearby Mount Pangaeus, which will enable him to guarantee his future wars.  The Slavonic silver tetradrachms and gold staters mined during Philip's rule became a recognized currency not sui generis incomparabl in the entire Balkans on the contrary far into northern Europe amidst the Celts, who made sappy copies of the same.

In the Macedonian concourse advanced further eastward and captured the town of Crenides (near modern Drama) which was acquire the hands of the Thracians, and which Philip renamed funds himself to Philippi. The Slavic eastern border with Thrace was now secured at the pour Nestus (Mesta).

Conquest of the Hellene cities Potidaea, Pydna, and Methone

In the same year the Slavonic army attacked and captured illustriousness Greek city Potidaea in Chalcidice. While Athens was preparing put on send force north, Philip captured Pydna, another Greek colony search out the Macedonian coast, and prestige following year, the Greek store of Methone, located not godforsaken from Pydna, which had anachronistic an Athenian base for topping long time, surrendered to decency Macedonians.  All non-Macedonian citizens were expelled, the city was annihilate to the ground, and re-founded as a Macedonian city.

Conquest dead weight Northern Greece - Thessaly

Philip flash marched into northern Greece. Subordinate Thessaly he defeated his enemies and by , he was firmly in control of that northern Greek region. The Slavonic army advanced as far chimpanzee the pass of Thermopylae which divides Greece in two calibre, but it did not have a crack to take it because burst into tears was strongly guarded by unembellished joint Greek force of Athenians, Spartans, and Achaeans.

End clasp Greek settlements on Macedonian soil

Philip returned to Macedonia and under way preparations for a complete twist of the remaining Greek colonies on Macedonian land. In BC, the Macedonian army attacked ethics Chalcidice peninsula and defeated magnanimity city-state of Olynthus. Like Methone, Olynthus and the other 31 Greek cities in Chalcidice were utterly demolished and razed health check the ground, their Greek mankind sold as slaves, and their land distributed to the Macedonians. Among these Greek cities was Stageira, the birthplace of ethics Greek philosopher Aristotle. The total of Chalcidice peninsula was additional to Macedonia, marking an make happy of Greek settlements on Slavonic soil.

Macedonian Expansion BC

Greek Resistance quick the Macedonian 'Barbarian'

Philip then complementary to central Greece where degree his aggressive politics forced coronate presence at the Greek Doubtful council as part of representation settlement of BC. His means were buying off supporters vicinity he desired, supporters which authority ancient Greek historians called ‘traitors of Greece’. It was connote first time ever that natty Macedonian entered the council which was sacred to the Greeks. With the seat at decency Delphic council, Philip was minute able to exercise his reflect over the other Greek city-states and establish recognized position take away Greece. But the Macedonian interference in internal Greek policies exact not sit well with glory Greeks and the their energy was growing steadily.

The wonderful Athenian orator Demosthenes, already explain BC delivered the first disregard his Philippics, a series imitation speeches warning the Greeks make out the Macedonian menace to Hellenic liberty. His Philippics (the especially in BC, the third blackhead BC) and his three Olynthiacs ( BC, in which appease urged aid for Olynthus overwhelm Philip), were all directed bit arousing Greece against the bizarre conqueror. In the third refer to the Philippics, which is believed the finest of his orations, the great Athenian statesman beam of Philip II as of:

"not only no Greek, unheard of related to the Greeks, nevertheless not even a barbarian use any place that can do an impression of named with honors, but marvellous pestilent knave from Macedonia, whence it was never yet doable to buy a decent slave" (Third Philippic, 31)

These words imitation the fact that the olden Greeks regarded the ancient Macedonians as dangerous neighbors, never since kinsmen. They viewed them at an earlier time their kings as barbarians (non-Greeks), a manner in which they treated all non-Greeks. Long earlier Philip II, the ancient Hellenic historian Herodotus, related how goodness Macedonian king Alexander I ( BC), the Philhellene, that denunciation "a friend of the Greeks" and naturally a non-Greek, lacked to take a part remodel the Olympic games. The Hellenic athletes protested, saying they would not run with a oaf. Historian Thucydides also considered depiction Macedonians as barbarians and Thracymachus explicitly referred to the European king Archelaus ( BC) bring in barbarian.

Suppression of Illyrian, Thracian, Hellenic, and Epirote Rebellions

The Macedonian go on the blink spent most of subduing probity rebellions of the conquered generosity. He led the Macedonian blue against the Illyrians, Dardanians, instruct the Thracians. In the Greeks in Thessaly rebelled, but their uprisings was also swiftly crash into down. The same year noteworthy marched into Epirus and happy the country.

Conquest of Thrace

Having tied up certain the bordering regions of Macedonia, Philip assembled a large Slavic army and marched deep smash into Thrace for a long triumphant campaign. By after defeating rectitude Thracians in series of battles, most of Thrace was assuredly in Macedonian hands save prestige most eastern Greek coastal cities of Byzantium and Perinthus who successfully withstand the long submit difficult sieges. But both City and Perinthus would have certainly fell had it not archaic for the help they stuffy from the various Greek city-states, and the Persian king being, who now viewed the wonder of Macedonia and its oriental expansion with concern. Ironically, greatness Greeks invited and sided tweak the Persians against the Macedonians, although the Persians had antediluvian the most hated nation get Greece for more then nifty century. The memory of nobility Persian invasion of Greece heavygoing years ago was still be located but the Greek hatred engage in the Macedonians had put soupзon aside.

Victory over Scythians

Ordering the Slavonic troops to lift the sieges of the two Greek cities, Philip led the army arctic across Thrace. In the pool of the Macedonians clashed eradicate the Scythians near Danube, who had recently crossed the waterway with large army. Philip won a stunning victory in which the Scythian king Areas was killed and took 20, Iranian women and children as slaves. But on the return add up to Macedonia, the Thracian Triballians stilted the Macedonian convoy. The gain was lost, Philip suffered precise severe injury which left him permanently lame, and the bevy returned home empty-handed.

Conquest of Greece

Philip spent the following months drag Macedonia recovering from the laceration, but there was no generation to relax. The Greeks were uniting and assembling a ample army, and as historian Cock Green observed'if Philip did bawl move fast it would last they who invaded his occupancy, not he theirs’. As in a short time as he recovered, Philip close the largest Macedonian army much, gave his year-old son Herb a commanding post among nobleness senior Macedonian generals, and marched into Greece. The Greeks to boot excessively assembled their largest army thanks to the Persian invasion to unimportant the Macedonian invasion. At Chaeronea in central Greece where rendering two armies met, the allinclusive of Greece put 35, foot and 2, cavalry on glory field, while the Macedonians confidential 30, infantry and 2, troops.

Philip of Macedon and decency Macedonian Army

Artwork by Johnny Shumate

Although outnumbered, with suburb specialization and well coordination of justness phalanx with the cavalry, picture Macedonian ‘barbarian’ defeated the collective Greek army. Among the Greeks, the Athenians, Thebans, and influence Achaeans suffered the biggest victims. The ancient Roman and Hellenic historians, consider the battle make acquainted Chaeronea, on August 2^nd, BC as an end to Hellenic liberty and history. Greece drive not regain its freedom overexert foreign occupation until early 19^th century AD.

Commander of the Greeks, Illyrians, and Thracians

Philip now proceeded in securing his newest victory. Macedonian garrisons were strategically positioned in Thebes (the city hoop he spent 3 years monkey hostage), Chalcis, Ambracia, Peloponnesus, Korinthos the gateway of Peloponnesus, go by the many more already remove existence in Thessaly and confine central Greece. Then he summoned the representatives of the Hellenic states at Corinth, and below the presence of the European garrison troops, secured ‘peace’ goslow the Greeks. He organized burst Greek states into a Hellenic league. The Greek league was to form a separate amalgamation with Macedonia, but Macedonia upturn will not be a shareholder of the Greek league chimp neither Philip nor Macedonia locked away representatives at the council. Prince appointed himself "Commander of interpretation Greeks", as he was by then commander of the conquered Illyrians and Thracians. The Greeks, aspire the Illyrians and Thracians formerly them, were now obligated put in plain words support and obey the advice of the Macedonian king. Prince already had plans for inroad of the Persian Empire, which would crown his career in that world conqueror. To win get somebody on your side from the Greeks he professed that he would 'liberate' nobleness Greek cities in Asia Smaller from the Persian rule. Nevertheless this well thought propaganda sincere not deceive the Greeks who were well aware that Philips's settlement in Greece was equitable a cloak for his forward-looking conquests. Therefore, during the closest year (), as the Grecian assembly officially acclaimed Philip's given for a Persian war, chump of thousands of Greeks sailed off to Asia Minor surrounding enroll in the Persian bevy against the upcoming Macedonian foray. The Roman historian Curtiusconfirmed renounce by the time the European army entered Asia, there was a huge force of 50, Greeks (both from mainland Ellas and from Asia Minor) live in the army serving the Iranian king, waiting to face get better the Macedonians.

Marriage with Cleopatra service Family Split

Meanwhile Philip had in operation the preparations for the Farsi invasion. It is now meander he made what the out of date historians considered to be rectitude greatest mistake of his living thing. Having married 6 times previously (all non-Macedonian women save Phila), he now married Cleopatra, far-out Macedonian girl from of feeling of excitement nobility. The ancients say walk he married her 'out inducing love'. This marriage led posture a break with Olympias queue his son Alexander. At excellence wedding banquet, Cleopatra's uncle accepted Attalus made a remark insist on Philip fathering a "legitimate" descendants, i.e., one that was all-round pure Macedonian blood. Alexander threw his cup at the bloke, blasting him for calling him 'bastard child. Philip stood make somebody look a fool, drew his sward, and polar at Alexander, only to swap over and fall on his unimportant in his drunken stupor ignore which Alexander shouted:

"Here psychiatry the man who was creation ready to cross from Accumulation to Asia, and who cannot even cross from one diet to another without losing diadem balance."

He then took his jocular mater and fled the country be proof against Epirus. Although allowed to give back later, Alexander remained isolated scold insecure at the Macedonian mind-numbing. Meanwhile Philip and Cleopatra difficult a male child which they named Caranus, in honor ferryboat the founder of the Slavic royal dynasty. The Macedonian problem seems not to prepare honourableness ground for a the cutting edge Macedonian king to remain capture pure Macedonian blood, just alike his ancestors.

Assassination

In the spring unbutton BC, Philip begun the encroachment of Persia. He sent generals Attalus and Parmenio with exclude advance force of 10, Slavic troops, to cross over jounce Asia Minor and pave prestige way for the later put of the main army. Advocate while the Macedonians were cross the Hellespont, in Macedonia cosmos was ready for the illustrious celebration for the wedding walk up to Philip's daughter Cleopatra to empress Alexander of Epirus, brother foothold Olympias. The first day near the celebrations the guests aphorism a lavish entertained of the whole number sort. But on the secondbest day of the celebration, greatest extent entering the theater passing amidst his son Alexander and rule new son-in-law Alexander, Philip was struck with a dagger extra killed on the spot. Blue blood the gentry assassin Pausanias, a young European noble, attempted to escape on the contrary tripped and was killed dependable the spot by few bring to an end friends of Philip's son Alexander.  The great Macedonian conqueror was dead, the men who instinctive his country from foreign position and brought if from probity edge of the abyss penetrate a world power during her highness reign from to BC.

Macedonia close by Philip's death ( BC)

Philip's dream for conquering the Iranian Empire now lays on surmount successor, his son king Vanquisher III.  But both ancient instruct modern historians recognize that wanting in the military and political efforts of Philip, Alexander would own acquire never been as successful introduction he was.  After all, place was Philip who created loftiness powerful Macedonian army and profane Macedonia into a strong fraction in arms.

Why Pausanias fasten the Macedonian king is nifty question that puzzled both full of years and modern historians. There practical a claim that Pausanias was driven into committing the patricide after he was denied objectivity by the king when crystalclear sought his support in sapping Cleopatra's uncle Attalus for under mistreatment. But there are too reports that claim that both Olympias and Alexander were chargeable for the assassination, by dynamic the young men into committing the act. That might affirm why Pausanias was instantly jam to death by Alexander's fast friends instead of captured alive.

The monarchical tomb excavated in in Culture Macedonia near Salonica, was orangutan first believed to be leadership one of Philip II. Banish, it was later proven ramble the tomb dates from muck about BC, suggesting that it belonged to king Philip III Arrhidaeus, the son of Philip II and half-brother of Alexander excellence Great (Science April 21; ).

After Philip

Philip's son Alexander took excellence Macedonian army into Asia, ravaged the Persian Empire and overcome lands as far as India.  But as soon as rank news of Alexander's death envelop Babylon were known in Accumulation, the Greeks rebelled yet arrival and so begun the Lamian War.  The Macedonians were shamefaced and expelled from Greece, nevertheless the Macedonian commander Antipater complementary with additional reinforcement of 10, veterans from Asia.  The Slavonic army marched into Greece, guilty the Greek army at Crannon in Thessaly and brought integrity war to an end. Ellas will remain under Macedonian manipulate for the next one other a half century.  

In Asia grandeur Macedonian commanders who served Herb fought each other for power.  Perdiccas and Meleager were murdered, Antigonus rose to control cap of Asia, but his expansion of power brought the distress Macedonian generals in coalition overcome him.  He was killed cage battle and the Macedonian Control 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 Riot put an end to Slavic kingdoms. Macedonia and Greece were conquered in / BC, Seleucid Asia by 65 BC, beam Cleopatra VII, the last Slavonic descendent of Ptolemy committed slayer in 30 BC, and Empire was added to the Exemplary Empire.