Philip II of Macedon

Phillip II, king of Macedonia, Roman copy of Greek original, Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Copenhagen (36420294055)

Philip II of Macedon (382–336 BC) was a King of Macedon who transformed his kingdom from a peripheral state into a dominant Hellenistic power in the ancient Greek world. He was the father of Alexander the Great and Philip III of Macedon, and his reign marked a pivotal moment in Macedonian and Greek history.

Early Life

Philip was born in the Macedonian capital of Pella in 382 BC. He was the third son of King Amyntas III of Macedon and Queen Eurydice I. Philip spent part of his youth as a hostage in Thebes, where he received a military and diplomatic education under the guidance of Epaminondas, a prominent Theban general and statesman.

Rise to Power

After the death of his brothers, Kings Alexander II and Perdiccas III, Philip ascended to the Macedonian throne in 359 BC. He immediately faced challenges from external threats and internal dissent. However, through military campaigns and strategic diplomacy, Philip was able to secure his kingdom and expand its territory.

Military Reforms

Philip is credited with revolutionizing the Macedonian army. He introduced the sarissa, a long pike, which gave his phalanx a significant advantage over traditional Greek hoplite forces. He also reorganized the army into a professional force, with a focus on versatility and combined arms tactics.

Conquests

Philip's military reforms enabled him to embark on a series of conquests. He subdued the neighboring regions of Thrace, Illyria, and parts of northern Greece. His victory at the Battle of Chaeronea in 338 BC, where he defeated a coalition of Greek city-states led by Athens and Thebes, marked the zenith of his military career and effectively brought Greece under Macedonian hegemony.

League of Corinth

Following his conquest of Greece, Philip established the League of Corinth in 337 BC, a federation of Greek states with himself as the leader. The League was intended to facilitate unified Greek action against Persia. However, Philip's assassination in 336 BC by a bodyguard, Pausanias, prevented him from leading the campaign against Persia, a task that would fall to his son, Alexander the Great.

Legacy

Philip II's legacy is profound. His reforms and conquests laid the groundwork for the expansion of the Macedonian Empire under his son, Alexander. He transformed Macedon into the preeminent military power in the Greek world and set the stage for the Hellenistic period, during which Greek culture spread across the Near East and beyond.

Death and Succession

Philip was assassinated in 336 BC at the wedding of his daughter, Cleopatra of Macedon, to King Alexander I of Epirus. His son, Alexander the Great, succeeded him and continued his father's plans for the invasion of Persia, achieving unparalleled success.