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Philip II of Macedon 382 – 336 BC, was a Greek king of Macedon from 359 BC until his assassination in 336. He was the father of Alexander the Great and Philip III.
Born in Pella, Philip was the youngest son of the king Amyntas III and Eurydice I. n his youth, (c. 368–365 BC) Philip was held as a hostage in Thebes, which was the leading city of Greece during the Theban hegemony. While a captive there, Philip received a military and diplomatic education from Epaminondas. In 364 BC, Philip returned to Macedon. The deaths of Philip's elder brothers, King Alexander II and Perdiccas III, allowed him to take the throne in 359 BC. Originally appointed regent for his infant nephew Amyntas IV, who was the son of Perdiccas III, Philip managed to take the kingdom for himself that same year.
Philip's military skills and expansionist vision of Macedonian greatness as well as his diplomatic skills allowed him to increase the size of Macedon's territories and strengthen the position of Macedonia against the Greek cities to the south and Thrace to the north.
In 337 BC Philip created and led the League of Corinth. Members of the League agreed never to wage war against each other, unless it was to suppress revolution. Philip was elected as leader (hegemon) of the army of invasion against the Persian Empire. In 336 BC, when the invasion of Persia was in its very early stage, Philip was assassinated.
The murder occurred during October of 336 BC, at Aegae, the ancient capital of the kingdom of Macedon. While the king was entering unprotected into the town's theater (highlighting his approachability to the Greek diplomats present), he was killed by Pausanias of Orestis, one of his seven bodyguards. He was succeeded to the throne by Alexander III of Macedon, who would later be known as Alexander the Great.
Born in Pella, Philip was the youngest son of the king Amyntas III and Eurydice I. n his youth, (c. 368–365 BC) Philip was held as a hostage in Thebes, which was the leading city of Greece during the Theban hegemony. While a captive there, Philip received a military and diplomatic education from Epaminondas. In 364 BC, Philip returned to Macedon. The deaths of Philip's elder brothers, King Alexander II and Perdiccas III, allowed him to take the throne in 359 BC. Originally appointed regent for his infant nephew Amyntas IV, who was the son of Perdiccas III, Philip managed to take the kingdom for himself that same year.
Philip's military skills and expansionist vision of Macedonian greatness as well as his diplomatic skills allowed him to increase the size of Macedon's territories and strengthen the position of Macedonia against the Greek cities to the south and Thrace to the north.
In 337 BC Philip created and led the League of Corinth. Members of the League agreed never to wage war against each other, unless it was to suppress revolution. Philip was elected as leader (hegemon) of the army of invasion against the Persian Empire. In 336 BC, when the invasion of Persia was in its very early stage, Philip was assassinated.
The murder occurred during October of 336 BC, at Aegae, the ancient capital of the kingdom of Macedon. While the king was entering unprotected into the town's theater (highlighting his approachability to the Greek diplomats present), he was killed by Pausanias of Orestis, one of his seven bodyguards. He was succeeded to the throne by Alexander III of Macedon, who would later be known as Alexander the Great.
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Article
Diodorus Siculus, the 1st century BCE historian, took great pride in precision of description but, even so, could not refrain from adding his own personal views and interpretations of historical events and persons. In the following passage, Diodorus describes the reign of King Philip II of Macedon (382-336 BCE) with a focus on the role `fortune&rsquo... [continue reading]
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Chaeronea is the site of the famous Battle of Chaeronea (338 BCE) Phillip II of Macedon’s decisive defeat of the Greek city-states. At Chaeronea in Boeotia (north of Corinth) Phillip and his allies from Thessaly, Epirus, Aetolia, Northern Phocis and Locrian defeated the combined forces of Athens and Thebes. Phillip commanded the right wing while... [continue reading]
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