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Philip IIAt the death of his brother Perdikkas III he acceded to the Macedonian throne (360 BC), initially as regent and guardian of his infant nephew Amyntas IV. His diplomatic dexterity and military prowess led to the consolidation of the borders of a unified Macedonian kingdom with a reorganized administration and army.
Map of GreeceThe intermarriages, alliances and campaigns he effected gained him ascendancy over the Haimos Peninsula. Proclaimed 'strategos' (commander-in-chief) of all the Greeks (337 BC), he was preparing a pan-Hellenic campaign against the Persians when he was assassinated at Aigai in 336 BC.
The stone sarcophagus which contained a gold 'larnax' (ossuary chest) from the Tomb of Philip, third quarter of 4th century BC, Thessaloniki, Archaeological Museum.
Under Philip II the kingdom of Macedonia entered its greatest period. Philip put an end to the devastation of parts of his dominions by neighbouring tribes, subjugated the Thracians, and conquered Amphipolis and Chalkidike. He thus consolidated the unified Macedonian kingdom, which now extended from the Pindos range to the Strymon River. Philip's political and military action resulted in his dominating the northern part of the Haimos Peninsula too. In 337 BC he united the Greeks of the South in an alliance against the Persians. At his assassination in 336 BC his son Alexander III succeeded to the throne.
Securing the kingdom
Silver coin of the Patraos II, second half of 4th century BC, Athens, Numismatic Museum.Upon his accession to the Macedonian throne in 360 BC, Philip had to contend with numerous enemies, both without and within his kingdom.
After dispatching the five other pretenders to the throne -- in particular Argaios who enjoyed the support of the Athenians -- Philip crushed the Paiones and then the Illyrians, thus definitively establishing Upper (present-day Western) Macedonia as a province of his kingdom. An alliance with the Aleuadai of Larisa and approaches made to the Molossians, who occupied part of Orestis, resulted in the formation of a single cohesive Macedonian state whose western borders reached to the Pindos range and Lake Lychnitis (present-day Ochrid).
Meanwhile the capture of Poteidaia, Pydna and Methone -- cities which were allied to Athens -- and Philip's victory over his opponents' alliance extended the eastern borders of his kingdom to the Strymon. Upon the re-establishment of the city of Philippi (ancient Krenides) both the gold and silver mines of Mount Pangaion and forests with shipbuilding timber stretching to the Nestos passed into his possession.
Supremacy in northern Greece
Grave stele depicting a Thessalian horseman, from Pelinna, mid-4th century BC, Paris, Musee du Louvre.Philip II's involvement in the 3rd Sacred War -- on the occasion of an appeal for aid from his Thessalian allies -- established Macedonian hegemony over Thessaly. Philip was proclaimed 'archon' (president) for life of the Thessalian League, and secured control of the abundant resources and renowned cavalry of the region.
Meanwhile his successful campaign in Thrace compelled the Thracian kings Amadokos and Kersebleptes to acknowledge Macedonian suzerainty. Following the capture of the cities of the Chalkidian League and their assimilation into Macedonia in 348 BC, Philip had complete mastery over the whole of northern Greece.
Supremacy in the Haimos Peninsula
Metal plaque with repousse representations of a Greek youth and a barbarian leader, from Olynthos, first half of 4th century BC, Thessaloniki, Archaeological Museum.Upon signature of the Peace of Philokrates, which officially ended the 3rd Sacred War, Philip II turned his attention to the northern and eastern borders of his kingdom. Having made of Thrace a Macedonian province, he undertook a campaign against the Scythians in the region of the Istros (Danube). His military victories and the alliances he forged enabled him to subjugate the native peoples.
In 339 BC Philip was embroiled in the 4th Sacred War, while the Athenians, on the initiative of Demosthenes, endeavoured to put together an alliance against the Macedonians. The final engagement at Chaironeia in 338 BC resulted in a resounding victory of Philip's forces over the allied armies of the cities of southern Greece.
Plans for the East
From fairly early on, Philip III had begun to lay plans, in many ways similar to projects endorsed by orators of the day, for the conquest of Asia Minor. The first step was to end the civil wars among Greeks. This was achieved once Philip had assumed control of the entire country after the battle of Chaironeia (338 BC). In 337 BC, Philip invited the Greek cities to conclude a peace treaty at the Isthmus of Corinth.
A year later, an offensive alliance (the League of Corinth) was also established, with the objective of uniting the Greeks in preparation for a campaign against Persia. The pretext for this aggressive move was to punish the Persians for the destruction of Greek sanctuaries, although in fact Philip was aiming at consolidating his dominant position among Greeks.
The reorganization of Macedonia
Inscription defining the boundaries of two communities of Halkidiki on the basis of natural features and sanctuaries, second half of 4th century BC, Thessaloniki, Archaeological Museum.In order to deal with the acute problem of unifying diverse conquered regions into a single kingdom, Philip II resorted to a series of new measures. Thrace was governed as an external province under a Macedonian military governor. By relocating populations from the annexed territories to Macedonia and Macedonians to newly conquered regions, he managed to incorporate the previously autonomous cities to his realm, and to merge their population into one nation.
In general, Philip adopted the institutions of the Thessalian and Chalkidian Leagues. He subdivided Macedonia proper into civic districts, which also served as recruiting areas, and set up constitutional authorities to govern them. He also divided the whole kingdom into four administrative districts and reinforced the king's position to a considerable degree.
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