Philippos, son of Amuntas
[Philip of Macedon, Philip II, 383-336 BC]:
Third son of King Amuntas' second marriage, he was unlikely to succeed to the kingship. But then his father's rule had been unlikely, as well, since he was a descendent of a junior line of the Temenidai, the royal family of the Argeadai Makedones.
Philippos' eldest full-brother, Alexandros, succeeded old Amuntas. But the young king had a rival in Ptolemaios of Aloros, their brother-in-law and a powerful magnate. Ptolemaios led a rising against Alexandros while the young man was on campaign in Thessalos, assisting Larissa against Pherai. Thebai and the Boiotians intervened in Thessalos and Makedonis to restore stability in the north. As a promise of good behavior, 30 Makedon hostages were taken back to Thebai. They included the king's youngest brother, Philippos.
After the death of the king's sister's, Ptolemaios married the queen-mother, Eurudike. When Alexandros was assassinated while dancing a traditional warrior dance at a festival, Ptolemaios was made regent for the second brother, Perdikkas.
When Perdikkas came of age, Ptolemaios was eliminated and Philippos was recalled from Thebai. He had spent more than three years there, living in the household of one of the chief men of the city, Pammenes. Parnmenes was allied in Theban politics with Epaminondas, Pelopidas, and Ismenias.
The two brothers worked well together, seeking to bring prosperity to their people and to strengthen the kingdom. Philippos was given a portion of the kingdom to govern.
For many years, the Makedones were oppressed by the Dardanoi, an Illuric tribal confederation ruled by Bardulis. Each year they paid tribute to the barbarian king. Perdikkas sought to throw off this burden, but was killed in battle with many of his companions and their followers. Some 4,000 Makedones died.
Perdikkas left a toddler son, who was declared Amuntas IV. His uncle, Philippos, became regent. Philippos bought off or repelled the many threats to his nephew's kingship. He bought off Bardulis, and did the same to the raiding Paiaones of King Agis. He gave up Amphipolis to counter Athenian ambition, then defeated and killed their candidate, Argaios. He caught his halfbrother, Arkhelaos, and executed him. He stalled his neighbor, King Berisades, and persuaded him to back off from supporting the rival, Pausanias. Later Pausanias was assassinated.
In the following winter, after reinventing the Makedon army, Philippos punished the Paiaones severely. And in the next summer, he met the Dardanoi in battle, defeated them severely, and eliminated Bardulis.
He became king in his nephew's stead, although his nephew survived and thrived under his uncle (only to be killed by Philipos' son, Alexandros).
Antipatros, son of Iolaos [Antipater, 397-319 BC]:
A member of a family that had long supported the Temenidail the royal family of the Makedones, Antipatros was a trusted general and companion of King Philippos. He represented Philippos in Athenai in 346 and in 338. He governed Makedonis as regent during some of Philippos' campaigns, and later during Alexandros' campaigns.
He survived both Philippos and Alexandros. After this noble's death, his own son, Kassandros, was one of the rulers who fought over the lands left as prizes for the strongest in the aftermath of Alexandros' death.
Alexandros, son of Philippos
[Alexandros III, Alexander the Great, 356-323
BC]:
A charismatic leader and brilliant general, reckless with his posterity for the sake of his own glory. He left fathering a successor until too late. He left building a stable rule for his spear-conquered lands as late or later. Perhaps stability was too much to expect of the son of the wily Philippos and the mercurial Olympias (once Princess Myrtale of the Epeiriote Molossi). He died of typhoid fever at the age of 33.
Parmenion, son of Philotas [Parmenio, c.399-330 BC]:
Basileos of the Pelagones and companion of King Philippos, Parmenion was extolled by the king as his finest general. He frequently held independent commands. While the king led the main army on campaigns, Parmenion led secondary forces in countering trouble spots that might otherwise have required the king's attention. Parmenion was leading the initial invasion of Persia when Philippos was assassinated.
he general continued as second-in-command under Alexandros. After the conquest of Anatolia, the general and the young king differed over the course of action to follow. Alexandros continued his headlong conquests, but Parmenion was detached to various independent commands. When Parmenion's son, Philotas, was executed by the king for treason, the murder of the father was also ordered.
Macedonia Personalities
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