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Who was Philip II of Macedon?
We often first think of him as the father of Alexander the Great, but is there more to this enigmatic figure than his world-conquering son?
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We often first think of him as the father of Alexander the Great, but is there more to this enigmatic figure than his world-conquering son?
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Ancient Macedon was a rural kingdom north of Greece, rich in resources like gold, but lacking any sophistication by Athenian standards.
Macedonians spoke a very peculiar and rustic Greek dialect, and were considered half-barbarian by the classical city-states to the south.
Macedonians spoke a very peculiar and rustic Greek dialect, and were considered half-barbarian by the classical city-states to the south.
Macedonians did not organize into city-states, but operated as kingdoms run by Strong Men (sort of a technical Classical term for powerful military men who ruled by right of force) - another feature which made them seem archaic and unenlightened in the Peloponnesian south.
From 400-360 BCE, Macedon was still a collection of small ancestral kingdoms continuously engaged in family politics, marriage alliances and brutal land disputes.
Although Greece was already in decline, Macedon was in no sense an alternative regional power.
Although Greece was already in decline, Macedon was in no sense an alternative regional power.
Philip spent his formative years as political hostage to his father Amyntas III's rival in Thebes (368–365 BC), then the leading city of Greece.
He received a military and diplomatic education from Epaminondas, the Theban general and architect of Thebes' political supremacy.
He received a military and diplomatic education from Epaminondas, the Theban general and architect of Thebes' political supremacy.
He also became eromenos of the powerful Theban statesman Pelopidas, and lived under the care of Pammenes, the Theban general who was an enthusiastic advocate of the Sacred Band of Thebes - an elite military force of male lovers who were crucial in crushing Spartan domination.
KEY 1:
Philip effectively studied abroad in best educational system in 4th c BCE Greece, receiving intimate guidance and instruction by some of the most insightful and paradigm-resetting war generals since the Peloponnesian War.
Philip effectively studied abroad in best educational system in 4th c BCE Greece, receiving intimate guidance and instruction by some of the most insightful and paradigm-resetting war generals since the Peloponnesian War.
In 364 BCE, Philip returned to Macedon, taking the kingdom for himself from his infant nephew Amyntas IV in 359.
After buying his kingdom time with a few decisive military and diplomatic victories, he confidently set about fundamentally reforming the Macedonain military.
After buying his kingdom time with a few decisive military and diplomatic victories, he confidently set about fundamentally reforming the Macedonain military.
He took the latest Theban and Athenian ideas on the deployment of the traditional Greek phalanx, but improved them by using both Epaminondas' deeper phalanx and Iphicrates' combination of a longer spear and smaller and lighter shield.
However, the Macedonian king also innovated; he introduced the use of a much longer spear, the two-handed pike.
This Macedonian pike, the sarissa, gave its wielder many advantages both offensively and defensively.
This Macedonian pike, the sarissa, gave its wielder many advantages both offensively and defensively.
Philip put armor on his horsemen, transforming them from light sortie divisions into durable and intimidating skirmishers.
For the first time in Greek warfare, cavalry became a decisive arm in battle.
For the first time in Greek warfare, cavalry became a decisive arm in battle.
Overall, a soldier's effective deadliness was prioritized over his safety, and hired militias from all over the Aegean were folded into mixed-arms forces, used in tandem on the battlefield.
This may sound like a familiar ancient strategy, but it was a Greek first.
This may sound like a familiar ancient strategy, but it was a Greek first.
KEY 2: Philip perfected combined-arms tactics.
Heavy infantry phalanx, skirmish infantry, archers, light cavalry, heavy cavalry, and siege engines were all deployed in battle - each troop type being used to its own particular advantage and creating a synergy of mutual support.
Heavy infantry phalanx, skirmish infantry, archers, light cavalry, heavy cavalry, and siege engines were all deployed in battle - each troop type being used to its own particular advantage and creating a synergy of mutual support.
Philip played competing city-states against each other, using his Macedonian gold mines to buy alliances and even victories.
He also used the peculiar Macedonian tradition of polygamy to full political effect.
By 346 BCE, Philip was the political centerpoint of Greece.
He also used the peculiar Macedonian tradition of polygamy to full political effect.
By 346 BCE, Philip was the political centerpoint of Greece.
Weakened and disorganized, Greece recognized Philip as the military leader of the League of Corinth in 338/7 BC.
Members of the league agreed never to wage war against each other, unless it was to suppress revolution.
Members of the league agreed never to wage war against each other, unless it was to suppress revolution.
This League of Corinth allowed Phillip to unite Macedon and Greece into a confederacy against a common enemy - one that had persisted in being a real and present threat to Greek autonomy for over a century.
The enemy, of course, was the Achaemenid Persian Empire.
The enemy, of course, was the Achaemenid Persian Empire.
Philip was involved quite early against the Persians. From around 352 BC, he supported several Persian opponents to Artaxerxes III, by receiving them for several years as exiles at the Macedonian court. This gave him unique insights into Persian issues (and weaknesses).
In 336 BC, Philip II sent Parmenion, with Amyntas, Andromenes and Attalus, and an army of 10,000 men into Asia Minor to make preparations for an invasion to free the Greeks living on the western coast and islands from Achaemenid rule.
At first, all went well.
At first, all went well.
The Greek cities on the western coast of Anatolia revolted until the news arrived that Philip had been assassinated and had been succeeded as king by his young son Alexander. The Macedonian invasion forces, demoralized by Philip's death, were quickly defeated by the Achaemenids.
KEY 3:
Like his military strategy, Philip had a mixed-use, Strong Man approach to politics.
He also knew how to unify disparate political interests by focusing them against an exterior threat.
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Like his military strategy, Philip had a mixed-use, Strong Man approach to politics.
He also knew how to unify disparate political interests by focusing them against an exterior threat.
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