Who Is Phillip The Great?

North of Greece, west of Thrace, and east of Illyrian; Macedonia is an ancient kingdom located in south-east Europe. Pella is the capital of Macedonia, also the place where Phillip II was born. Born in 382 BC, Phillip is the son of King Amanitas III and his wife, Eurydice I. in 359 BC Phillip became Macedonia’s leader; he was named King in 357 BC. After being assassinated in July of 336 BC, his son Alexander the Great took over. After Phillip’s brother, Alexander II, took the throne, Phillip spent three years in Thebes’ as a hostage. During these three years Phillip learned about military strategy from Epaminondas, one of the few greatest generals in that time period. Alexander II was assassinated in 365 BC; Perdicca III, Phillip’s brother,
Over the next two decades Phillip had many victory’s; only one suffering defeat in 353 BC. Phillip was able to increase Macedonians territory, wealth, security, and unity. In 351 BC Phillip delivered his first set of philippics, a series of speeches warning the Greeks about the Macedonia menace. His second philippic was in 344 BC; and the third was in 341 BC. In 349 BC Phillip urged aid for the Olynthus by speaking a series of three Olynthiacs. In 338 BC, Phillip’s army fought against a large group of Greek forces. Using a feigned retreat Phillip won a great victory over the Greeks. In 337 BC Phillip was able to form the League of Corinth, brining almost all the Greek city-states into his
Despite of his injury’s, Phillip still wanted to take out Persia. While preparations were underway for this war, Phillip made the decision to merry Cleopatra, a Macedonian girl from a high noble. This marriage led to a break with Olympias and his son Alexander. At the wedding banquet Cleopatra’s uncle made a rude comment about Alexander; Alexander preceded by throwing his cup and blasting the man. Phillip stood up and chased Alexander with his drawn sward; only to trip and fall on his “drunken” face. Alexander and his mother then left the country headed to Epirus. Phillip and Cleopatria ended up having a male child which they named Caranus; in honor of the Macedonia founder. Phillip participated in a procession in Aegae. There he was assassinated by one of his own, Pausanias. Pausanias was Phillips body guard at the time of the assassination; he attempted to escape but tripped and was killed on spot by a few close friends of Phillips first son. The reason behind the assassination are still unclear; but Phillips legacy was very clear. Phillip held power in Macedonia from 359 BC till 336 BC; he was about 46-years-old when he died. There are claims that Pausanias committed the murder after he was denied justice by Phillip. Other reports show that Olympias and Alexander were responsible for Phillips