Emergence of Macedonia

Philippe II and the emergence of the power Macedonian

The geographical framework relates to Macedonia. This country had fluctuating borders. What one called Macedonia corresponds to the Kingdom of Macedonia, which corresponded to 95 % of the current borders. The country is closed in the south by the Olympe, in the east by the Pinde, in North by mountains. The heart of Macedonia is formed by the Plaine of Bottiée and that of the Piérie, of the marshy but fertile plains. In the east, made high mountains of mountainous plates are, with kingdoms which will be annexed little by little at the time traditional.

In a general way, for the Greeks who live in city, Macedonia is an exotic country, equipped with the eternal snow of the Olympe mount; a wet country with perennial sources of water; these is also a country which knows the breeding of the cows and the buffaloes; who does not know the olive-tree. It is, moreover, rich person of its forests of oaks, beeches and birches, where the sovereigns Macedonians often drove out.

It is a ground which to be exploited requires work. One of this great work was to drain the large littoral plains. The country is rich in copper, iron, gold and money. At the beginning of the 5th century, Macedonia is rich gold which it extracts. The population Macedonian is a enigma for the Greeks of the south: The Athenians regard the Macedonians as a barbarian population, which would thus not be Greek.

Were the Macedonians Greeks? On this subject, the sources diverge. For some yes, because there is a community of language, and for others not. Old inscriptions show an intermediate Greek dialect where the deaf consonants and the sound consonants were distinguished badly. Alexandre did not hesitate to be expressed in this dialect.

This kingdom of Macedonia raises questions. At the 5th century and the beginning of the 4th century, there does not seem to be large-thing to say on Macedonia (area and sovereign). Thanks to Xénophon, one hears of Macedonia at the beginning of the 4th century: he affirms that at that time Macedonia is “the sick man” of the Greek world. At the conclusion of the Battle of Chéronée (338), the kingdom of Macedonia is the only power of the Greek world and this as of 352.

A kingdom marked by a strong instability

Original political institutions

See also the articles Kingdom of Macedonia, Koinon of the Macedonians, Synedrion of Macedonia.

These institutions are original but badly known. One finds in the sources some allusions about Philippe II and of Alexandre.

The political originality is marked by a central institution: the king, with the family which reigns by succession by the males since 650 and until in 310, and which claims to go down from Héraclès, of the family of Téménides and by there of Zeus even.

Téménides are not a Macedonian family. They were always claimed of origin argienne. No other family can assert such a relationship. This family is révérée by the Macedonians and is invested religious functions. She is not cut of her people.

The king is elected by acclamation by the assembly of the men-at-arms. The first role of the sovereigns is to provide several successors. It is polygamous, which disturbs the Greeks of the south somewhat. It chooses itself its wives. There is a court Macedonian where there are no slaves but pages, i.e. young Macedonians sent in formation to the court on request of the king and who constitute the entourage of the king. A certain number of kings were assassinated by pages following plots. The king of Macedonia resides in a capital: Aigéai.

The sovereign has several functions. He has religious functions first of all and he must honor the favor with the gods. He must exert the sacrifices with the traditional gods and the gods whom he chose. Philippe II had chosen the Olympiens gods. He is the chief of the armed and convenes with his discretion his advisers. Its orders are carried out with the letter and it reigns a strong discipline. It can exert military justice except the cases of high treason. Many kings died in the combat and they have many wounds.

The king is owner of his territory and his resources. In time of war, the sovereign can take the skins of the enemy king without having to divide. After their death, the sovereigns were entitled to imposing funeral and were buried in tumulus. One found some on the contemporary site of Vergina. The king is not alone to control. He has a council, the Synedrion, composed of the advisers whom he chooses itself among the members of the big families. Alexandre joins together it in particular in the cases of mutiny, but in a more general way for all important decision makings. These advisers are used to the sovereign as companions. They drive out with him and drink with him at the time of the feasts.

There is also the assembled Macedonians. These is a body politic which, on a proposal from the council, chooses and can deposit a king, who judges the cases of high treasons. She is always convened by the king and all are entitled same to the word as their sovereign. The verdict is expressed by acclamation. Proxenes Macedonians are found. Macedonia is marked by the war. Indeed, they are in permanent war against their cruel neighbors. The royal person is preeminent there, as well as the war and hunting. The large gods are there Zeus, Master of Olympe and Héraclès.

Clashes and misfortunes of Argéades

The sovereigns of Macedonia dealt with the 5th century with the Persian supervision. The sovereign of the time had to lend allegiance to Persians to preserve his kingdom. Alexandre Ier follows the army of Xerxès. Xénophon says that to Platée Alexandre would have given the plans of Xerxès to the Greeks.

Macedonia extends are territory towards the east by continuing Persians in their rout. As they extend, they meeting in the east the populations Thrace S, in north, Péoniens and in the west Illyriens. They have always to fight. During the 5th century, the Corsican problem with the arrival of the Athenians. The latter want the Chalcidique and run up against the Macedonians who have also sights on these littoral cities. The wood of Macedonia is appreciated for the construction of the trières.

Macedonia benefits from the Peloponnesian War to eliminate Athens from the city from Amphipolis and calls Sparte to fight against Athens. On the whole, the sovereigns Macedonians draw well from the Peloponnesian War and get rid of the Athenian presence. In 413, arrives Archélaos and this last does not have to fight any more against Athens and he concludes a commercial treaty with the Athenians. He seeks to modernize his kingdom, to reinforce his political organization and soldier. He intervenes in the businesses of the Thessalie and subjects princes in High Macedonia. Euripide takes refuge at the court of Archélaos. This last is killed at the time of a plot. Between 399 and 393, settles one period of instability.

Amyntas III reign of 393 with 370. It spends its time fighting against the cruel populations close to its kingdom. It overcomes the invasion illyrienne first of all. It fights then against Greek cities of Chalcidique, which were formed in confederations around Olynthe. Olynthiens, after having negotiated with the sovereign Macedonian, seek to seize a good part of the kingdom of Macedonia. Amyntas III owes its safety only on arrival of Sparte which intervenes against Olynthe and request the dissolution of the confederation. Amyntas III seeks to approach to the Athenians and Thébains at the end of its reign. With its death in 370 - 369 it succeeded in preserving its healthy kingdom and except but could not take account of military innovations. A new period of instability opens with transitory sovereigns. In 359, a new invasion is orchestrated by Illyriens. In 359, the kingdom is at the edge of the disaster when Philippe II arrives.

The come to power of Philippe II

He was born in 383 and was hostage during three years with Thèbes between 368 and 365. He then could observe one of best armed with the moment. In 360, it is named regent and judicious to occupy the throne for one of its nephew. Very quickly it is victorious and the army, which merges with the assembly of the citizens, the selected one as king. With its come to power, it must fight against Illyriens which occupies the north of the kingdom, the Thrace S, the Athenians and Péoniens. He plays mainly on the diplomatic ground. He shows his competences by saving time with Péoniens. During this time, it attacks the Athenians. In 359, he concludes a peace with Athens which leaves him the freehands. He attacks Illyriens then and carries it by combining infantry and cavalry on the battle field. It closes in 358 one period of lowering. The Macedonians have then accounts to regulate. First of all with Thébains, then with Thraces, Olynthiens and finally with the Athenians. Philippe II gives himself means and reforms his military instrument.

Reforms of the army

See also the article Armed Macedonian.

It is thanks to them that Macedonia becomes the dominant power. One knows few things about the army of Philippe II. It is known that in 338, it could raise 10 000 infantrymen. Starting from 358, it organizes the cavalry and the infantry.

Cavalry

It increased its cavalry. In 358, it could mobilize 600 riders. Towards 340, it can mobilize 800 of them. In 334, Alexandre Large the can mobilize some more than 2000.

The cavalry was progressively increased of the extension of the kingdom. It is organized in the form of squadrons, with a crack corps formed by the companions of the king. The equipment is not original. The light cavalry Macedonian is equipped with a long lance, the Sarisse . It is not a Greek weapon but a weapon borrowed from Balkan populations. It makes it possible to fight effectively against the heavy infantry. Philippe II fact of adopting a triangular formation which increases the effectiveness of the cavalry vis-a-vis the heavy infantry.

The phalange

It makes its reform on the Thébains model, which has phalanges on 10 to 12 lines. It gives him in more one depth ever reached with 16 lines. In addition, this phalange lacked force because it lacked weapon. Each hoplite was to treat to its own panoply. Philippe realizes that its men could not treat to it and it provides them the panoply. It is a true innovation compared to what is done in the Greek world.

The weapons of the hoplite Macedonian are not same as those of the others hoplites Greek. Philippe realized that the fundamental problems are that of mobility. This is why its hoplites has a helmet and a shield but not of armor. Moreover, it equips them with one sarisse.

The light infantry plays a decisive part. It can call upon allied troops or mercenaries, but it needs some less and they never constituted an important part of the army Macedonian, except in 336, where Philippe dispatches 10 000 mercenaries in Asia whereas he wanted to attack the Perse empire.

The war of seat

Philippe prepares his army with the war of seat. He used his weapons of seat at the time of that of Byzance in 340. He is known to be himself served as the catapult accompanied by a force by trained elite comprising by the carpenters, the engineers and the gunners. It is a body of small size, effective, but that it employs little because it carries out few seats, and even in front of Byzance it negotiates. Alexandre inherited it.

On the whole, one should not over-estimate these reforms even if the sources insist on this point. It fills a technical delay and does not bring large-thing moreover separately sarisse it.

The expansion Macedonian

In Thessalie and Thrace

The Thessalie is one of the agricultural areas richest of the Greek world. The Confédération Thessalienne always unstable and was torn. It is thus a field privileged for the intrigues of the ones and others. The Macedonians tried, without reaching that point, to play a decisive part in this league. Philippe II of Macedonia succeeded in intervening in Thessalie thanks to the call of the city of Larissa, which enables him to take again the combat against Phérès.

It changes theater of operation and starts operations in Thrace, then, in the years 360, it attacks the Greek cities close to its kingdom. He promises to the Athenians that he will leave Amphipolis if they do not intervene. However, it keeps the city. It seizes littoral city, as for example in 355 the city of Mothonée while Athens does not intervene. Starting from 352 starts the third crowned war within the Amphictionie Pyléo Delphique, which relates to Phocidiens. Philippe II decides to intervene with Thessaliens and to enter in fight against Phocidiens. Starting from 352, it intervenes with the head of Thessaliens since it was named archonte with life of the confederation thessalienne.

It succeeded in boring as far as continental Greece. It is moreover in measurement, as a chief of the Confédération Thessalienne to mix with the businesses of Delphes and the amphictionie. A certain number of chiefs, like Démosthène, worry about this new power but they decide anything to make, on the one hand because Phocidiens are their allies and on the other hand, they changed policy while renonçant with hegemony. Thus, under Eubule, they are devoted to the economic development of the city. The Athenians let Philippe thus thrive. This last enriched in Thessalie, seizing the two sources of revenue of Thessalie with the taxation of the cities and the tribute raised by Thessaliens of the close cities.

This acquired situation makes it possible Philippe to be turned over towards Olynthiens.

The catch of Olynthe

At the beginning of the Confederation Chalcidienne, Olynthe had took all the territory Macedonian. In the beginning, Olynthe was allied of Philippe and enemy of Athens. What occurred in Thessalie and the repeated interventions of Philippe pushes Olynthiens to approach the Athenians in 352. In reprisals, Philippe decides to plunder the territory chalcidien. That is without a future. At the summer 349, it decides to be turned over against Olynthiens and requires that those deliver a certain number of hostages and refugees Macedonians to him. Olynthiens refuse. The open war is then committed. Olynthiens then decide to call upon the Athenians and Démosthène deploys all its talents of eloquence to make send a task force. But the Athenians are not ready and Philippe acts and is finally able to seize Olynthe. During this time, the Athenians arrive and return account that the city was shaven. The city was taken quickly because it was taken by treason. Of Olynthiens were partisans of Philippe. Thus, it is the body of cavalry which delivered the entry of the city. One notes here the bond between war and civil war. Philippe decides to destroy Olynthe but it could have saved it and impose a war indemnity to him. He wants to terrify and wants to make of Olynthe an example. That the met in good position with respect to the Athenians. It negotiates with them because it wants to continue to act as Thrace. At this time, the Athenians have the choice between two policies. Either alliance, or the panhellenic league against the Macedonians.

Ambiguities of the peace of 346

Philippe was victorious and can intervene in Thrace but Athens wants to keep the control of the straits. Philippe wants a peace with Athens because he wants to extend in Thrace.

In 346, the Athenians send ten ambassadors to negotiate with Philippe, but this last proposes a precise peace with specific conditions. Thus, each party must recognize for final the profits of the other (such as the city of Amphipolis). Philippe requires an alliance without limitation in time. It also requires a defensive alliance negotiated between power. Peace will have to bind the allies of the two parties. Lastly, there will be a clause concerning the safety of the seas.

It is a proposal which binds the Athenians to the Macedonians and who would force them to accept all the losses undergone since 360. The Athenian ambassadors are tried by this peace but they do not have the capacity to decide, and the text must be ratified by the assembly of the people.

It is about a delicate peace. The Athenians must separate from Phocidiens, who are at the origin of the Third crowned war. In 370, they seized the sanctuary of Delphes what caused the war Ten Year old, a war concluded in 346 thanks to a victory from Philippe.

Philocrate, an Athenian ambassador proposes to accept peace and to leave Phocidiens to their fate. The Athenians accept the peace proposals of Philippe. They lend oath as well as the allies, excluded Phocidiens which are excluded from it. Philippe is never at the good place at the good moment and it lends itself oath only at the time of its passage in central Greece with its army.

Démosthène ruins this peace. Philippe then decides to be combined in Thébains and to attack Phocidiens. By this victory, it obtains the two seats which occupied Phocidiens within the amphictionie. After these inversions of alliances, Philippe succeeded in 348 going where no sovereign Macedonian had gone, i.e. central Greece. Moreover, it obtains two seats with the amphictionie.

Assessment

Between 350 and 346, Macedonia was raised and become a power of the Greek world. The large cities became exhausted. Philippe has an army clean and levelling. Its success is justified by the fact that it directs a kingdom, which is a different entity and more gérable that the city. It makes a war on all the theaters of operations. It passes from Thessalie to Thrace without problem. It employs the diplomacy. It is a skilful tactician and a skilful diplomat. It has of supports and complicities among the enemies whom it attacks. A certain number of people think that safety comes from Philippe. Thus, it found supports in Thessalie. Indeed, in 348, it did not seize Olynthe by the force but by a treason of the riders of the city. For some, Philippe could link the Greeks in the fight against Persians.

Démosthène and the other politicians are disarmed. Their reaction is slow and late. In 340 - 338, Démosthène can apply its political program. Thus, it finds a certain number of allied and ties an alliance with Thébains. But its political successes are not enough and the Athenians are beaten in one of the rare battles hoplitic of the 4th century, that of Chéronée in 338. However, the Athenians were not considered in full decline. Athens is concerned Chéronée very well.

Lycurgue is with the head of the city between 336 and 334. It directs in the place of Démosthène. It deals with public finances and under this direction, the Athenians show a renewal of energy. Chéronée stimulated the energy of the Athenians. Lycurgue is known because it left speeches. One of them relates to the financial restoration of the city. One learns there that the annual income from the city east of 1.200 talents. This income is justified by the opening of new mines. Moreover, it realizes savings amongst other things by removing the case of the theorikôn , i.e. the case intended for the allowances of spectacle.

In addition, it made restore the enclosing walls of the city and the Pirée. It dealt with the fleet of war and increased this fleet. He is the inspirer of a reorganization of an institution: the éphébie, which becomes something again, namely two years a military service when the Athenians learn how to know the territory of the city and the handling of the hoplitic weapons, the arcs and the weapons of seats. One counts 1.000 citizens by éphébie. That represents an expenditure of 40 talents for the city in remuneration. The city to them provided their military equipment. The citizens thus profit from a better formation to the war.

It makes build a stage in Athens in 330 and makes restore the sanctuary of Déméter to Éleusis and that of Amphiaraios to Oropos which was yielded to the Athenians in 335. Lastly, it proceeds to a moral restoration of the city with a series of lawsuits which concern the bad citizens. Thus, it wrote and pronounced a plea Against Léocrate . It was a lawsuit brought by him against Léocrate, under treason. Leocrat, with the advertisement of the defeat of Chéronée, has flees with woman and children and took refuge with Rhodos, there spreads false reports and finally settles with Mégare. After a few years, in 330, it decides to return to Athens and to be done discrete there. It is located and translated into justice. The exit of the lawsuit is unknown for us.

Athens remains a power of first order in the new world organized by Alexandre Large the.

See too

External Bonds

Internet site /HISTOIRE OF MACEDONIA SINCE SA CREATION, AT the END OF the KINGDOM IN 148 AV JC

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