The Death of Philip II

The death of Philip II of Macedon was a sad story. His life had been glorious enough. Superior to happy Austria in her heyday, ¹ he combined ability at waging war with skill at marrying: the complicated history of his matrimonial affairs mirrors the progress of his political expansion. Olympias, his Molossian wife, descended from Greek heroes and Illyrian chieftains, saw no harm in that. Her son Alexander had always been recognised as crown prince, had been brought up as befitted his station, and from the age of sixteen had been given extensive political and military responsibilities. ² The only man who might have been considered a rival was Amyntas IV, for whom Philip had in fact acted as regent, and who had at that time been recognised as king. ³ However, there was no reason to fear any danger from Amyntas, whom Philip had allowed to live as a private citizen. There was ample precedent for this in Macedon, ⁴ and no reason to suspect that, if and when the time came, the displaced king would be a real danger to the heir apparent. At any rate, Philip—who was in a position to judge—clearly thought so; for while marking out his own son as successor designate, he not only let Amyntas live at his court, but actually married him to one of his own daughters. ⁵ Nor do we hear that Olympias and Alexander ever objected.