The Emergence of Macedonia
Introduction:
Here we will show you how the Kingdom of Macedonia appeared among the countries of Greece, and their conditions before King Philip ascended the throne, then he assumed the throne and established the Macedonian Empire. And how Macedonia intervened in Greece and the Greek cities confronted this intervention in the battle of Khayronih, then unification of Greece under the leadership of Macedonia, and Macedonia's declaration of holy war against the Persian Empire, and King Philip's sudden death. Alexander the Great ascended the throne, eliminated the rebellion of Greek cities, then declared the campaign against the Persian Empire and its destruction, Alexander invaded the eastern provinces and India, then the army rebelled and Alexander returned to Babylon and his death. Then get to know the most important features of the Hellenistic era, how to call it by this name, and the time span of this era.
The conditions of Macedonia before the ascent of Philip II:
Macedonia is one of the most important kingdoms of ancient Greece. Macedonia is located in the far northeast of the country, bordered by Paeonia to the north, Thessaly to the south, Epirus to the west, and Thrace to the east. . Because of its geographical location, the Greeks' view of the Macedonians as barbarians, and the constant attacks of the Illyrians and Thracian tribes on the region, Macedonia departed from the centers of Greek civilization. And it suffered a lot to reach civilization development, despite its abundant natural resources of wood and minerals. It is worth noting that the word Macedonia is derived from the periodic word Macedonus, which was mentioned in the Odyssey in the sense of high or great, and from it the Latin word (Magnus) is derived and that the name is derived from the nature of the region, which is distinguished by its rugged mountains.
I Prediccas (670-652 BC) is considered the first ancestor and legendary founder of the Kingdom of Macedonia, because he made it appear as a country for the first time in the countries of Greece. And when he assumed the throne, Amyntas I () (540-498 BC), Macedonia became a major kingdom throughout his reign which spanned nearly half a century. His reign is considered the beginning of the political history of Macedonia, and it had external relations with Athena and the Persian Empire during the reign of King Darius I ((Darius I (521-486 BC)). Amontas died leaving his son Alexander I (498-454 BC) A great kingdom is more extensive than ever.
The policy of King Alexander I :
The policy of King Alexander I was hostile to the Greeks because they did not recognize the Macedonians as a Greek race during the Olympics in 496 BC. That is why the king began to prove his lineage to the legendary hero Heracles who founded the Olympic Games. When the revolution in Ionia against the Persian Empire at the instigation of Athens, the Persians resolved to invade Greece, especially Athens. The Greeks began preparing for war, but their fear increased from helping Macedonia, because of the connection between Alexander the First and the association with the Persians. For this reason, the Greeks recognized Alexander I. as a Greek person to stand next to them in their wars against the Persian Empire. Unified Persian system under the rule of one king, unlike the Greek states contesting the achievement of personal interests and independence.
When the first Persian campaign against Greece came, Alexander the First conquered Macedonia to the Persian army, but the Persians were defeated at the Battle of the Marathon in 490 BC. In the year 480 BC, the second Persian expedition came, with the help of the Macedonian king, the Persians managed to control and destroy Athens. But Alexander I realized that this support was a betrayal of the Greeks, so he withdrew from the battle, and this led to the defeat of the Persians at the Battle of Salamis. Then the Macedonian king began to change his policy with the Greek states, and he quoted the features of the Greek civilization in order to advance Macedonia. The Macedonian king Alexander I died when he was sixty years old, without doing anything arrangements for the throne, Macedonia spread chaos. But the order was settled by his son PrediccasII (454-413 BC) who spread the Hellenistic culture of Macedonia. At the end of his reign, the Peloponnesian Wars (431-404 BC) erupted between Athens and Sparta, and destroyed most of the Greek cities. Macedonia did not participate in those wars, because of its remoteness in the north, as well as to preserve its internal strength represented by its stable monarchy and its emerging economy, and also to maintain its foreign affairs in terms of Macedonia's connection with the Greek states at a time when the Persian power weakened. Hence, Macedonia began to have an independent political and cultural thought for itself.
In 413 BC, Perdiccas II abdicated the throne to his son Archelaus I (413-399 BC). That started spreading Greek culture among Macedonian tribes, and moved the ancient Macedonian capital from Aegae to Pella, the vital commercial center. He also brought poets, artists, writers and architects, and reorganized the Olympic Games, and was also interested in paving roads, building and castles in Macedonia. At the time when Archelias I assumed power in 413 BC, Macedonia was allied with Athens, and he got rid of this alliance that lasted for nearly half a century, by exploiting the conflict between Sparta and Athens in his favor. After that he proceeded to establish a military force and reform the cavalry in order to defend Macedonia, especially against the rebel mountain tribes. But the reign of Archelaus I did not last long and he died treacherously during a hunting expedition in 399 BC by his lover Craterus. After his death, the Macedonian throne shook, and chaos spread in Macedonia. In 393 BC, one of the princes, Amyntas II, son of Phillippus I, was able to ascend the throne, but he died in the same year.