Greek History Terms (Philip II - Alexander the Great)

Philip II of Macedon

The youngest of three sons of the king of Macedon. Throughout the early years of his life he was a hostage of Thebes.

Pezhetairoi

Infantry unit of Macedon that was created by Philip II older brother. Philip modernize the unit in order for the army to be made of men based on their merit instead of their nobility status.

Perdikkas III of Macedon

The second oldest brother of Philip II, he tricked the Athenians in order to restore Amphipolis. He and later half of the Macedion island

The Social War BCE; 357-335

Athens was being very abusive towards other members of the Second Athenian Confederacy which lead to several polis to revolt against Athens. Meanwhile Philip II recapture Amphipolis and captured Pydna, Methone, Potedaia, and Krendies which he later rename Philippi.

Sarissa

12-18 foot long spear that the Macedonian army used

3rd Sacred War BCE; 355-346

Phokis upset at the fine that was forced on them by the Delphic Amphiktyony so they seize the Delphic Sanctuary in order to get the judgement annul. Instead Thebe declared war against Phokis.

Delphic Amphiktyony

The organization that helped ran Delphi, they control the sanctuary, cast punishment and protect it.

Phokis

City state where the sanctuary of Delphi is at, they seize the sanctuary which cause the 3rd Sacred War.

Thessaly

City-state that was worried about 3rd Sacred War asked Philip for assistance. He agreed as long as he was appointed as archon which is a position for life. Allowing him control over the army and wealth

Demosthenes

Famous Athenian orator and politician that was worried and fearful of King Philip II. He later tried to support Alexander's enemies when Alexander became king.

Peace of Philokrates BCE; 346

Philip's peace agreement with Athens & the Second Athenian Confederacy. In the peace, it states Philip would recognize the legal existence of Athens territory as long as they acknowledged him as the rightful ruler of Macedon (including Amphipolis) and the archon of Thessaly.

Euboia BCE; 343

Philip helped establish oligarchies in Eretria and Oreus due to stasis in Euboia. This caused fear in Athens, especially with Demosthenes who believed Philip was planning to conquer Euboia than Athens.

Halonessos BCE; 342

An island that was once controlled by pirates that Philip seized during 342. Athens asked for Philip to 'restore' the island to them (despite never owning it) and Philip refused only offering to 'gift' it to them. This caused more tension between Athens and Philip.

Battle of Chaironeia BCE; 338

A battle against Philip's army and the allied Athenian and Theban Greeks. It ended with Macedon winning, with Alexander destroying most of the Theban Sacred Ban and most of the Athenian army left dead or captured.

The League of Corinth BCE; 337

Philip forced almost all Greek states into this league, they were not allowed to bear arms against each other and in turn guaranteed security from the Macedonian kingdom.

Pixodaros Affair

Philip wanted his elder son Arridaios to marry the daughter of Pixodaros who was the satrap of Karia. However, this marriage proposal fell through due to Alexander forcing himself in between both parties. This cause a rift between Philip and Alexander as Philip punished Alexander by exiling his friends and publicly berating him.

Parmenion

General who was under Philip than Alexander. When Alexander came to power he gained Parmenion favor by having every family member of Parmenion and himself be in control of the Macedonian army.

Attalos

General of Philip II. He and Alexander did not get along which was amplified during the wedding of Philip and Kleopatra Eurydike where he implied that Alexander was illegitimate. This and other issues later led to his death once Alexander rose to power.

Amyntas

Philip's nephew, general and rival to the throne for Alexander. He was later assassinated by Olympias in order for Alexander to secure the throne.

Kleopatra Eurydike

Was the niece of Attalos and then married to Philip. Her marriage to Philip led to the boiling point between Philip and Alexander which led to Alexander leaving Macedon only to come back before Philip death. Kleopatra Eurydike later committed suicide after the death of her children from Olympias.

Olympias

The mother of Alexander, she was seen as a cruel woman even in antiquity

Pausanias

The assassin of Philip II. The official story is he stabbed Philip II due to a love affair gone wrong between him and Philip. However, many people even in antiquity believe Alexander and Olympias were involved though there was no evidence.

Karanos

Infant son of Philip and Kleopatra Eurydike. Was a rival of Alexander for the throne though he was brutally murdered by Olympias.

Thrace BCE; 336/5

During the winter time of 336/5 Alexander went to Thrace to train his army in the mountain in order to give them more experience with rough terrain. This led to a rumor of Alexander's death which Demosthenes prop up and cause revolts in cities all over Greece, especially Thebes. This led to the destruction of Thebes and the death of Amyntas, Karanos, Europe, and Kleopatra Eurydike due to Olympias.

Thebes

Alexander demanded Thebes capitulate after revolting, however, Thebes refused and demand Alexander to surrender his allies to them. This anger Alexander who launch an assault against Thebes, killing 6,000 Thebans and taking 30,000 as prisoners to be sold as slaves.

Troy

Alexander during his invasion of Persia stopped by 'Troy' in order to make sacrifices to the gods and spread propaganda before the invasion.

Dareios III

King of Persia during Alexander invasion

Memnon of Rhodes

Greek Mercenary that was employed by the Persians during Alexander invasion and later attempted to led an invasion of Macedon and then died.

Battle of Halikarnassos

Memnon of Rhodes and his forces seized Halikrnassos from Alexander and fortified the city. This led to a battle that ended with Alexander's forces winning with the help of Alexander's older reserved troops. Memnon was able to flee the city not before burning it down.

Gordian

The mythic home of King Midas. When Alexander visited it during his invasion of Persia and cut the Gordian knot. The myth that surrounded the knot proclaimed whoever untie the knot will become the king of Asia.

Battle of the Granicus River BCE; 334

Battle against the Persians which ends with Alexander's victory. This invasion allowed Alexander to have access to several areas of Persia.

Cilician Gates

A narrow passage that Alexander had to cross during his invasion of Persia. Alexander worried about it being defense but due to some paranoia of the Persian governor, it was left unguarded.

Battle of Issos BCE; 333

The battle against Darius ended in Darius' retreat and Alexander getting Darius' family hostage to use. The Alexander mosaic is believed to be of this battle.

Siege of Tyre BCE; 333-332

Tyre was an island city with strong walls and one of the most important cities of Phoenicia. When Alexander came to visit they were celebrating their deity Melqart and refused to let Alexander come to the main city despite his claims of being related to Melqart. This anger Alexander who siege the city by creating a large mole to get to the walls. In the modern day the city now connected to the mainland due Alexander's mole

Melqart

God that the Tyrians celebrated that the Greek equate to Herakles

Alexandria

Egyptian city that Alexander named after himself, home of the famous Library of Alexandria.

Siwa Oasis

Alexander visits this Oasis in order to talk to a famous oracle, while visiting the oracle called him the son of the god Zeus Ammon and answer several of his questions. Those being was he actually divines like the Egyptian claim, was his father's murderers punished, and will his invasion succeed. The answers while unknown led to Alexander promoting his divinity.

Battle of Gaugamela BCE; 331

A battle that ended in Alexander's victory and Darius' retreat after Alexander sent his calvary straight through the gap in their front line. Alexander was able to consolidate his hold on the Persian empire afterwards after going to Babylon and other cities like Susa.

Persepolis

Ancient Persian capital that Alexander destroyed after realizing that the shamans would not confirm him as king of Persia.

Ecbatana

Alexander gained huge amounts of riches from this treasury which he paid all his Greek troops with and offer them to join his army as mercenaries which many agreed to. Helped loosen Parmenion command due to this.

Bessus (Artaxerxes IV)

Man who killed Darius and claimed to be the rightful heir. He was later killed by Spitamenes

Bactria & Sogdiana

Provinces Alexander invaded during his invasion. He engaged against Bessus here who was following engaging in guerrilla warfare.

The Philotas Affair

Parmenion's son was accused of being a conspirator against Alexander's demise and was put to death. Then later Alexander had Parmenion himself put to death. This caused a strain on Alexander relationship with his troops.

Hephaistion

A friend and sometimes lover of Alexander. Was close to Alexander during the invasion and led the second column into India

Spitamenes

General who worked with Bessus and later killed him to give to Alexander though wasn't on Alexander's side. He was later assassinated by his supporters after a failed attempt to attack Alexander directly

The Mutiny on the Oxus

Thessalian cavalry and Philip's veterans' mutinied and left Alexander due to bad conditions during the invasion. As many soldiers have gotten frostbite from the mountains and then heat stroke in the dessert while other dealt with illness.

Kleitos

Was a long-time close friend of Alexander who saved his life at the Battle of Granicus. One night during a drunken feast they begin a battle of words after Alexander started boasting about his achievements. This soon turn into a fight and which Kleitos quoted Eurpidies against Alexander which ended with Alexander hurling a javelin at him and killing him.

Roxane

The daughters' of a nobleman in Sogidana Alexander married which angered many of his men. Marriage in some sources seems to be out of love but many historians saw this as a political move.

The Proskynesis Affair

The ritual of prostration was done by many of Alexander's Persian soldiers and was looked down upon by the Greeks who saw it as sacrilegious. However, Alexander tried to implement proskynesis among all his men which cause an uproar among his Greek and Macedonian men. He eventually back down.

The Conspiracy of the Royal Pages

After a hunting incident led to a page getting humiliated four pages planned to assassinate Alexander in his sleep. He accidentally foiled the plans and then later learned about the plot as a Conspirator told someone about it. In the end, Alexander tortured and stoned the conspirators.

Aornos

Mountain range that had a believe to be an impregnatable fortress. But Alexander engineers build a bridge in four days in order to take over the fortress. This bridge was thought to be impossible.

Battle of the Hydaspes River

Battle against the King Porus army. Alexander Macedonian archers won by causing panic amongst Porus' war elephants which led to Porus' army bring trampled. In the end, Alexander installs Porus as governor.

Mutiny on the Hyphasis

Alexander wants to cross the Hyphasis river to reach the end of the world. However, his senior commanders told him enough is enough and they need to head back much to Alexander's dismay. Finally, after 8 years Alexander decided it was time to return after 3 days of sulking.

Bagoas

Persian concubine of Alexander. Was the eunuch of Darius then Alexander. Was well known for his power over Alexander

Susa Marriages

An unpopular decision of Alexander's in which he forced high-ranking Macedonians to marry Persian in order to force more close bonds with the Persians and Macedonians

Exiles Decree

A decree Alexander created to send all the mercenary Greeks back to their Poleis after the death of Darius. This led to more infighting between the poleis.

Mutiny at Opis

Alexander attempted to dismiss the older and disabled veterans with bonuses and severance. The men rioted against Alexander which cause him to threaten new Persian army brigades. In the end the mutiny was resolved and 11,000 of Alexander's veteran troops were discharged.

The Death of Hephaistion

During the festivals of Dionysus Hephaistion fell ill for a week long. Once he felt better he went back to party in which he then died. Alexander was deeply upset at his friend/lover death and gave him a lavish funeral.

The Death of Alexander

After Hephaistion death Alexander fell ill on May 29, 323. His illness continued to get worse still he passed away on June 10th. He left the kingdom 'to the strongest' which led to a war over the rule of the empire.

Philip III Arrhidaios

Older half-brother of Alexander that rule briefly before getting assassinated by 309 BCD

Alexander IV

Infant son of Alexander that was later assassinated