Transcript Events after Philips death

After Philip II Died
• But first there is a wee test on the
information about Phillip’s murder.
Follow Up Questions
• Who was Pausanias of Orestis?
• Who was Olympias jealous of and why?
• Why did Attalus ask people to pray for “a legitimate
heir”?
• What year was Philip Murdered?
• Give two events that might indicate Alexander’s
involvement?
• Who did Alexander blame for the murder of Philip?
Events after the
death of Philip II
Alexander’s Rise to
Power
Alexander’s Accession
• Alexander was 20 years old when he ascended to the throne
• Alexander had an easy accession to the throne
Philip’s tomb
– Had support of Antipater and Parmenio
• He was obvious choice to succeed Philip
• To secure his position as King, he put to death anyone who
threatened his right to inherit throne
– Put to death his cousin, Amyntas
– Put to death Attalus
• Attalus appeared to be conspiring against Alexander
• Promised Macedonian nobles that he would follow the principles of
his father’s administration
– Announced that Macedonian people exempt from taxation
• Secured himself as leader of the Corinthian League
The Corinthian League
• During Philip’s rule he had extended Macedonian control over most
of Greece
• He established the League of Corinth were all Greek states were
compelled to join submitting themselves to the military leadership
of Philip.
– Philip had the title of Hegemon (military leader) which gave him
authority over foreign policy
• All members of the league had to swear an oath of allegiance to
Philip and the league.
• Each state elected it’s own representative.
• The league had judicial powers to try and punish offenders.
• Aims of the league:
– To punish Persia for invading Greece in
490 and 480 BC
– Secure peace among the Greek States
Alexander’s Accession
As soon as the Greek states of Athens,
Thebes, Aetolia and Sparta heard of
Philip’s death they rebelled against
Macedonia
• The Greek states saw this as an
opportunity to break free of
Macedonian rule
• Alexander began marching up and down
Greece putting down the rebellions in
North and South
Southern States Rebellion
• Alexander started with the rebellions in the South
(Thessaly, Thebes, Athens, Sparta, Aetolia)
• Alexander moved with such speed on southern tribes they
had no time to act and were forced to submit to his rule.
• Thessaly To get to the Greek states in the South, Alexander
had to go through Thessaly. Thessaly was waiting to do battle
but Alexander wanted to avoid a confrontation, so he bypassed
the Thessaly army who were waiting at the Vale of Tempa by
cutting a path over Mt Ossa. When Thessaly saw him marching
into their city they surrended and welcomed him, acknowledging
him as Archon (political leader).
• Athens Sent out an embassy to welcome him apologising for not
recognising him as their Hegemon earlier.
• Most other Southern states gave up immediately to avoid
confrontation with Alexander and his army.
Northern Tribes Rebellion
335BC
• After Alexander had stopped rebellions of the Southern states,
he received news that the Northern tribes were rebelling.
(Thrace, Illyria, Danube)
• He marched North and attacked many barbarian tribes,
suppressing the rebellions
• Alexander fought some significant battles with the Northern
tribes that demonstrated Alexander’s ability as a general.
– Battle with Thrace The Thracian army had their wagons lined up at
the top of a steep pass intending to push the wagons off the pass to
crush Alexander and his army below. Alexander ordered his Army to
lie down with their shields linked on top of them so that the wagons
would roll straight over them without harming anyone. The plan
worked perfectly and then Alexander’s army charged on the
Thracians defeating them.
• Alexander secured the North and conducted peace treaties with
many of the tribes.
Second rebellion of the Greek
States (Spring 335 BC)
•
While fighting in the north, the new king of Persia, Darius III sent
agents to Greece with gold to encourage Greeks to rebel against
Macedonia.
– Started rumor that Alexander had been killed
•
Alexander had to travel south yet again to suppress rebellions.
•
Theban Rebellion
– Thebes decided it was a good time to rise against Macedonia.
– Athens promised to support Thebes in rebellion
– Athens and Sparta had excepted gold from Persians
– Thebes invited political exiles back and the Theban assembly voted
to ‘throw off the Macedonian yoke.’
– Alexander quickly marched to Thebes and camped outside. He
offered amnesty for Thebes if they handed over the two rebel
political leaders who started the revolt.
– Thebes refused and invited anyone to join them and the King of
Persia in ‘freeing Greece from the Tyrants.’
– Alexander attacked and overthrew Thebes.
– 6000 Thebans were killed.
Punishment of Thebes
• Alexander treated the rebellion as a breach of the
peace of the League of Corinth
• He asked the council to decide on a punishment
• Their decision was to raze (destroy) Thebes, divide up
its territory and sell all Theban survivors as slaves
(30.000 people in total)
• Alexander knew that the league would deal with
Thebes severely.
• Alexander used Thebes to teach other Greek states a
lesson
• One after another the Greek states quickly apologised
to Alexander submitting to his rule again
• Alexander was now ready to prepare for his invasion of
the Persian Empire in 334 BC.