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How did Phillip II of Macedon change Ancient Greek history

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[[File: Philip II of Macedon.jpg|thumbnail|left|300px250px|A modern statue of Phillip II]]Alexander the Great is one of the most famous men in history. However, it is generally recognized that Alexander’s achievements would have been impossible without his father, Philip II of Macedon, who reigned from 359 to 336 B.C. He is not as well-known as his son but he laid the foundations for the great Empire of Alexander. Phillip was a great soldier and statesman and he transformed Macedonia and turned it into a well-run state. He also established a professional army that employed innovative military tactics. Phillip also established an Empire in the Northern Balkans and most importantly he subjugated the Greek City-States. Phillip conquered Greece and it was to remain under the influence of Macedonia, for almost two hundred years, until the Roman conquest. Phillip II changed the history of Ancient Greece and allowed the rise of his son Alexander the Great.
Alexander the Great is one of the most famous men in history. However, it is generally recognized that Alexander’s achievements would have been impossible without his father, Philip II of Macedon, who reigned from 359 to 336 B.C. He is not as well-known as his son, but he laid the foundations for the great Empire of Alexander. Phillip was a great soldier and statesman, and he transformed Macedonia and turned it into a well-run state. He also established a professional army that employed innovative military tactics. Phillip also established an Empire in the Northern Balkans, and most importantly, he subjugated the Greek City-States.
===Background===Macedonia was a small kingdom to the north of Greece. Unlike the rest of Phillip conquered Greece, it was rather backward and it did not have any major urban centers. The country’s economy was based on pastoral farming and many Macedonians were semi-nomadic pastoralists. The Macedonian nobility and population measured their wealth in to remain under the number influence of horses and livestockMacedonia, for almost two hundred years, they owneduntil the Roman conquest. The kingdom was regularly shaken by civil wars between Phillip II changed the kings history of Ancient Greece and allowed the nobles. The kings of Macedonia were rarely in full control rise of his son Alexander the kingdom and often the powerful local lords acted as semi-independent rulers. Macedonia was very vulnerable to invasions. It was regularly invaded by its neighbors, including the Celts, Scythian, and ThraciansGreat.
The kingdom ==Were Ancient Macedonians Greeks?==Macedonia was never a significant player in small kingdom to the north of Greece. Unlike the politics rest of Greece , it was rather backward, and had been conquered by Darius during the Second Persian Invasionit did not have any major urban centers. Many of Phillip II critics claimed that the The country’s economy was based on pastoral farming, and many Macedonians were not really Greeks and implied that they were nonsemi-Greeks or ‘barbarians’ <ref> Demosthenes. Philippics. 1 8</ref>nomadic pastoralists. The vast majority Macedonian nobility and population measured their wealth in the number of scholars today believe that the Macedonians were Greeks horses and livestock they had originated from North-East Greece owned. The kingdom was regularly shaken by civil wars between the kings and had expanded into the Modern Republic of nobles. Macedonia. Evidence kings were rarely in full control of their ‘Greekness’ is in the fact that they worshiped kingdom, and often the same Pantheon of Gods powerful local lords acted as those worshiped in Sparta and Athens<ref>semi-independent rulers. Macedonia was very vulnerable to invasions. WorthingtonIt was regularly invaded by its neighbors, Ian. Philip II of Macedonia (Yale: Yale University Pressincluding the Celts, 2000)Scythian, pand Thracians. 13</ref>
===Life of Phillip II===[[File: Facade of Philip II tomb Vergina The kingdom was never a significant player in Greece's politics and was conquered by Darius during the Second Persian Invasion.jpg |thumbnail|300px|left|The tomb Many of Phillip II]]Phillipe was the son of Macedonia's King Amyntas III and his wife, Queen Eurydice. He was born in 383 BCE critics claimed that the Macedonians were not really Greeks and his elder brother became king after his father’s deathimplied that they were non-Greeks or ‘barbarians.<ref> Lewis, DDemosthenes.MPhilippics., <i>The Cambridge Ancient History Volume 6: The Fourth Century BC</i> (Cambridge, Cambridge University Press,1994), p 371 8</ref> He was sent as a hostage to Thebes, which was briefly The vast majority of scholars today believe that the supreme power in Macedonians were Greeks. They had originated from North-East Greece, this was to secure and had expanded into the good behavior Modern Republic of Macedonia. Evidence of his brother, their ‘Greekness’ is that they worshiped the kingsame Pantheon of Gods as those worshiped in Sparta and Athens<ref>. Later another brother who had become king was able to secure his release. King PeridiccasWorthington, Phillip’s brother was killed in an invasion of his kingdom by a powerful Illyrian armyIan. Phillip was appointed regent of his brother’s eldest son, who would be crowned king Philip II of Macedonia upon his coming of age. Phillip(Yale: Yale University Press, although not the king2000), was the most powerful man in the kingdomp. 13</ref>
==Who was Phillip proved to be an excellent military leader and diplomat.<ref>Lewis, p. 39</ref> He first set about re-organizing the Macedonian militaryII?==[[File: Facade of Philip II tomb Vergina Greece. jpg |thumbnail|250px|left|The tomb of Phillip soon turned the army into a formidable fighting force and he used it at first to defend the kingdom and then he used it to expand the territory of the kingdom.II]]
Phillipe was the son of Macedonia had been forced to concede territory to its neighbors in the recent past 's King Amyntas III and Phillip used the army to retake these territorieshis wife, Queen Eurydice. He and the new army was able to conquer several new territories born in 383 BCE, and greatly improved the strategic position of the kingdom. This expansion made it less vulnerable to invaders. Phillip was married several times and he had at least seven wives and he formed marriage alliances with many of his neighborselder brother became king after his father’s death. <ref>PlutarchLewis, D.M., <i>Life of AlexanderThe Cambridge Ancient History Volume 6: The Fourth Century BC</i> 1 7(Cambridge, Cambridge University Press,1994), p 37</ref> By 357 BCE Phillip He was sent Thebes as a hostage, which was briefly the supreme power in Greece, this was all powerful and he sidelined to secure the good behavior of his nephew from brother, the succession and king. Later another brother who had himself crowned as become king was able to secure his release. King Peridiccas, Phillip’s brother, was killed in an invasion of Macedoniahis kingdom by a powerful Illyrian army. After securing Phillip was appointed regent of his position in brother’s eldest son, crowned king of Macedonia he turned his attention to upon coming of age. Phillip, although not the king, was the south. He intervened most powerful man in the Third Sacred War and was able to annex Thebeskingdom.
From 357 BCEPhillip proved to be an excellent military leader and diplomat.<ref>Lewis, he fought a series of wars with p. 39</ref> He first set about re-organizing the Athenians for control of Thrace and especially rich mines in AmphipolisMacedonian military. Phillip struggled with Athens for control of much of Greece. Phillip II built up soon turned the army into a series of alliances with his neighbors formidable fighting force, and he became even more influential after he managed used it at first to defeat a large Scythian army. Phillip controlled much of defend the Balkans by 340 BCE. Rich mines had been discovered in Macedonia kingdom, and Phillip then he used his wealth it to bribe his enemies and to purchase allies. The king was able to overcome expand the resistance territory of the Athenians and he was able to secure possession of the rich gold mines at Amphipolis. This allowed him to strengthen his kingdom and expand his army and create a navy. The first in Macedonian history. The Greek city-states became very fearful of Macedonian power and they united in an alliance against Phillip II.<ref>Plutarch, <i>Life of Alexander</i>, 2. 8</ref>
The Greek City-States, under Macedonia had been forced to concede territory to its neighbors in the leadership of Thebesrecent past, met and Phillip used the army of Phillip at Chaeronea in 338 BCEto retake these territories. Phillip’s new phalanx formation annihilated the Thebans He and the rest of the Greek new army. <ref>Plutarch, <i>Life of Pelopidas</i>. 18</ref> This was a great victory for Phillip II overcame several new territories and in its wake, he was master of nearly all of Greece. No one had dominated Greece to such an extent and to formalize his control he established greatly improved the League of Corinth, with himself as its ‘hegamon’ <ref>Lewis, p. 45</ref>kingdom's strategic position. This was a political-military alliance that effectively subjugated all of Greece expansion made it less vulnerable to the Macedonian kinginvaders. Phillip II lost none of his vigor as was married several times, and he had at least seven wives, and he aged despite walking formed marriage alliances with a limp and being blind in one eye. He dreamed many of invading and conquering the Persian Empire and had pressurized the Greek City-States to join his proposed invasion armyneighbors.<ref>Plutarch, <i>Life of Alexander</i>, 61 7</ref> However, he did not live long enough to invade Persia. During a processionBy 357 BCE, Phillip II was assassinated by a former friend all-powerful, and bodyguard. Some have claimed that he sidelined his nephew from the assassin succession and had himself crowned as King of Phillip was motivated by a personal grievanceMacedonia. There have long been suspicions that the wife of Phillip II After securing his position in Macedonia, had been behind he turned his attention to the assassinationsouth. She was concerned that Phillip II He intervened in the Third Sacred War and was going able to disinherit her son Alexander and that another of Phillip’s sons would be made his heir. Phillip II was only 46 when he was killedannex Thebes.<ref>Plutarch, <i>Life of Alexander</i>, 7</ref>
From 357 BCE, he fought a series of wars with the Athenianstor control Thrace and prosperous mines in Amphipolis. Phillip struggled with Athens for control of much of Greece. Phillip II built up a series of alliances with his neighbors, and he became even more influential after he managed to defeat a large Scythian army. Phillip controlled much of the Balkans by 340 BCE. Rich mines were discovered in Macedonia, and Phillip used his wealth to bribe his enemies and purchase allies. The king was able to overcome the Athenians' resistance, and he was able to secure possession of the rich gold mines at Amphipolis. This allowed him to strengthen his kingdom and expand his army and create a navy. The first in Macedonian history. The Greek city-states became very fearful of Macedonian power, and they united in an alliance against Phillip II.<ref>Plutarch, <i>Life of Alexander</i>, 2. 8</ref> Under the leadership of Thebes, the Greek City-States met Phillip's army at Chaeronea in 338 BCE. Phillip’s new phalanx formation annihilated the Thebans and the rest of the Greek army. <ref>Plutarch, <i>Life of Pelopidas</i>. 18</ref> This was a great victory for Phillip II, and in its wake, he was master of nearly all of Greece. No one had dominated Greece to such an extent, and to formalize his control, he established the League of Corinth, with himself as to its ‘hegamon.’<ref>Lewis, p. 45</ref> This was a political-military alliance that effectively subjugated all of Greece to the Macedonian king.  Phillip II lost none of his vigor as he aged despite walking with a limp and blind in one eye. He dreamed of invading and conquering the Persian Empire and had pressurized the Greek City-States to join his proposed invasion army.<ref>Plutarch, <i>Life of Alexander</i>, 6</ref> However, he did not live long enough to invade Persia. During a procession, Phillip II was assassinated by a former friend and bodyguard. Some have claimed that the assassin of Phillip was motivated by a personal grievance. There have long been suspicions that the wife of Phillip II, had been behind the assassination. She was concerned that Phillip II would disinherit her son Alexander and that another of Phillip’s sons would be made his heir. Phillip II was only 46 when he was killed.<ref>Plutarch, <i>Life of Alexander</i>, 7</ref> ===How did Phillip II reform the Macedon's Military Reforms=?==[[File: 512px-Filip II Macedonia.jpg|thumbnail|300px250px|left|A bust of Phillip II]] As a young man, Phillip was sent as a hostage to Thebes. At the time, it It had the most powerful army in Greece , and the Theban army had defeated the once invincible Spartans at the Battle of Leuctra in 373 BCE. Phillip was a shrewd young man , and he spent his time in Thebes studying its army and especially the tactics of the renowned Theban commanders Epaminondas and Pelopidas. He also saw how a phalanx could be utilized to drive an enemy from the battlefield. In particular, he studied the famous ‘Theban wedge’ and this wedge,’ which was a mass attack over the open ground by a phalanx at pace.  Phillip was also deeply impressed by the Theban elite force , the ‘Sacred Band’ Band,’ and he was later to model modeled his own elite forces on this unit. Using these experiences, he completely reorganized Macedonia’s army. When he became regent of Macedonia , he increased the size of the army and indeed doubled its size. He also greatly expanded the cavalry and trained the army in the latest Theban tactics. He ensured that the Macedonians were well drilled and disciplined. He also made sure that the army was regularly paid and received other benefits and he . He transformed the army from one, that was a militia of citizen-soldiers to one composed of professional soldiers. He provided his army with uniforms , and every soldier gave him an oath of allegiance. Phillip II also established a corps of engineers , and they were soon to prove adept at siege warfare.
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Phillip learned much from the Thebes , but he also introduced his own tactics. He adapted the phalanx , and he made it more flexible. He appointed a commander to every phalanx and established a system for communications. The Macedonian King also adapted the equipment of his army. He abandoned the traditional spear and introduced a very long spear, up to twenty feet in length. It meant that the Macedonian phalanx could reach the enemy before they were within reach of their spears. He also equipped every soldier with a short sword, that was ideal for close combat. The army that Phillip II developed was to help him establish an empire. It was this This army that allowed him to turn Macedonia from a second-rate power into the a major Greek power. It was this army that allowed Alexander to conquer most of the known world<ref>Lewis. p 101</ref>.
===State Building=How did Phillip II change Macedon? ==Phillip was also a state builder. He built the city of Pella , and he made it his capital. It was the administrative and cultural center of the kingdom. Phillip used the vast revenues from the Amphipolis's gold mines at Amphipolis not only to expand his army but to and develop a bureaucracy. To secure his kingdom , he held the son of neighboring rulers as his hostages. He also held the sons of many of his nobles as hostages and this , which secured their loyalty and ensured that Phillip’s was obeyed in all his realm. During his reign, the nobles generally accepted his rule , and law and order was were established for the first time in the kingdom's history of the kingdom. This stability and the expansion of the kingdom led to rapid economic growth. Later Alexander , when trying to quell a mutiny , Alexander reminded them how poor Macedonians had been before Phillip became king .<ref>Arian. <i>The campaigns of Alexander</i> 8. 5</ref>. Phillip also encouraged urbanization in his kingdom. To secure his own position he established the Royal Pages, an elite unit that secured Phillip’s throne. Phillip’s also introduced fiscal reforms and developed tax—gathering facilities that would be later used by Alexander the Great to finance his campaigns. Perhaps Phillip II’s greatest innovation in Macedonia was that he transformed the notion of kingship in the kingdom. He was an autocrat and was an absolute ruler in his realm. He greatly expanded the power of the Macedonian king. Phillip II greatly weakened the power of the nobles and created a well-run, centralized state.<ref> Worthington, p. 113</ref>
To secure his own position, he established the Royal Pages, an elite unit that secured Phillip’s throne. Phillip’s also introduced fiscal reforms and developed tax—gathering facilities that would be later used by Alexander the Great to finance his campaigns. Perhaps Phillip II’s greatest innovation in Macedonia was that he transformed the notion of kingship in the kingdom. He was an autocrat and was an absolute ruler in his realm. He greatly expanded the power of the Macedonian king. Phillip II greatly weakened the power of the nobles and created a well-run, centralized state.<ref> Worthington, p. 113</ref> ===How did Phillip II build an Empire-Builder=?==Phillip not only build a strong and stable state, but he also built an empire. He expanded Macedonian territory and influence greatly. He conquered Thrace, Molossia, and Thessaly. This greatly expanded the resources of Macedonia and allowed Phillip to pay for his professional army. His great victory over the Greeks allowed him , in the words of Demosthenes , his great enemy, ‘to settle the destiny of Hellas.’<ref> Demosthenes, <i>Philippics</i>, 3.10</ref>. Phillip was so powerful that he could impose his own terms on Greece, with the exception of except for the defiant Spartans. He forced the defeated city-states to enter into the League of Corinth. The League -bound the various city-states to Macedonia. They did not have an independent foreign policy , and they had to provide military support if requested by the Macedonian monarch.  Phillip II also imposed garrisons on key Greek cities. These garrisons ensured that the Greek city -states complied with the terms of the League of Corinth. Phillip created a system that ensured that Greece was subjugated to Macedonia and that it was not a threat to it. Phillip II was able to neutralize any threat from Greece for many decades. This allowed Alexander to concentrate on the Persia's invasion of Persia, without worrying about the obedience and loyalty of the Greek City-States. The Greece's conquest of Greece effectively ended the autonomy of many of the Greek states and they increasingly became cultural and economic backwaters. The Macedonian victory at the Battle of Chaeronea effectively ended the age of the Greek city-states ' age as independent powers and as the center of one of the most remarkable civilizations in western history.<ref>Lewis, p. 118</ref>
==Conclusion==
Phillip II was a remarkable ruler , and his achievements have been eclipsed by his son, Alexander the Greathas eclipsed his achievements. He created a strong Macedonian state that was stable and prosperous for many decades. He created a professional army that was arguably the best in the known world and conquered an empire. The army and the state that Phillip II created changed the history of Macedonia and Greece. His successes and policies also laid the foundation for the Greece's Macedonian domination of Greece that lasted almost two centuries. Phillip II 's conquest of Greece marked the end of the era of the Greek city-states era and the end of a great period of cultural achievement <ref>Lewis, p 119</ref>. He also laid the foundation for the Empire of Alexander the Great and the great Hellenistic monarchies. Phillip II changed the Greek World and paved the way for his more famous son to change World History.{{Mediawiki:Ancient Greece}}<div class="portal" style="width:8535%;"> 
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