Philip of Macedon: biography, reasons for the military success of Philip II of Macedon

King of Macedonia Philip II became known in history as the conqueror of neighboring Greece. He managed to create a new army, consolidate the efforts of his people and expand the borders of the state. Philippe's successes fade before the victories of his son Alexander the Great, but he created all the prerequisites for the great achievements of his successor.

early years

The ancient king Philip of Macedon was born in 382 BC. E. His home town was the capital of Pella. The father of Philippe Amint III was an exemplary ruler. He was able to unite his country, before being divided into several principalities. However, with the death of Aminta, the period of prosperity is over. Macedonia has again broken up. At the same time, external enemies, including Illyrians and Thracians, also threatened the country. These northern tribes periodically raided their neighbors.

The weakness of Macedonia and used by the Greeks. In 368 BC. E. They made a trek to the north. As a result, Philip of Macedon was taken prisoner and was sent to Thebes. Paradoxical as it may seem, the young man's stay there only benefited him. In the IV century. BC. E. Thebes were one of the largest Greek polis. In this city the Macedonian hostage got acquainted with the social structure of the Hellenes and their developed culture. He even mastered the foundations of the military art of the Greeks. All this experience later influenced the policy, which began to lead the king Philip II of Macedonia.

Rise to power

In the year 365 BC. E. The young man returned to his homeland. At that time, the throne belonged to his elder brother Perdikka III. The quiet life in Pella was broken when the Macedonians again fell under the blow of the Illyrians. These formidable neighbors in a decisive battle defeated the army of Perdikia, while killing himself and another 4 thousand compatriots Philip.

The power inherited passed to the son of the deceased - a minor Amint. Philip was appointed regent. Despite his youth, he showed his outstanding leadership qualities and persuaded the country's political elite that at such a difficult time, when the enemy is on the threshold, he should be on the throne and protect civilians from the aggressors. Amint was deposed. So at the age of 23, Philip the 2 Macedonian became the king of his country. As a result, he did not part with the throne until his death.

Diplomat and strategist

From the very beginning of the reign, Philip of Macedon demonstrated his remarkable diplomatic abilities. He was not timid before the Thracian threat and decided to fight it not with weapons, but with money. Bribing the neighboring prince, Philip created a turmoil there, than he secured his own country. Also, the monarch seized the important city of Amphipolis, where gold mining was established. Having access to the noble metal, the treasury began to mint high-quality coins. The state became rich.

After that, Philip II of Macedon began to create a new army. He hired foreign masters who built the most modern at the time siege weapons (throwing guns, catapults, etc.). Using the bribery of opponents and cunning, the monarch first recreated a single Macedonia, and then began external expansion. He was lucky in the sense that in that era, Greece began to experience a protracted political crisis, connected with strife and hostility of policies. Northern barbarians were easily bribed with gold.

Reforms in the Army

Realizing that the greatness of the state is based on the strength of his troops, the king completely reorganized his armed forces. What was the army of Philip of Macedon? The answer lies in the phenomenon of the Macedonian phalanx. It was a new infantry fighting structure, which was a regiment of 1500 men. The phalanx collection became strictly territorial, which allowed improving the interaction of soldiers among themselves.

One such formation consisted of a multitude of lohos - rows of 16 infantrymen. Each line had its own task on the battlefield. The new organization made it possible to improve the combat qualities of the troops. Now the Macedonian army moved whole and monolithic, and in case the phalanx had to be turned, the lokhos responsible for this began to redeploy, signaling the neighbors. Behind him stretched the rest. The last lokhos followed the orderlyness of the regiments and the correctness of the construction, correcting the mistakes of his comrades.

So what was the army of Philip of Macedon? The answer lies in the king's decision to combine the experience of foreign troops. In his youth, Philip lived in Thebes in honorable captivity. There he got acquainted with the works of Greek strategists of different times in local libraries. Considerations of many of them sensitive and capable pupil later realized on his own army.

Rearmament of the troops

While engaged in military reform, Philip of Macedon paid attention not only to the organization, but also to the armaments. When he was in the army appeared sarissa. So the Macedonians called a long spear. Foot warriors sarissofory received and other weapons. During the storming of fortified enemy positions, they used throwing darts, which performed well at a distance, inflicting deadly wounds on the enemy.

Macedonian King Philippe made his army highly disciplined. Soldiers learned to handle weapons every day. The long spear was occupied by both hands, so in the army of Philip used copper shields, which were hung on the elbow.

The armament of the phalanx emphasized its main task - to keep the enemy punch. Philip 2 of Macedon, and later his son Alexander, used cavalry as the main attacking force. She beat the enemy army at a time when she tried unsuccessfully to crack the phalanx.

The beginning of military campaigns

After the Macedonian King Philip convinced that the transformation in the army had borne fruit, he began to interfere in the affairs of the Greek neighbors. In 353 BC. E. He supported the Delphic coalition in the next civil war of the Hellenes. After the victory, Macedonia actually subdued Thessaly, and also became a recognized arbitrator and arbitrator for numerous Greek politicians.

This success was the foreshadowing of the future conquest of Hellas. However, the interests of Macedonia were not limited to Greece. In 352 BC. E. The war with Thrace began. It was initiated by Philip of Macedon. The biography of this man is a vivid example of a commander who tried to protect the interests of his people. The conflict with Thrace began because of the uncertainty of the border areas of the two countries. After a year of war, the barbarians gave way to disputed lands. So the Thracians learned what the army of Philip of Macedon was.

The Olinth War

Soon the Macedonian ruler resumed his intervention in Greece. Next on his way was the Chalcis Union, the main policy of which was Olinf. In 348 BC. E. The army of Philip of Macedon began the siege of this city. The Chalcis Union received the support of Athens, but their help was rendered too late.

Olinf captured, burnt and ruined. So Macedonia has further expanded its borders to the south. Other cities of the Chalcis Union were annexed to it. Only the southern part of Hellas remained independent. The reasons for the military successes of Philip of Macedon were, on the one hand, in the concerted actions of his army, and on the other - in the political fragmentation of Greek policies, who did not want to unite with each other in the face of external danger. A skilled diplomat deftly enjoyed the mutual dislike of his opponents.

Scythian hike

While contemporaries puzzled over the question, what were the reasons for the military successes of Philip of Macedon, the ancient king continued his aggressive campaigns. In 340 BC. E. He went to war on Perinth and Byzantium - Greek colonies, which controlled the strait separating Europe and Asia. Today it is known as the Dardanelles, and then was called the Hellespont.

Under Perinth and Byzantium the Greeks gave a serious rebuff to the invaders, and Philip had to retreat. He went to war with the Scythians. Just then, the relationship of the Macedonians with this people has deteriorated noticeably. The leader of the Scythians Atey shortly before had asked for military assistance from Philip to repulse the attack of neighboring nomads. The Macedonian king sent him a large detachment.

When Philip was under the walls of Byzantium, unsuccessfully trying to capture this city, he himself was in a quandary. Then the monarch asked Atey to help him with money, to at least somehow cover the costs associated with the long siege. The leader of the Scythians in a return letter mockingly denied his neighbor. Philip did not tolerate such an insult. In 339 BC. E. He went north to punish treacherous Scythians with his sword. These Black Sea nomads were indeed defeated. After this campaign, the Macedonians finally returned home, though not for long.

Battle of the Chaeronea

Meanwhile, Greek city-states created an alliance directed against Macedonian expansion. Philip did not embarrass this fact. He was still going to continue his march to the south. In 338 BC. E. A decisive battle took place at the Chaeronea. The basis of the Greek army in this battle consisted of the inhabitants of Athens and Thebes. These two polices were the political leaders of Hellas.

The battle is noteworthy because the 18-year-old heir of Tsar Alexander took part in it. He had to learn from his own experience what the army of Philip of Macedon was. The monarch himself commanded the phalanxes, and his son was placed at the disposal of the cavalry on the left flank. Confidence was justified. The Macedonians defeated the opponents. The Athenians, along with their influential politician and orator Demosthenes, fled the battlefield.

Corinthian Union

After the defeat at Chironene, Greek politicians lost their last strength for an organized struggle with Philip. Negotiations began about the future of Hellas. The result was the creation of the Corinthian Union. Now the Greeks found themselves in a dependent position from the Macedonian king, although formally they retained the old laws. Philip also occupied some cities.

The union was created under the pretext of a future struggle with Persia. The Macedonian army of Philip of Macedon could not alone cope with the eastern despotism. Greek politicians agreed to give the king their own troops. Philip was recognized as the defender of the whole Hellenic culture. He himself suffered a lot from the Greek realities in the life of his own country.

Conflict in the family

After the successful unification of Greece under his rule, Philip was going to declare war on Persia. However, his plans were thwarted by family squabbles. In 337 BC. E. He married the girl Cleopatra, which led to a conflict with his first wife, the Olympics. It was from her that Philip had a son Alexander, who in the future was destined to become the greatest military leader of antiquity. The offspring did not accept his father's deed and left his court after the insulted mother.

Philip of Macedon, whose biography was full of successful military campaigns, could not allow his state to fall apart from within because of a conflict with the heir. After lengthy negotiations, he finally made up his son. Then Philip was going to perform in Persia, but before in the capital were to end the wedding celebrations.

Murder

At one of the festive feasts the king was unexpectedly killed by his own bodyguard, who was called Pausanias. The other guards immediately dealt with him. Therefore, it is still unknown what drove the killer. No reliable evidence of the involvement of anyone in the conspiracy historians do not have.

Perhaps, behind the back of Pausaniya was the first wife of Philip Olympics. Also, the version is not excluded that Alexander planned the murder. Be that as it may, the tragedy that erupted in 336 BC. E., led to the son of Philip. He continued his father's business. Soon the Macedonian armies conquered the entire Middle East and reached the limits of India. The reason for this success was hidden not only in the generalship talent of Alexander, but also in the perennial reforms of Philip. He created a strong army and a stable economy, thanks to which his son conquered many countries.