PHILIP II

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PHILIP II

• King of Macedon

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Philip II
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BACKGROUND TO PHILIP II

• In 370s Philips brother Alexander II tried to
  weaken the stronghold of Thebes in Thessaly.
• 369-367BC Philip was an exile in Thebes where he
  was able to witness Greek politics and military
  tactics

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BACKGROUND cont

• 367 Macedonia in a state of disarray
• Macedonia went through 3 rulers during the late
  and mid 360s
• 1) Ptolemy of Abrus
• 2) Pausunias
• 3) Perdiccas III
• 357 saw an infant ruler instilled on the
  Macedonian throne
• 360 Philip had power persuaded Athenians and
  Thracians to forget their claims to throne and
  accept Philip as the ruler.

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AIMS AND POLICIES

• Ultimate aim was to make Macedonia master of the
  Balkans
• Opposition was seen by Persia as Persia
  controlled much of the Balkans
• Main concern was Philip did not match the
  military strength of Persia.
• He would unite the Greek states and then convince
  them to fight against Persia.

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How did he convice the Greeks

• He used the excuse it was a religious war of
  revenge. As the Persians had come into Greece in
  the 400s and destroyed and desecrated their
  temples

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Steps taken by Philip to ensure his aims were
fulfilled

1. He fought his enemies in the North conquering the
   Iliyrians and Peonians
2. He began the process of Hellenization the
   transformation of Macedonia into a Greek state.
3. He re-organised the army
4. Avoided war with the Greeks and hoped they
   accepted Macedonian leadership.

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THE ARMY OF PHILIP II

• Philip II used the oblique approach that
  Epaminondas used in 371.
• Foot companions who had to pin down part of the
  enemy line
• Companions who were the main striking force,
  close to the King also.
• Cavalry struck in the flank or rear
• The hypaspists (guards) were created by Philip to
  protect the flank of the phalanx and keep in
  contact with the cavalry then added a light armed
  troop form conquered territories.
• The army was divided by tribes into battalions,
  large enough to operate independtly and together
  formed the phalanx, armed with sarissas
  (enornmous pikes 18 feet long), metal helmets,
  small shieds and swords. They had a steady
  advance rather than a rush.

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THE CORINTHIAN LEAGUE

• In 338/7 BC King Philip, proud of his victory at
  Chaeroneia by which he had humbled the leading
  Greek states, became ambitious to become leader
  of all Greece. He spread the word that he wished
  to to undertake a war against the Persians on
  behalf of Greece and to punish them for the
  sacrilege they had comitted against Greek
  temples. He treated them all kindly both in
  public and private matters and revelaed to the
  cities that he wanted to discuss with them
  matters of m utual benefit. Hence he convened a
  general congress at Corinth and put forward his
  proposals for the war. By raising great hopes,
  he won the support of the delegates and finally
  they chose him as commander-in-chief of the Greek
  forces. He began to make great preparations for
  the campaign against the Persians and, after
  fixing the number of troops each city should
  contribute to the allied forces, he retured to
  Macedonia.