People > Philip I of Macedon

Philip I of Macedon

Background

Philip I of Macedon (Greek: Φίλιππος Α΄ ὁ Μακεδών), whose name means "friend of horses," is a semi-legendary figure in the early history of the Macedonian kingdom. Here is a detailed overview of his purported life and reign, based on ancient sources and historical interpretations:

Background and Ancestry

• Parentage: Philip I is said to be the son of Argaeus, a name associated with early Macedonian royalty.
• Historical Sources: The primary sources that mention Philip I include Herodotus and Thucydides. However, these sources differ significantly from later accounts by Dexippus and Eusebius.

Position in Macedonian Royal Lineage

• Herodotus and Thucydides: According to these classical historians, Philip I is the third king of Macedonia. They regard Perdiccas I as the founder of the Macedonian royal line.
• Dexippus and Eusebius: In these later sources, Philip I is listed as the sixth king. They include Caranus, Coenus, and Thurimas (or Turimmas) as predecessors before Perdiccas I, who is considered the first historical king of Macedonia.

Reign

• Length of Reign: Dexippus and Eusebius differ slightly on the length of Philip I's reign, assigning him 38 and 35 years, respectively.
• Historical Evidence: There is no substantial archaeological or contemporary written evidence to confirm Philip I's existence or his reign. Much of what is known comes from later historical compilations that aim to construct a coherent lineage for the Macedonian monarchy.

Historical Context

• Legendary Status: The accounts of Philip I, much like those of other early Macedonian kings, blend history with legend. These narratives were often retroactively constructed to provide legitimacy and continuity to the ruling dynasty.
• Myth vs. History: The early history of Macedonia is shrouded in myth, with early kings often depicted in semi-legendary terms. Philip I's supposed reign is part of this tradition, reflecting the efforts of later historians to trace the origins of the Macedonian state back to heroic or mythical figures.

Conclusion

Philip I of Macedon is a semi-legendary figure whose historical existence is not definitively established. The discrepancies in ancient sources and the lack of concrete evidence make it difficult to separate myth from reality in his story. Nonetheless, his inclusion in the royal lineage by both early and later historians underscores the importance placed on constructing a continuous and legitimate history for the Macedonian monarchy. His legacy, whether historical or mythical, contributes to the rich tapestry of early Macedonian history and the origins of a kingdom that would later rise to great prominence under Philip II and Alexander the Great.

Sources

1911 Encyclopædia Britannica, Volume 21

Warning: include(/home/humanityhistory/public_html/addons/domains/alexander-the-great.org/links/people-links.php): failed to open stream: No such file or directory in /home/humanityhistory/public_html/addons/domains/alexander-the-great.org/people/philip-I-of-macedon.php on line 45

Warning: include(): Failed opening '/home/humanityhistory/public_html/addons/domains/alexander-the-great.org/links/people-links.php' for inclusion (include_path='.:/opt/cpanel/ea-php73/root/usr/share/pear') in /home/humanityhistory/public_html/addons/domains/alexander-the-great.org/people/philip-I-of-macedon.php on line 45