People > Philip III of Macedon

Philip III of Macedon

Background

PHILIP III. [Arrhidaeus], king of Macedonia, was the feeble-minded son of Philip II. of Macedonia by a Thessalian 323 to be nominal king conjointly with the infant Alexander, and was killed in Macedonia by order of Olympias (327).

Philip III of Macedon, also known as Philip Arrhidaeus, was a king of Macedon who reigned from 323 BCE to 317 BCE. His reign was marked by political instability and power struggles among the Diadochi (successors of Alexander the Great). Despite being a king, Philip III had little actual power due to his mental disabilities and the manipulations of more powerful figures around him.

Early Life and Background

1. Birth and Family:

   • Philip III was born in 359 BCE to King Philip II of Macedon and his concubine, Philinna of Larissa.
   • He was the half-brother of Alexander the Great.

2. Mental Disabilities:

   • Philip III is described by ancient sources as having some form of mental disability, which made him unsuitable for effective rule. This condition left him vulnerable to being used as a pawn by powerful Macedonian generals and regents.

Ascension to the Throne

1. After Alexander’s Death:

   • Alexander the Great died in 323 BCE without a clear successor. His death led to a power vacuum and the Wars of the Diadochi.
   • Philip III was proclaimed king by the Macedonian army to maintain a semblance of continuity and legitimacy, despite his mental incapacities. He was made king alongside Alexander IV, the infant son of Alexander the Great and Roxana.

2. Role as a Figurehead:

   • Philip III served mainly as a figurehead, with real power being exercised by regents and generals. Perdiccas, one of Alexander’s generals, initially took control as regent.
   • The actual governance of the empire was carried out by these regents, who used Philip III's royal status to legitimize their own power.

Reign and Political Intrigues

1. Regents and Power Struggles:

   • Perdiccas was assassinated in 321 BCE, leading to further power struggles. Antipater, another of Alexander’s generals, took over as regent but died in 319 BCE, further destabilizing the situation.
   • After Antipater’s death, the regency was contested between Polyperchon, chosen by Antipater, and Cassander, Antipater's son. Cassander eventually gained the upper hand.

2. Conflict with Olympias:

   • Olympias, Alexander the Great’s mother, sought to protect her grandson Alexander IV and eliminate rivals. In 317 BCE, she returned to Macedon, taking control and executing many of her opponents.
   • Olympias ordered the execution of Philip III and his wife Eurydice to secure her grandson's position. Philip III was killed in 317 BCE.

Legacy

1. A Figurehead Monarch:

   • Philip III’s reign highlights the use of figurehead monarchs in the power struggles following Alexander the Great’s death. His life was largely controlled by the ambitions of others, and he had little influence over the course of events.
   • His reign was a turbulent period marked by the fragmentation of Alexander’s empire and the rise of the Hellenistic kingdoms.

2. Historical Perspective:

   • Philip III is often seen as a tragic figure, overshadowed by the greater figures of his time and manipulated due to his mental condition.
   • His life and reign are illustrative of the broader struggles for power and legitimacy in the wake of Alexander’s death, contributing to the historical understanding of the era of the Diadochi.

Conclusion

Philip III of Macedon, or Philip Arrhidaeus, was a king in name only, with real power wielded by regents and generals during his reign from 323 BCE to 317 BCE. His mental disabilities made him a pawn in the complex power struggles that followed the death of Alexander the Great. Despite being a king, his reign was marked by instability and manipulation by more powerful figures, ultimately leading to his execution by Olympias. Philip III's life reflects the turbulence of the early Hellenistic period and the challenges of maintaining continuity and stability in a fragmented empire.

Sources

1911 Encyclopædia Britannica, Volume 21

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