Philip II - Ancient Coin Stories

Macedonian Kingdom, Philip II AR Tetradrachm.
Pella mint, ca 354-349 BCE
22-24 mm., 13.68g.
Laureate head of Zeus right / ΦIΛΛIΠOY, Philip II, diademed & in kausia, on horseback left, raising right hand

Wow. Philip II. What can I say about the guy who really started it all? Even during the time of Alexander the Great there was a debate about who truly setup Macedon to take down Darius III and the Achaemenid Empire. After all, the military techniques and top generals were all put in place by Philip, and then utilized by Alexander.

Personally, I’m not a fan of that argument. One huge reason why Alexander was so successful was his bravery. He was always in the front of every battle, leading his soldiers to victory. Philip II was more of an orchestrator, and he even suffered a few defeats.

There’s also some debate that Alexander arranged to have his father assassinated. At the very least, his mother Olympias wasn’t upset at her husband’s death. She erected a monument to his killer. The assassin was also eliminated before he had any chance to name any co-conspirators.

The history of Philip II’s rise constitutes the first third of my set “Philip II, Alexander III, and the Era of the Diadochi.” While his son was an esteemed general and knew how to inspire his soldiers, Philip was more of a politician. He knew what was possible politically and what wasn’t, and was adept at playing sides off each other.

Philip II made strong use of this skill during his reign. He played off Athens to conquer and keep Amphipolis. He did it again to conquer the Chalkidian League. He also pitted Kersebleptes and Amatokos II against each other and Athens in order to occupy Thrace. Finally, he made use of the Sacred War to become the strongest entity in Greece.

While Alexander took Macedon to heights never imaginable, Philip did setup the groundwork. Without Philip there would have been no Alexandrian empire, and the world would be a very different place.

Kings of Macedon. Uncertain mint. Philip II of Macedon
359-336 BCE
Æ 11mm, 1,01g
Head of Herakles right, wearing lion’s skin headdress /
ΦΙΛΛΙΠΟΥ, club, [spear head above], Λ below.
SNG ANS 984; SNG Alpha Bank 440

378 BCE

Theopompos, a historian credited with the most complete history of Philip II, is born on Chios.

368 BCE

The Theban general Pelopidas intervenes in Macedonian affairs, leading an expedition to secure Alexander II‘s position. However, Alexander is forced to agree to a treaty that acknowledges Theban influence and sends his brother Philip II to Thebes as a hostage.

357 BCE

Philip II undertakes a campaign to subjugate the Chalkidike Peninsula, including Aineia.

357 BCE

Philip II of Macedon conquers Amphipolis.

355 BCE

The Athamanians join Philip II in the Third Sacred War against Phokis.

353 BCE

Kersebleptes and Philip II plan joint action against Amatokos II. The agreement breaks down, and Kersebleptes allies with Athens and attacks Amatokos II himself.

352 BCE

Philip II attacks and defeats Kersebleptes due to his attack on Amatokos II, who disappears from sources.

350 BCE

Abdera and Akanthos conquered by Philip II of Macedon.

350 BCE

Alexander I Molossos brought to Macedon under Philip II for his protection.

348 BCE

Philip II conquers Olynthos and thus destroys the Chalkidian League.

346 BCE

Parmenion, a general of Philip II, destroys Halos during the Third Sacred War.

345 BCE

Delos appeals to Philip II of Macedon to intervene in Athens control over them, but he chooses not to go against Athens at the time.

342 BCE

Antipater is selected by Philip II to govern Macedonia while he is on campaign.

341 BCE

Parties friendly to Philip II take over Histaia, but Athens send troops and retakes the city.

340 BCE

Alexander drives the Maedi tribe from Macedonian territory while his father Philip II wages a campaign against the Thracians.

340 BCE

Philip II besieges Perinthos. It is believed this is the battle where Antigonos Monophthalmos loses an eye.

339 BCE

Philip II with Alexander III enters Phokis and seizes Elataia, then improves its fortifications.

339 BCE

Alexander is dispatched by Philip II to quell revolts in southern Thrace. The two then campaign together and Alexander by some accounts saves his father’s life in Perinthos.

338 BCE

The Aetolian League receives Naopaktos from Philip II.

338 BCE

Ambrakia is besieged by Philip II of Macedon. Although Corinth and Athens come to its aid and prevent its complete destruction, Ambrakia is forced to accept a Macedonian garrison.

338 BCE

Alexander III and Philip II defeat Thebes at the Battle of Chaeronea. Argos fights on the side of Philip, while Corinth, Megara, Epidauros, and Troizen participate with Thebes.

337 BCE

Alexander the Great flees Macedon after his father Philip II marries a woman whose heir could be a threat to his throne.

337 BCE

Olympias flees from her husband Philip II and attempts to persuade her brother, Alexander I Molossos, to attack Macedon. Alexander instead decides to seal a marriage alliance with Philip for Kleopatra.

337 BCE

Antipater is sent by Philip II to Athens to negotiate a peace treaty.

336 BCE

Pixodaros offers his daughter to Philip III Arrhidaios. Alexander the Great offers his hand instead and when Philip II hears about the matter, he calls it off.

336 BCE
October 25

Alexander the Great becomes King of Macedon when his father, Philip II, is murdered at the wedding of his sister Kleopatra and Alexander I Molossos.

336 BCE

Abydos besieged by the Macedonian general Parmenion under Philip II.

336 BCE

The Aetolian League, Athens, and Thebes revolt against Macedon after the death of Philip II.