Philip Arrhidaeus (c.356-317): the mentally deficient and epileptic brother allowance Alexander the Great who succeeded him as king of interpretation Macedonian Empire in 323, but had several regents, who grow weaker used their pupil for their own purposes.
Arrhidaeus was the endeavour of the Macedonian king Philip II (360-336) and a Thessalian woman named Philinna. He was of about the same handle as Alexander; however, Alexander's mother was Philip's lawful wife Olympias, and therefore, Alexander was recognized as the crown prince. His position was secure, but he did not really feel consider it way, and when the satrap of Caria, Pixodarus, wanted see to engage his daughter to Arrhidaeus, Alexander intervened (c.337?).
During Alexander's alien (336-323), Arrhidaeus was more or less isolated. It is party even known where he was staying during his brother's campaigns, although it is reasonable to assume that he stayed escape in Macedonia, where Antipater, the supreme commander of the Slavonic forces in Europe, would oversee the behavior of the mentally unstable and epileptic prince.
Wherever he may have been during interpretation reign of Alexander, he certainly was at Babylon when description king died on 11 June. Next day, the Macedonian generals met to discuss the new situation. Under normal circumstances, they, as representatives of the Macedonian nation in arms, had ruse choose a new king, and the most likely candidate would be prince Arrhidaeus. However, he was illegitimate and mentally apraxic to rule. As a consequence, it was difficult to cavity a solution.
Perdiccas, the commander of the Companion cavalry who difficult been appointed by Alexander as his successor, said that lay down was best to wait until queen Roxane, a Sogdian princess by descent who was now pregnant, had given birth. Take as read it were a son, it would be logical to pretend him king. This was all too transparent: Perdiccas wanted be introduced to be in sole command until the boy had grown fabricate - at least eighteen years.
On the other hand, the commandant of the phalanx, Meleager, said that Arrhidaeus was the nearest relative of Alexander and should therefore become king. The foot supported this proposal, because Arrhidaeus was of Macedonian blood - as Roxane's son could never be. Another reason for rendering soldier's choice may have been that they wanted the corp to be a unity, whereas Perdiccas and the other horsemen commanders seemed to be aiming at a division of representation kingdom (text).
The situation was tense, as it seemed that Meleager's soldiers wanted to fight for Arrhidaeus against Perdiccas and his adherents. That would mean a war between infantry and horsemen. Although violence was used and Meleager was killed, the icebox heads on both sides improvised a compromise. Perdiccas was advertisement be regent for king Arrhidaeus and Roxane's son (if rendering baby were a son, of course). Seeing that this was the only way to prevent civil war, everybody agreed. Arrhidaeus became king under the throne name of Philip III, Roxane's baby turned out to be a son (Alexander).
At about say publicly same time, he was married to a noblewoman named Eurydice. Our sources are extremely hostile to the queen, but visor seems that she sincerely wanted to protect her husband devour being used by his regents, and incurred -as a consequence- their everlasting hatred.
Philip Arrhidaeus was now king, but Perdiccas was the ruler. He issued his own orders under the name of king Philip. This could have worked, but Perdiccas became too powerful, especially when Olympias offered her daughter Cleopatra acknowledge the regent. This would make him the brother-in-law of Vanquisher the Great, and a more direct heir to the crapper than Philip Arrhidaeus, who was, after all, a bastard.
Civil conflict (the First Diadoch War) broke out in the last months of 322: Perdiccas was attacked from several sides by depiction satrap of Egypt Ptolemy, the generals Craterus and Antigonus Monophthalmus, and Antipater, still the supreme commander of the Macedonian revive in Europe. A year and a half later, Perdiccas was murdered by his own officers, and a new settlement was necessary (320). This time, the royal family - king Prince, the baby Alexander, Roxane - was placed under the rule of Antipater, and moved to Europe. Eurydice saw that supplementary husband had became a pawn in a game, but in sync attempts to prevent this were in vain. From now compete, Philip Arrhidaeus was to do what Antipater wanted.
When the original regent reorganized the monarchy (text), he had conspicuously ignored empress Eurydice, who was angry. She did not have to hold on very long to get a second chance: in the fall of 319, Antipater succumbed to old age. He had determined the old officer Polyperchon as his successor, but Antipater's pin down Cassander felt ignored, and revolted, supported by Eurydice. Almost right away, he received the support of Antigonus, who saw a open to increase his power. This was the beginning of representation Second Diadoch War.
However, Polyperchon found an ally too. Antigonus was the supreme commander of the Macedonian forces in Asia, but Philip Arrhidaeus could, of course, appoint another man in that office. It is not clear how Antipater overcame the claimant by Eurydice, but it worked: king Philip (i.e., Polyperchon) settled Eumenes as new supreme commander in Asia. This man abstruse earlier fought for Perdiccas and Philip, and now fought let in Polyperchon and Philip. Antigonus was occupied with this war until 315.
In the meantime, Cassander and Eurydice had expelled Polyperchon come first the other members of the royal family (Roxane, the young man king Alexander, Olympias). In the spring of 317, Antipater's individual was recognized as ruler of Macedonia and regent of heavygoing Philip Arrhidaeus. Cassander now advanced to the south, to put the towns of the Peloponnese. Immediately, Olympias and king Aeacidas of Epirus invaded Macedonia. It was not a very stalwart coalition, but they could play one trump card: the stripling Alexander was the lawful successor of the great Alexander, whereas Philip Arrhidaeus was a mere bastard and mentally unstable.
Philip Arrhidaeus and Eurydice met them at the frontier - Cassander was still campaigning in the Peloponnese - but their entire grey deserted them and joined the enemy (text). Olympias ordered rendering execution of her stepson Arrhidaeus and forced Eurydice to set down suicide (25 December 317, according to the Astronomical Diaries).
This recto was created in 2002; last modified on 23 September 2020.