Alexander and the Kingdom of Macedonia

O Kingdom of Macedonia settled in a region north of Greece around the 7th century BC. Ç. The Macedonians identified themselves as holders of a Greek cultural heritage and claimed to be heirs of Heracles. Despite this, the Greeks did not consider them culturally Hellenic and branded them as barbarians, savages.

Macedonian ascension took place from the reign of Philip II of Macedonia, who strengthened the army of his kingdom and conquered the entire Greek world in 338 BC. Ç. alexander, his son, assumed the throne in 336 a. a., when Filipe II was assassinated. Alexander's conquests brought Macedonia into a period of short-lived glory.

Accessalso: Hellenistic Period — phase of Greek history beginning with Alexander the Great

When did the Kingdom of Macedonia arise?

The Kingdom of Macedonia was established around the VII century a. Ç., in a peripheral region of Greek territory. The Greek historian Herodotus said that the first Macedonian king was Perdics I, being a direct descendant of Themenus, king of Argos, belonging to the lineage of Heracles, one of the best known heroes of Greek mythology.

Ruins of Pella, the capital of the Kingdom of Macedonia.

In the mention made by Herodotus, Perdiccas would have fled from Argos and settled in the land of the Illyrians. However, many Greek myths said that the first king of the Macedonians was Carano, the founder of dynastyfrosty, which reigned over Macedonia. The myth tells that Carano and the Macedonians settled in a region called Emathia, which was soon called Macedonia in honor of the main god of this people: makedon, son of Zeus.

Were the Macedonians Greeks?

We know that the Macedonians had adirect descent from the greeks. They spoke Ancient Macedonian, a language that resembled Aeolian, one of the dialects of ancient Greek. The Macedonians themselves also claimed a cultural heritage from the Hellenics and considered themselves Greeks.

The Greeks, in turn, did not understand the Macedonians as Hellenic, necessarily. Herodotus himself even emphasized that the claim to the Greek heritage was made by the Macedonians. The current understanding of historians confirms that the Macedonians were not considered Greek by the city-states located in southern Greece, such as Athens and Sparta.

The Macedonians were taken by the Greeks as barbarians, the nomenclature used to refer to foreign peoples who did not share Greek culture. The Greek people saw countless differences between them and the Macedonians, starting with their language, their political organization, as well as considering them inferior warriors.

THE relationship between Greeks and Macedonians was marked by ups and downs. At a certain point, the Macedonians and Greeks maintained cool relations, with a certain mutual estrangement; at other times, Macedonian kings such as Alexander I were considered "friends of the Greeks." But there were also periods when relations were hostile, as in the case of Medical Wars, when the Macedonians supported the Persians.

Read too: Periods of Greek Civilization

Growth of the Kingdom of Macedonia

The historian Claude Mossé emphasizes that, until the VII century; C., the region of Macedonia was occupied by semi-nomadic peoples|1|. The centralization of power would have happened, according to tradition, in one of the two cases mentioned (Carano or Perdiccas). THE formation of a dynasty it gave greater organization to Macedonia and the kingdom prospered, although it had political and economic problems.

The Macedonians established commercial contacts with Greece, selling mainly timber so that the Athenians could build their fleet of ships. Macedonians also began to mint coins from the 5th century BC. a., an indication, according to Claude Mossé, that the kings of that kingdom were increasingly powerful|2|.

From the reign of Archelaus I, Macedonia underwent a certain elevation of status, with the strengthening of the army and the Hellenization of the Macedonian people. Macedonian cities also developed and Archelaus I is believed to have been responsible for transferring the capital of the kingdom from Aigai to Pella.

Macedonia suffered constantly from the disturbances of the peoples conquered by them, especially the Illyrians. From 359 a. C., that kingdom began a period of great prosperity and stability because Philip II he took the throne. It was he who realized that the Kingdom of Macedonia was weak and suffered real threats from Illyrians and Athenians.

Philip II then decided to strengthen the army by using a new type of phalanx (infantry corps), which became known as sarissa. In addition, the king increased the size of the Macedonian troops, and new infantry and cavalry soldiers were formed. This allowed Philip to advance into Greek territory, defeating them in 338 BC. Ç. after battle of cheronea.

readmore: Athens Plague, The serious epidemic that hit Athens

Alexander, the Great

Philip II had little time to enjoy the great conquest he had made in Greece, because in 336 a. Ç. He was murdered. Your son, alexander, assumed the throne, becoming Alexander III of Macedonia and beginning a reign marked by achievements and glories, becoming one of the greatest generals in history.

Alexander the Great was king of the Persians from 336 a. Ç. to 323 a. C., when he died after a sudden illness.

Alexander assumed the Macedonian throne in 336 BC. C., and the first two years of his reign were spent in consolidating his power, as he had to deal with conspirators who wanted to take his throne, as well as rebellions by Illyrians and Thebans. After that, Alexandre started his campaignmilitary in 334 BC Ç.

From then on, Alexander expanded his kingdom to Asia, with the Persians being his main target. The Macedonian king imposed three major defeats on the Persians in the battles of granic (334 a. Ç.), That (333 a. C.) and Gaugamela (331 a. Ç.). In these battles, Alexander showed his strength, causing great losses to the Persians. The final Persian defeat took place at Gaugamela.

With this, Alexander managed to conquer places such as Asia Minor, the Levant region and Palestine, as well as the entire extension of the territory dominated by the Persians. During this journey, the Macedonian king also conquered Egypt, founding the city of Alexandria. Over time, Alexandria became one of the most important cities of antiquity in the Mediterranean.

After Gaugamela, Alexander left in a huntperDarius, the last Persian king, who was found dead. Darius was murdered by Bessa, a satrap. Between 329 a. Ç. and 328 a. C., Alexander fought against Besso and conquered the regions dominated by him and that still resisted against Macedonian rule.

From 327 a. C., Alexander began the campaign of India, leading his troops through regions practically unknown to the Greeks. There Alexander faced very hard battles to the point that his troops asked to return to Persia the following year. Back to Persia in 324 a. C., Alexander married a Persian woman named purple and had a son, Alexander IV.

In 323 a. C., Alexander had a sudden illness that left him bedridden and led him to death two weeks later. To this day, the causes of Alexander's death are debated. It is said that he may have died of malaria, sGuillain Barré's syndrome and even, poisoning. Because of all his achievements, he became known as Alexander, the Great.

Accessalso: Mycenaeans, one of the people who formed the Greeks

Decline

After the death of Alexander the Great, the Kingdom of Macedonia, which was at its fullest extent, was divided among Alexander's main generals. Macedonia went through a succession of rulers until Cassander consolidated in the Macedonian power in 317 a. Ç. The territories conquered by Alexander in Asia and North Africa were divided between Antigone, Seleucus and Ptolemy I.

Maximum extension of the Kingdom of Macedonia in 323 a. Ç. These territories were conquered through Alexander's campaigns.

With that, Macedonia returned to being a small kingdom located on the periphery of the Greek world (also in decay). In century II a. a., the region was conquered and annexed to the territory of the romans. Macedonia officially became a Roman province in 146 BC. Ç.

Grades

|1| MOSSE, Claude. Alexander, the Great. São Paulo: Estação Liberdade, 2004, p. 18.

|2| Idem, p. 19.

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