Securing the Throne

Military History: Alexander the Great

Chapter 2 · Alexander's Succession & the Real Consolidation of Macedon

In 336 BCE Alexander was twenty, newly king, and surrounded by threats: rival claimants in Macedon, restless Greek cities, and warlike tribes on his northern borders. Within about eighteen months he had dealt with all of them — ending with the destruction of one of Greece's most famous cities. Only then could the invasion of Persia (Chapter 1) go ahead.

The Assassination of Philip, 336 BCE

Aegae, 336 BCE

At the old royal capital of Aegae, Philip celebrated the wedding of his daughter Cleopatra to the king of Epirus. As he entered the theatre, he was stabbed to death by Pausanias, one of his own bodyguards, who was killed while trying to escape.

Who Was Behind It? The ancient sources give a personal motive: Pausanias had been badly abused and felt Philip had failed to punish those responsible. But suspicion also fell on Alexander's mother, Olympias, who had been pushed aside when Philip married a new wife, and even on Alexander, whose position as heir had seemed at risk. Alexander blamed Persian money. No firm evidence settles the question, and historians still disagree.

Securing the Throne

With the support of senior figures, especially the general Antipater, the army acclaimed Alexander king. He then moved quickly against anyone who might challenge him.

Rival Claimants

Amyntas, the son of Philip's elder brother and a possible rival for the throne, was executed. So were others accused of involvement in the murder.

Attalus

The uncle of Philip's last wife, and a commander of the advance force in Asia, had insulted Alexander's right to rule. He was killed on Alexander's orders.

Olympias's Revenge

Philip's last wife and her infant child were killed, reportedly on the orders of Olympias. Alexander's position was now secure, if brutally so.

Greece and the Northern Frontier

Autumn 336 BCE Several Greek states see Philip's death as a chance to break free. Alexander marches south so quickly that resistance collapses; he is confirmed as leader of the League of Corinth and of the war on Persia.
Spring 335 BCE He campaigns in Thrace, defeating the Triballians and even crossing the Danube at night to scatter the Getae on the far bank.
Summer 335 BCE Illyrian kings attack from the west. Alexander wins at Pelion, in difficult mountain country, partly by staging a precise parade-ground drill of his phalanx that alarmed and confused the watching enemy before he attacked.

Why the North Mattered Macedon couldn't leave for Asia with hostile tribes on its borders. These campaigns also tested the army in rough terrain against unconventional enemies — experience it would need again in Bactria and India (Chapter 8).

The Destruction of Thebes, 335 BCE

A Rumour and a Revolt

While Alexander was fighting in Illyria, a rumour spread that he had been killed. Theban exiles returned from Athens, killed pro-Macedonian officials, and besieged the Macedonian garrison in the city's citadel. Persian money was encouraging revolt, and Athens sent weapons.

The March and the Assault

Alexander marched south over three hundred miles in about two weeks. The Thebans at first refused to believe it was really him. He offered terms; they refused. After a short siege, Macedonian troops broke into the city.

Outcome	Details
Deaths	About 6,000 Thebans killed in the fighting
Enslaved	About 30,000 people sold into slavery
The city	Razed to the ground; only its temples and the house of the poet Pindar were spared
Who decided	Formally, Alexander's Greek allies in the League, several of whom were old enemies of Thebes

An Example to Greece Thebes had been the leading military power in Greece only a generation earlier (Military History: The Greeks, Chapter 8). Its destruction was a deliberate warning. Other states dropped their plans to rebel, and Athens, which had supported the revolt, made peace quickly. For the rest of Alexander's reign, Greece caused him little serious trouble.

Questions to Sit With

Did Alexander benefit so much from Philip's death that the suspicion against him is fair, or is that reasoning too simple?

Was the destruction of Thebes a military necessity, a political calculation, or both?

What does the speed of the march to Thebes suggest about the army Alexander inherited?

Quick Reference — Chapter 2

Philip II was murdered by his bodyguard Pausanias at Aegae in 336 BCE; who was behind it is still debated
Supported by Antipater and the army, Alexander removed rivals including Amyntas and Attalus
He restored control of Greece in 336 BCE and was confirmed as leader of the League of Corinth
In 335 BCE he campaigned in Thrace, crossed the Danube, and defeated the Illyrians at Pelion
Thebes revolted on a false rumour of his death; after a march of over 300 miles in about two weeks, he destroyed the city, with about 6,000 killed and 30,000 enslaved

What's Next

Chapter 3: Crossing Into Asia: The Battle of the Granicus (334 BCE).