382-336 B.C.E.
King Of Macedon

Beginnings. Philip II, or Philip of Macedon, was born in 382 B.C.E. As a boy he spent time in Thebes during the height of that city's power. (He was actually a hostage to assure his people's friendliness to the Thebans.) He first came to power in 359 B.C.E. after his brother was killed in battle against the Illyrians, the inhabitants of modern-day Albania.

Rising Power. For several years after his accession and reorganization of his armies, Philip was engaged in securing his northern and western borders. He also took advantage of Athens's difficulties in its Social War (357-355 B.C.E.) to capture Amphipolis, which held a strategically important location on the river Strymon. Since the Macedonians practiced polygamy, he made several marriage alliances, one of which to Olympias, a niece of the king of Epirus, who...