Mark luttenbergers new book philip ii of macedon is a scholarly. King philip ii conquered 6 occupied territories allowed for alexander the great to conquer persia won freedom for macedonia from the. A king of macedonia who ended greek independence as a result of advanced military tactics. Us army war college quarterly this is an important book on a remarkably successful king. A republication of my original article at playthepast 582012 my original plan for this essay was to analyze the problem spaces filled in by hegemony and evaluate briefly how defensibly this problem space was presented in light of what ancient evidence suggests about ancient battle. Instead, philip intended each man should fight as part of a larger, trained mass. At no time in macedonian history did things look more dismal than in 360 bce, when balkan tribes killed the king and overran much of macedon.
What was the tactic that philip ii of macedon used to defeat. What military tactics did king philip ii of macedon. The military genius of philip ii of macedon nathaniel thomas. This aspect of his achievement took some years to emerge. The army of the kingdom of macedon was among the greatest military forces of the ancient. C a historical biography kindle edition by green, peter. Alexander inherited the legacy of philipan ascendant macedonian. The evolution of greek military institutions and tactics. Greek armies at this time were made primarily of a rather inflexible heavy formation called the phalan. A new king has ascended the throne, keen to revert his kingdoms fortunes. He reveals the full repertoire of the kings tactics, including several polygamous diplomatic marriages, deceit, bribery, military force, and a knack for playing off. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Philip assumed the macedonian throne for himself at the age of 23 in 359 bce. Ancient macedonia grew into a powerful and united country under the leadership of philip ii, or philip of macedon.
The new soldier was a hoplite, named for the hoplon, his shield. As a youth he had spent three years in thebes, and it was there that he observed the theban army. The military genius epaminondas had developed the oblique order of battle, which at the time caused a revolution in military tactics. Greece, though weary from constant internal struggling still had supreme power over the hellenistic world. With philips improved military and savvy political knowledge, macedonia was now a force to be reckoned with. Philip of macedon, part i posted by mike ramalho on may 2015 00. Hegemony is a real time strategy game that combines elements of grand strategy, strategy, operations, and military tactics. Richard gabriel, renowned military historian, has given us the first military biography of philip ii of macedonia. Persia, though it had suffered large setback in the persian wars more then a century before was still a menacing force. The kingdom of macedonia lies on the brink of destruction its army defeated and people in despair.
His conquests laid the foundation for the mighty empire built by his son, alexander the great. The culmination of philip ii of macedons grand strategy kathleen guler in august 338 bc, philip ii of macedon c. Philip ii of macedonia is well worth reading and will surely become an authoritative biography of the ancient king. Philips reign was principally marked by an unsuccessful struggle with the emerging power of the roman republic. In 360 bc philip took power as the sole surviving adult argead.
This book establishes philips legitimate and deserved place in military history, which, until now, has been largely minimized in favor of his son by the classicist writers who have dominated the field of ancient biography. Recent release philip ii of macedon from page publishing author mark. Inheriting a kingdom near to collapse, he made macedonia the greatest military power in the western world and left to his son alexander the strongest state in eastern europe. Twilight of the polis and the rise of macedon philip, demosthenes and the fall of the polis. King of macedonia and conqueror of illyria, thrace, and greece. Philip would replace this with a phrygian helmet that allowed for better hearing and visibility. Ancient macedonian battle tactics military wiki fandom. Facial reconstruction expert revealed how technique brings past to life, press release of the university of leicester, with a portrait of philip based on a reconstruction of his face. In fact, the first hundred pages or so of this book are about the creation and the development of macedon and the reign of his father philip ii who created the macedonian army and state and essentially made his sons conquests possible. Jul 31, 2014 although he is often only remembered for being the father of alexander the great, philip ii of macedon reigned 359 bce 336 bce was an accomplished king and military commander in his own right, setting the stage for his sons victory over darius iii and the conquest of persia.
A steady stream of fascinating stories of brilliant military tactics interspersed with rampant. Us army war college quarterly a detailed narrative of the political and military history of phillips region. Richard gabriels latest book on philip ii of macedon is well researched, well. Sep 23, 2015 in 359 bc, philip ii became king of macedonia. His source for the first part of book 16, which is particularly relevant for. Battle of chaeronea philip ii of macedons decisive. King of macedonia and conqueror of the persian empire. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Philip ii of macedonia university of nebraska press. The army of alexander the great ancient history encyclopedia.
He rebuilt the macedonian army from the core, improving not only its method of training but also armor, tactics and weapons, changing the phalanx into hoplites armed with sarissas and xiphos. He was a son of king philip ii of macedon by philinna of larissa, and thus an elder halfbrother of alexander the great. A great military tactician and strategistas evidenced by the analysis of the battle of chaeronea provided in this book philip built the army that alexander the great used to conquer the known world. He is a member of a growing number of historians who seek relevant insights to present problems from the distant accounts of greek and roman wars. The rise of macedon, its conquest and political consolidation of most. Why were philip ii of macedons military reforms so. May 08, 2012 to be fair, my dissertation and first book were on the roman citizen cavalry of the republic, and my third book on the military and political career of marcellus cos.
The player assumes the role of philip of macedonor more strictly speaking a divinely omniscient version of philipthe mid fourth century bce king of a fragmented collection of macedonian tribes and cities macedon was. Philip ii was many thingsfather of alexander the great. Knowledge of philips life and military achievements is requisite for an understanding of macedonia and greece during the age of philip. Philip ii was born in macedon to king amyntas ii of the royal house of argeadae and his illyrian wife, eurydice. The army of the kingdom of macedon was among the greatest military forces of the ancient world. Choice richard gabriels latest book on philip ii of macedon is well researched, well argued, tells a good story, and is a pleasure for both scholars and general readers. Why were philip ii of macedons military reforms so effective and why had they not been tried before ive read a few books about philips subdication of greece and the importance of the sarissa and his use of cavalry but i cant figure out why it hadnt been done before or why it worked so well against other elite units like the theban band. Philip helped them against someone and made the archon of it phokis major power in the mid350s. Greater than alexander, historian richard gabriel seeks to elevate alexanders father, philip ii, to a greater general and national king than was his son. What military tactics did king philip ii of macedon by. This book establishes philips legitimate and deserved place in military. Philip ii of macedon entry in historical source book by mahlon h. By the time of his death, philips army had pushed the macedonian frontier into southern illyria, conquered the paeonians. By the spear is an impressive book gerard degroot, the times uk.
What military tactics did king philip ii of macedon introduce and improve to allow for the successful conquering of greece. An important book for anyone with an interest in greece, the hellenistic age, and the roots of the west. Philips intention was to create an army of citizensoldiers who derived their status from military service to the king, in effect fusing two sources of infantry cohesion. But when philip ii came to power in 360 bc, macedon was vulnerable to threats from both greek and nongreek enemies. Ancient macedonia employed a range of tactics and formations in their military campaigns, the most notable of these is the macedonian phalanx, developed by philip ii and used extensively on campaign by his son alexander the great. Philip ii of macedonia 382336 bce, unifier of greece, author of greeces. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading alexander of macedon, 356323 b. Us army officer who has penned many books on ancient military figures from.
He organized his armies into phalanxes of 16 across and 16 deep, each one armed with an 18foot pike. Playing the game, reading the manual, and, most importantly, engaging in the process. He suppressed his feudal barons, forged a professional army infused with a national spirit, and developed novel military tactics. He would lead macedon against rome in the first and second macedonian wars, losing both but allying with rome in the romanseleucid war towards the end of his reign. Previously we have covered the evolution of the greek armies prior to the rise of macedon, but the military of hellenistic world became really dominant with the reforms of. This is a fascinating book in which the noted military historian, richard gabriel, puts forth a strikingly new idea. But the kings younger brother philip immediately took control of the kingdom and initiated the reforms that would turn the macedonian army into. Recognising the perilous situation, philip would embark on one of the most. By 338 bc, through warfare and diplomacy, philip established macedonian rule over all of greece. Philip ii of macedonia 382336 bce, unifier of greece, author of. He was born in pella, the capital of the ancient macedonian kingdom, as the youngest son of king amyntas iii. Philip ii of macedonia by ian worthington 9780300164763. He was a member of the argead dynasty of macedonian kings, the third son of king amyntas iii of macedon, and father of alexander the great and philip iii. Exiled as a hostage in thebes from 369 to 367 bc, he learned about contemporary greek politics and military tactics.
Philip of macedon and the inspiration of simulation. It was created and made formidable by king philip ii of macedon. What were philip iis reforms of the macedonian military and how. Alexander iii the great, the king of macedonia and conqueror of the persian empire is considered one of the greatest military geniuses of all times. Philip i of macedon ruled 640602 bc philip ii of macedon 382336 bc, father of alexander the great philip iii of macedon c.
Then he sent in fastmoving cavalry to finish the job. Philip designed and tested new tactics, maneuvers, and. Jul 05, 2018 previously we have covered the evolution of the greek armies prior to the rise of macedon, but the military of hellenistic world became really dominant with the reforms of. Wrightson south dakota state gives us a summary of the evolution of greek warfare from the bronze age through the height of the wars of the successors, during which equipment and tactics evolved from those of the homeric epic the hoplite era, to the phalanx, and then the development of combined arms that characterized the armies. Named arrhidaeus at birth, he assumed the name philip when he ascended to the throne.
Chapter 3 addresses macedonias military capacity and how philip organised the. For additional protection he wore a helmet most often the corinthian style, covering most of his face except for a tshaped opening that exposed his eyes, nose and mouth unfortunately, it did not allow for peripheral vision. What was the tactic that philip ii of macedon used to. Equipped in such a manner, philip did not intend these pikemen to fight on their own. Philip ii and the macedonian army weapons and warfare. The military genius of philip ii of macedon the great achievements of philip ii of macedon are often overshadowed by the accomplishments of his son alexander the great. Alexander the great alexander of macedon biography. Philip ii of macedon lost his eye at the siege of methone, 354 bc philip ii developed into the masterstatesman of his time, a creative politician whose work made macedon a world power for three decades and a great power for a century after that. Philip ii of macedonia 382336 bce, unifier of greece, author of greeces first. The latest innovations in weapons and tactics were adopted and refined by philip ii.
1314 1248 1205 1309 501 357 786 532 804 318 1495 733 1291 510 169 691 220 189 359 441 584 346 1495 1110 581 586 469 879 1553 294 396 41 867 111 1100 780 1154 366 1487 1467