Philip II 382-336BC
King of Macedonia

The father of Alexander the Great, he was born in Pella, the youngest son of Amyntas, and made himself king in 359BC. He built up the army, developed the resources of Macedonia, and pursued a policy of expansion and opportunism. He warred with most of Greece, made peace with the Athenians (346BC), but was back at war with them (340) when he besieged Byzantium and Perinthus. In 339 the Amphicytyonic Council declared war against the Locrians of Amphissa, appointing Philip as their Commander-in-Chief. The Athenians formed a league with the Thebans against him, but their forces were decisively defeated at Chaeronea (338), and Philip organized the Greek states in a federal league under him (the League of Corinth). Philip was assassinated before he could invade Persia (Iran) in 336. His son Alexander the Great took over where Philip left off and conquered the Persian Empire.

Bibliography: W Adams, Philip II (1982)