Philip (Philippos). 1. Philip II (383/2–336 BC), king of Macedon 359–336 BC. Philip unified Macedon and made it the strongest power in Greece, laying the foundations for the achievements of his son Alexander the Great. As a boy he had seen his two elder brothers—who reigned for a few years each as Alexander II and Perdiccas III—struggle in vain against insubordinate vassal princes and outside interference. Philip came to power after Perdiccas was killed in battle against invading Illyrians. Initially he was regent for his nephew Amyntas, but he siezed the throne for himself and proved a brilliant and vigorous ruler. He suppressed opposition, strengthened the economy, and forged a professional army with national spirit. Philip was himself a formidable warrior (he lost an eye in battle and was wounded many other times), but he was also a skilful politician, and he expanded his territories by diplomacy as well as conquest. The interests of Athens were gravely threatened, especially when Philip's new fleet began to harass the city's trade, and Demosthenes ((2) 4) in his speech known as the First Philippic (351) called upon the Athenians to prepare to fight. However, a precarious peace was kept until various acts of hostility in 341 developed into open war in 340. Athens and Thebes allied, despite their inveterate hostility, but Philip crushed their joint army at Chaeronea (338). He was now master of Greece and made plans for waging a Greek war against Persia, with himself as general. Preparations were made for the invasion, and his commander Parmenio was sent to secure a footing in Asia Minor; but while walking in procession during the celebration of his daughter's marriage to the king of Epirus Philip was murdered by an assassin, Pausanias. Apparently he was pursuing a private grievance, although it has been alleged that it was the result of a plot by Olympias, Philip's now deposed wife, of which his son Alexander was aware. Excavations at Aegae (Vergina) in Macedonia have uncovered the tombs of Philip and his family, with magnificent grave goods and wall-paintings. Philip's own body has been identified beyond reasonable doubt.

2. Philip V (238–179 BC), king of Macedon; see MACEDON.