Macedonia (also known as Macedon) was an ancient kingdom centered on the present-day region of Macedonia in northern

Greece Greece,, or , romanized: ', officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the southern tip of the Balkans, and is located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Greece shares land borders wi ...

, inhabited by the

Ancient Macedonians The Macedonians ( el, Μακεδόνες, ''Makedónes'') were an ancient tribe that lived on the alluvial plain around the rivers Haliacmon and lower Axios in the northeastern part of mainland Greece. Essentially an ancient Greek people ...

. At various points in its history the kingdom proper encompassed parts of the present-day

Republic of North Macedonia North Macedonia, ; sq, Maqedonia e Veriut, (Macedonia before February 2019), officially the Republic of North Macedonia,, is a country in Southeast Europe. It gained independence in 1991 as one of the successor states of Yugoslavia. It ...

Albania Albania ( ; sq, Shqipëri or ), or , also or . officially the Republic of Albania ( sq, Republika e Shqipërisë), is a country in Southeastern Europe. It is located on the Adriatic and Ionian Seas within the Mediterranean Sea and share ...

Bulgaria Bulgaria (; bg, България, Bǎlgariya), officially the Republic of Bulgaria,, ) is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the eastern flank of the Balkans, and is bordered by Romania to the north, Serbia and North Macedo ...

and

Turkish Thrace East Thrace or Eastern Thrace ( tr, Doğu Trakya or simply ''Trakya''; el, Ανατολική Θράκη, ''Anatoliki Thraki''; bg, Източна Тракия, ''Iztochna Trakiya''), also known as Turkish Thrace or European Turkey, is the pa ...

. It emerged as the dominant power in Greece during the 4th century BC, when King Philip II successfully united the Greek

city-states A city-state is an independent sovereign city which serves as the center of political, economic, and cultural life over its contiguous territory. They have existed in many parts of the world since the dawn of history, including cities such as ...

, such as Athens and Thebes, into the

Corinthian League The League of Corinth, also referred to as the Hellenic League (from Greek Ἑλληνικός ''Hellenikos'', "pertaining to Greece and Greeks"), was a confederation of Greek states created by Philip II in 338–337 BC. The League was created ...

. Philip's son,

Alexander the Great Alexander III of Macedon ( grc, Ἀλέξανδρος, Alexandros; 20/21 July 356 BC – 10/11 June 323 BC), commonly known as Alexander the Great, was a king of the ancient Greek kingdom of Macedon. He succeeded his father Philip II to ...

, would go on to conquer the

Persian Empire The Achaemenid Empire or Achaemenian Empire (; peo, 𐎧𐏁𐏂, , ), also called the First Persian Empire, was an ancient Iranian empire founded by Cyrus the Great in 550 BC. Based in Western Asia, it was contemporarily the largest emp ...

a few years later. The Kingdom of Macedonia itself soon lost direct control of Alexander's vast Asian territories during the

Wars of the Diadochi The Wars of the Diadochi ( grc, Πόλεμοι τῶν Διαδόχων, '), or Wars of Alexander's Successors, were a series of conflicts that were fought between the generals of Alexander the Great, known as the Diadochi, over who would rule ...

, but it broadly retained its rule over Greece itself until defeated by the

Roman Republic The Roman Republic ( la, Res publica Romana ) was a form of government of Rome and the era of the classical Roman civilization when it was run through public representation of the Roman people. Beginning with the overthrow of the Roman Ki ...

in the Macedonian Wars (215–148 BC)

Argead dynasty (9th century BC?–310 BC)

The Argead dynasty is traditionally held to have been founded in the late ninth century BC but estimates vary, some placing foundation as late as the mid-7th century BC. Rival ancient traditions give different lineages for the kings preceding the earliest historically verified ruler (

Amyntas I Amyntas I (Greek: Ἀμύντας Aʹ; 498 BC) was king of the Ancient Greek kingdom of Macedonia (c. 547 – 512 / 511 BC) and then a vassal of Darius I from 512/511 to his death 498 BC, at the time of Achaemenid Macedonia. He was a son of Alce ...

). * Caranus (probably legendary) * Coenus (probably legendary) * Tyrimmas (probably legendary) *

Perdiccas I Perdiccas I ( gr, Περδίκκας, Perdíkkas) was king of the ancient Greek kingdom of Macedonia. He ruled somewhere between 650 BC and 620 BC. Herodotus Herodotus ( ; grc, , }; BC) was an ancient Greek historian and geographer from ...

, unknown dates *

Argaeus I Argaeus ( gr, Ἀργαῖος, Argaios) or Araeus, was according to 5th-century BC Greek writer Herodotus one of six predecessors of his contemporary, King Alexander I of Macedon (r. 498–454). Alexander I's predecessors, starting from the neare ...

, unknown dates, son of Perdiccas I *

Philip I Philip(p) I may refer to: * Philip I of Macedon (7th century BC) * Philip I Philadelphus (between 124 and 109 BC–83 or 75 BC) * Philip the Arab (c. 204–249), Roman Emperor * Philip I of France (1052–1108) * Philip I (archbishop of Cologne) (1 ...

, unknown dates, son of Argaeus I * Aeropus I, unknown dates, son of Philip I *

Alcetas I Alcetas I ( el, Ἀλκέτας) (390/385 – 370 BC) was a king of Epirus, the son of Tharrhypas. Biography Alcetas was expelled from his kingdom for unknown reasons, and took refuge with Dionysius I of Syracuse, by whom he was reinstated. ...

, unknown dates, son of Aeropus I *

, ?–497 BC, son of Alcetas I; earliest king firmly established in the historical record * Alexander I 'Philhellenos', 497–454 BC, son of Amyntas I * Alcetas II, 454–448 BC, son of Alexander I *

Perdiccas II Perdiccas II ( gr, Περδίκκας, Perdíkkas) was a king of Macedonia from c. 448 BC to c. 413 BC. During the Peloponnesian War, he frequently switched sides between Sparta and Athens. Family Perdiccas II was the son of Alexander I, he ...

, 448–413 BC, son of Alexander I * Archelaus I 'Philhellenos', 413–399 BC, son of Perdiccas II * Archelaus II, BC?, son of Archelaus I *

Orestes In Greek mythology, Orestes or Orestis (; grc-gre, Ὀρέστης ) was the son of Clytemnestra and Agamemnon, and the brother of Electra. He is the subject of several Ancient Greek plays and of various myths connected with his madness an ...

, 399–397 BC, son of Archelaus I * Aeropus II, 397–394 BC, son of Perdiccas II * Amyntas II 'the Little', 394–393 BC, grandson of Alexander I *

Pausanias Pausanias ( el, Παυσανίας) may refer to: *Pausanias of Athens, lover of the poet Agathon and a character in Plato's ''Symposium'' *Pausanias the Regent, Spartan general and regent of the 5th century BC * Pausanias of Sicily, physician of t ...

, 394–393 BC, son of Aeropus II *

Amyntas III Amyntas III (Greek: Αμύντας Γ΄ της Μακεδονίας) (420 – 370 BC) was king of the Ancient Greek kingdom of Macedonia in 393 BC and again from 392 to 370 BC. He was the son of Arrhidaeus and grandson of Amyntas, one of the sons ...

(''first reign''), 393–385 BC, great-grandson of Alexander I * Argaeus II, 385–383 BC, son of Archelaus I *

(''second reign''), 383–370 BC, retook the throne * Alexander II, 370–368 BC, son of Amyntas III ** Ptolemy of Aloros (regent), 368–365 BC, son of Amyntas II *

Perdiccas III Perdiccas III (Greek: Περδίκκας Γ΄) was king of the Greek kingdom of Macedonia from 365 BC to 360 BC, succeeding his brother Alexander II. Son of Amyntas III and Eurydice, he was a child when in 369 BCE his brother Alexander II was k ...

, 365–359 BC, son of Amyntas III * Amyntas IV, 359–357 BC, son of Perdiccas III * Philip II, 357–336 BC, son of Amyntas III * Alexander III 'the Great', 336–323 BC, son of Philip II * Philip III Arrhidaeus, 323–317 BC, son of Philip II **

Perdiccas Perdiccas ( el, Περδίκκας, ''Perdikkas''; 355 BC – 321/320 BC) was a general of Alexander the Great. He took part in the Macedonian campaign against the Achaemenid Empire, and, following Alexander's death in 323 BC, rose to becom ...

(regent), 323–321/320 BC **

Peithon Peithon or Pithon ( Greek: ''Πείθων'' or ''Πίθων'', 355 – 314 BC) was the son of Crateuas, a nobleman from Eordaia in western Macedonia. He was famous for being one of the bodyguards of Alexander the Great, becoming the lat ...

and

Arrhidaeus Arrhidaeus or Arrhidaios ( el, Ἀρριδαῖoς lived 4th century BC), one of Alexander the Great's generals, was entrusted by Ptolemy to bring Alexander's body to Egypt in 323 BC, contrary to the wishes of Perdiccas who wanted the body sent t ...

(regents), 320 BC **

Antipater Antipater (; grc, , translit=Antipatros, lit=like the father; c. 400 BC319 BC) was a Macedonian general and statesman under the subsequent kingships of Philip II of Macedon and his son, Alexander the Great. In the wake of the collaps ...

(regent), 320–319 BC **

Polyperchon Polyperchon (sometimes written Polysperchon; el, Πολυπέρχων; b. between 390–380 BCafter 382 BC according to Billows, R., 'Antigonos the One-Eyed and the Creation of the Hellenistic State' (1990), p. 172, n. 20 – d. after 304 BC,Heckel ...

(regent), 319–317 BC * Alexander IV, 323–310 BC, son of Alexander III ** ''

Olympias Olympias ( grc-gre, Ὀλυμπιάς; c. 375–316 BC) was a Greek princess of the Molossians, and the eldest daughter of king Neoptolemus I of Epirus, the sister of Alexander I of Epirus, the fourth wife of Philip II, the king of Macedoni ...

'' (regent; sometimes counted as

queen regnant A queen regnant (plural: queens regnant) is a female monarch, equivalent in rank and title to a king, who reigns '' suo jure'' (in her own right) over a realm known as a "kingdom"; as opposed to a queen consort, who is the wife of a reigni ...

), 317–316 BC, mother of Alexander III **

Cassander Cassander ( el, Κάσσανδρος ; c. 355 BC – 297 BC) was king of the Ancient Greek kingdom of Macedonia from 305 BC until 297 BC, and ''de facto'' ruler of southern Greece from 317 BC until his death. A son of Antipater and a conte ...

(regent), 315–305 BC; later king

Antipatrid dynasty (305–294 BC)

, 305–297 BC, son of the previous regent

and son-in-law of Philip II * Philip IV, 297 BC, son of Cassander and grandson of Philip II * Antipater I, 297–294 BC (with Alexander V), son of Cassander and grandson of Philip II *

Alexander V Alexander is a male given name. The most prominent bearer of the name is Alexander the Great, the king of the Ancient Greek kingdom of Macedonia who created one of the largest empires in ancient history. Variants listed here are Aleksandar, Al ...

, 297–294 BC (with Antipater II), son of Cassander and grandson of Philip II

Dynastic conflicts (294–272 BC)

* Demetrius I 'Poliorcetes', 294–288 BC, son of the '' diadochus''

Antigonus I Monophthalmus Antigonus I Monophthalmus ( grc-gre, Ἀντίγονος Μονόφθαλμος , 'the One-Eyed'; 382 – 301 BC), son of Philip from Elimeia, was a Macedonian Greek nobleman, general, satrap, and king. During the first half of his life he serv ...

and brother-in-law of Cassander * Pyrrhus of Epirus (''first reign''), 288–285 BC (with Lysimachus), non-dynastic (king of

Epirus sq, Epiri rup, Epiru , native_name_lang = , settlement_type = Historical region , image_map = Epirus antiquus tabula.jpg , map_alt = , map_caption = Map of ancient Epirus by Heinri ...

) *

Lysimachus Lysimachus (; Greek: Λυσίμαχος, ''Lysimachos''; c. 360 BC – 281 BC) was a Thessalian officer and successor of Alexander the Great, who in 306 BC, became King of Thrace, Asia Minor and Macedon. Early life and career Lysimachus wa ...

, 288–281 BC, ''diadochus'' * Seleucus 'Nicator', 281 BC, ''diadochus'' * Ptolemy 'Ceraunus', 281–279 BC, son of the ''diadochus''

Ptolemy I Soter Ptolemy I Soter (; gr, Πτολεμαῖος Σωτήρ, ''Ptolemaîos Sōtḗr'' "Ptolemy the Savior"; c. 367 BC – January 282 BC) was a Macedonian Greek general, historian and companion of Alexander the Great from the Kingdom of Macedo ...

* Meleager, 279 BC, brother of Ptolemy Ceraunus * Antipater II 'Etesias', 279 BC, nephew of Cassander **

Sosthenes Sosthenes (Greek: Σωσθένης, ''Sōsthénēs'', "safe in strength") was the chief ruler of the synagogue at Corinth, who, according to the Acts of the Apostles, was seized and beaten by the mob in the presence of Gallio, the Roman governor ...

(''

strategos ''Strategos'', plural ''strategoi'', Latinized ''strategus'', ( el, στρατηγός, pl. στρατηγοί; Doric Greek: στραταγός, ''stratagos''; meaning "army leader") is used in Greek to mean military general. In the Helleni ...

''), 279–277 BC * Antigonus II 'Gonatas' (''first reign''), 277–274 BC, son of Demetrius I and son-in-law of Seleucus * Pyrrhus of Epirus (''second reign''), 274–272 BC, retook the throne

Antigonid dynasty (272–168 BC)

* Antigonus II 'Gonatas' (''second reign''), 272–239 BC, retook the throne * Demetrius II 'Aetolicus', 239–229 BC, son of Antigonus II * Antigonus III 'Doson', 229–222 BC, grandson of Demetrius I * Philip V, 222–179 BC, son of Demetrius II *

Perseus In Greek mythology, Perseus ( /ˈpɜːrsiəs, -sjuːs/; Greek: Περσεύς, translit. Perseús) is the legendary founder of Mycenae and of the Perseid dynasty. He was, alongside Cadmus and Bellerophon, the greatest Greek hero and slayer ...

, 179–168 BC, son of Philip V

Non-dynastic rebel kings

* Philip VI Andriscus (Andriscus; Pseudo-Philip), 150–148 BC, claimed to be a son of Perseus *

Alexander VI Pope Alexander VI ( it, Alessandro VI, va, Alexandre VI, es, Alejandro VI; born Rodrigo de Borja; ca-valencia, Roderic Llançol i de Borja ; es, Rodrigo Lanzol y de Borja, lang ; 1431 – 18 August 1503) was head of the Catholic Chur ...

(Pseudo-Alexander), 148 BC, claimed to be a son of Perseus * Philip VII / Perseus II (Pseudo-Philip or Pseudo-Perseus), 143/142 BC, claimed Antigonid heritage and supported by Thracian allies * Euphantus, 93 BC, claimed Antigonid heritage; apprehended before uprising beganPandelis Nigdelis
Roman Macedonia (168 BC - AD 284)

Argead dynasty (9th century BC?–310 BC)

Antipatrid dynasty (305–294 BC)

Dynastic conflicts (294–272 BC)

Antigonid dynasty (272–168 BC)

Non-dynastic rebel kings

Family tree

Notes

References

See also