Philip ( el, Φίλιππος, died about 328 BC) was a Macedonian soldier under

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 ...

. Philip was the youngest of four sons born to

Agathocles Agathocles ( Greek: ) is a Greek name, the most famous of which is Agathocles of Syracuse, the tyrant of Syracuse. The name is derived from , ''agathos'', i.e. "good" and , ''kleos'', i.e. "glory". Other personalities named Agathocles: *Agathocles ...

and his wife, possibly named Arsinoe. His paternal grandfather may have been called Alcimachus and one of his brothers was

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 ...

, one of the

Diadochi The Diadochi (; singular: Diadochus; from grc-gre, Διάδοχοι, Diádochoi, Successors, ) were the rival generals, families, and friends of Alexander the Great who fought for control over his empire after his death in 323 BC. The War ...

. His father was a nobleman of high rank who was a close friend and advisor of King

Philip II of Macedon Philip II of Macedon ( grc-gre, Φίλιππος ; 382 – 21 October 336 BC) was the king ('' basileus'') of the ancient kingdom of Macedonia from 359 BC until his death in 336 BC. He was a member of the Argead dynasty, founders of the ...

and became a favourite in the Argead court. Philip and his brothers grew up being regarded as Macedonians. Philip and his brothers enjoyed prominent positions in King

’s circle and they were educated at the court at

Pella Pella ( el, Πέλλα) is an ancient city located in Central Macedonia, Greece. It is best-known for serving as the capital city of the ancient Greek kingdom of Macedon, and was the birthplace of Alexander the Great. On site of the ancient cit ...

. Philip and his brothers served as a royal

Hypaspists A hypaspist ( el, Ὑπασπιστής "shield bearer" or "shield covered") is a squire, man at arms, or "shield carrier". In Homer, Deiphobos advances "" () or under cover of his shield. By the time of Herodotus (426 BC), the word had come ...

in the service of Alexander. Not long after the death of

Cleitus the Black Cleitus the Black ( grc-gre, Κλεῖτος ὁ μέλας; c. 375 BC – 328 BC), was an officer of the Macedonian army led by Alexander the Great. He saved Alexander's life at the Battle of the Granicus in 334 BC and was killed by him in a drun ...

, Philip accompanied Alexander on foot, refusing the mount of Lysimachus’ horse who rode nearby. He remained near Alexander’s side, both in the pursuit of the supporters of

Spitamenes Spitamenes (Old Persian ''Spitamana''; Greek ''Σπιταμένης''; 370 BC – 328 BC) was a Sogdian warlordHolt, Frank L. (1989), ''Alexander the Great and Bactria: the Formation of a Greek Frontier in Central Asia'', Leiden, New York, Cope ...

, his Sogdian rebels and their cavalry. Philip finally collapsed from exhaustion and died in Alexander’s arms. In his military actions, Philip was trying to emulate his second eldest brother, Lysimachus.Lund, ''Lysimachus: A Study in Early Hellenistic Kingship'', p.3

References

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Sources

Lysimachus’ article at Livius.org
* H.S. Lund, Lysimachus: A Study in Early Hellenistic Kingship, Routledge, 2002 * W. Heckel, Who’s who in the age of Alexander the Great: prosopography of Alexander’s empire, Wiley-Blackwell, 2006 4th-century BC Macedonians Soldiers of Alexander the Great 320s BC deaths