Macedon: Birthplace of Alexander the Great

Q: What was Macedon?

Macedonia (Macedon) was a kingdom in northern Greece founded in the 7th century BCE.

Q: What does the name "Macedon" mean?

The name of Macedon comes from the demigod Makedon, a son of Zeus, the people's ancestral hero.

Q: What is Macedon famous for?

Macedon has a long history but is best known as the birthplace of Alexander the Great.

Q: Was Macedon ever conquered by Rome?

Macedon lost three of the four Macedonian Wars (214-148 BCE) with Rome and became a province of the Roman Republic after 146 BCE.

Joshua J. Mark

Definition

Macedon was an ancient kingdom located in the north of the Greek peninsula first inhabited by the Mackednoi tribe whose identity was challenged by some southern Greeks but who, according to Herodotus (5:22), were Greek. It is famously known as the birthplace of Alexander the Great.

More about: Macedon

Timeline

c. 437 BCE
Athens founds the colony of Amphipolis in northern Macedonia.
364 BCE
Macedonian general Perdiccas III successfully defends Amphipolis against Athenian attack.
c. 360 BCE
Traditional founding date of Philippi in Macedon with its original name as Crenides.
359 BCE - 336 BCE
Reign of Philip II of Macedon.
359 BCE
Phillip II takes throne of Macedonia.
357 BCE
Marriage of Olympias to Philip II of Macedonia.
c. 357 BCE
Philip II of Macedon renames the Macedonian city of Crrenides after himself: Philippi.
356 BCE
Birth of Macedonian commander Hephaestion.
c. 353 BCE
Philip II of Macedon leads the joined forces of Macedonia and the Amphictyonic League in Thessaly and wins over the Phocians, Pheraeans and their allies in the Battle of Crocus Field.
c. 349 BCE - c. 346 BCE
Philip II is given the hand of Nikesipolis, niece of Jason of Pherae, a Thessalian nobleman, for marriage. She gives birth to Thessalonike of Macedon, and dies 20 days later.
c. 347 BCE
Athenian orator Demosthenes is sent on a diplomatic embassy to the court of Philip II of Macedon.
c. 345 BCE
Philip II of Macedon leads the Amphictyonic League to victory in the Third Sacred War. He calls her newborn daughter Thessalonike, meaning Thessalian Victory.
343 BCE
King Philip II of Macedon summons Aristotle to tutor his young son Alexander (later 'The Great').
342 BCE
Demosthenes is charged with organising a league of Greek city-states for war against Macedon.
340 BCE
Macedon funds the building of a large temple on Samothrace.
339 BCE
Philip II of Macedon fights the Scythians.
336 BCE
Marriage of Olympias' brother Alexander to her daughter Cleopatra.
May 334 BCE - May 324 BCE
Antipater is regent of Macedon in Alexander's absence.
324 BCE
Death of Macedonian commander Hephaestion.
319 BCE
Death of Antipater, regent of Macedon.
316 BCE
Death of Olympias, mother of Alexander the Great.
c. 316 BCE
Thessalonica is founded by Cassander.
c. 315 BCE - c. 310 BCE
Thessalonike of Macedon and Cassander have three sons.
310 BCE
Assassination of Roxanne and Alexander IV, wife and son of Alexander the Great.
305 BCE - 297 BCE
Cassander is self-proclaimed king of Macedon.
c. 297 BCE
Cassander, King of Macedon, dies of dropsy. Thessalonike of Macedon becomes regent for his son and successor, Philip IV, who dies four months later and leaves the throne to his younger brothers.
c. 295 BCE
Thessalonike is murdered by her son, Antipater I of Macedon.
294 BCE - c. 288 BCE
Demetrius I rules as king of Macedon.
288 BCE
Pyrrhus of Epirus becomes ruler of Macedon.
288 BCE
When his army deserts him Demetrius I flees Macedon.
284 BCE
Lysimachus drives Pyrrhus out of Macedon.
273 BCE
Pyrrhus of Epirus attacks Macedon and Sparta.
225 BCE
Macedonians bring an army across the Isthmus to face another Achaian force trying to take Corinth.
222 BCE
The Achaean League and Antigonos III of Macedon defeat Sparta at Sellasia.
214 BCE - 205 BCE
First Macedonian War: Rome defeats Philip V of Macedon.
203 BCE
The Seleucid king, Antiochus III Megas signs a treaty with Philip V of Macedon to divide Egypt and its overseas possessions between them.
200 BCE - 196 BCE
Second Macedonian War: Roman victory.
197 BCE
Romans are victorious over Philip V of Macedon at Cynoscephalae.
172 BCE - 168 BCE
Third Macedonian War: Perseus of Macedon challenges Rome and is defeated.
Jun 168 BCE
Romans defeat Perseus of Macedon at Pydna.
c. 150 BCE
Macedonia becomes a Roman province.
146 BCE
Thessalonica is made the captial of the Roman province of Macedon.