Perdiccas III of Macedon

Perdiccas III
King of Macedon

stater of Perdikkas III
Reign 368–359 BC
Predecessor Alexander II
Successor Amyntas IV
Issue Amyntas IV
Dynasty Argead dynasty
Father Amyntas III
Mother Eurydice
Religion Ancient Greek religion
Coin of Perdiccas III, with figure of Herakles.

Perdiccas III (Greek: Περδίκκας Γ΄) was king of the ancient Greek kingdom of Macedonia from 368 to 359 BC, succeeding his brother Alexander II.

Son of Amyntas III and Eurydice, he was underage when Alexander II was killed by Ptolemy of Aloros, who then ruled as regent. In 365 BC, Perdiccas killed Ptolemy and assumed government.

Of the reign of Perdiccas, we have very little information. We learn only that he was at one time engaged in hostilities with Athens on account of Amphipolis, and that he was distinguished for his patronage of men of letters. Among these we are told that Euphraeus of Oreus, a disciple of Plato, rose to so high a place in his favour, as completely to govern the young king, and exclude from his society all but philosophers and geometers.

He also served as Theorodokos[1] in the Epidaurian Panhellenic games of about 365 BC.

He tried to reconquer upper Macedonia from the Illyrian Bardylis, but the expedition ended in disaster, with the king killed.[2]

Perdiccas was succeeded by his infant son, Amyntas IV. The throne was soon usurped by Perdiccas' younger brother Philip II.

References

  1. Theocritus, Dioscuri (Idyll 22) by Alexander Sens
  2. Orrieux, Claude. A History Of Ancient Greece, 1999, p. 256, ISBN 0-631-20309-5.
3.Tritle, Lawrence A. The Greek World in the Fourth Century: From the Fall of the Athenian Empire to the Successors of Alexander. London: Routledge, 1997.

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Perdiccas III of Macedon
Born: Unknown Died: 359 BC
Preceded by
Alexander II
King of Macedon
368359 BC
Succeeded by
Amyntas IV