Week 3 – Macedonia and Greece (the Antigonids)

Readings: Walbank, p. 79-99; Austin, chapter 3.

A period of chaos

The traditional Macedonian army

• Army: main instrument used by the Hellenistic kings to found their dynasties.
• Possible because of the evolution of the traditional Macedonian army.
• Classical period: army was the most important vehicle of power.
• It represented the people:
  • It declared kings or approved their rise to the throne,
  • took an oath to the new king
  • and had rights in the administration of justice.
• With constant expeditions in faraway areas, its civil duties and its political role declined.
• And its composition became mixed (Greeks of central Greece, subjects recruited from the occupied nations).

Austin # 45: the ideology of Hellenistic monarchy.

Personal ties between the leader and the army

• With Alexander, transformation of the army from a Macedonian power with political rights to a multinational one.
• The new army pledged allegiance to the monarch and was attached to him with personal ties.
• Necessary in foreign country, with complex situations not always well understood either
  • by the people still living in the home country,
  • or by the soldiers.
• A position of stronger authority and autonomy was thus necessary to the Macedonian leaders.

The new army: base of the Hellenistic kingdoms

• This evolution contributed to the dismantlement of the Macedonian empire.
• The different armies were more personally attached to their leaders than to the Macedonian state.
• This military organization supported the individual monarchies of the Hellenistic period.
• Their mixed composition and the absence of their political volition enabled their rulers to become absolute rulers. 

Macedonia at the time of Alexander’s death

• Alexander had entrusted the government to Antipater.
• Charged to maintain order in Greece.
• The Greeks revolted when the death of the king was announced (the Lamian War).
• But Antipater won and imposed to Athens:
  • A heavy war indemnity,
  • An oligarchic government;
  • The trial of the anti-Macedonian leaders (including Demosthenes).
  • Presence of a Macedonian garrison in Piraeus (Athens’ harbor).
• Other garrisons:
  • in Chalcis in Euboea,
  • in Corinth
  • in Cadmea (former citadel of Thebes).

Austin # 28: the Lamian war

Problems of succession

• Two "kings" were recognized (Philip III Arrhidaeus & Alexander IV).
• All Diadochi recognized the theoretical suzerainty of the two "kings".
• In 321, they chose old Antipater as the new regent (after Perdiccas’ death).
• The two kings were then brought to Macedonia.
• Return of the kings symbol of the old tradition of the Argeads, closely linked to the home country and its people.
• Many Diadochi will be tempted by the desire to get Argeads’ legacy  for themselves.

Death of Antipater (319)

• It opened a period of serious crisis.
• He had chosen the next regent, Polyperchon, instead of his own son, Cassander.
• Antipater did not have the right to chose the next regent.
• The new regent, soon had to face opposition from Cassander and the other Diadochi:
• Cassander ends up remaining Master of Macedonia and Greece.
• He reigned in the name of Philip III Arrhidaeus.
• After assassination Philip III (317) and Alexander IV (311), nothing now could stop the Diadochi to fight each other for the empire.
• In 306, they all took the royal title.
• Cassander was still holding Macedonia, but it was a diminished Macedonia, without much influence on Greece.

Austin #37: end of the Argead dynasty

Austin, # 44: the Successors assume the royal title.

The death of Cassander (297)

• It was followed by twenty years of civil war in Macedonia.
• Government of Demetrius Poliorcetes (293-287), son of Antigonus the One-Eyed.
• His father had been defeated by the other Diadochi in 301 (battle of Ipsus) and had lost his kingdom.
• Demetrius was now just an adventurer, who seized the opportunity of becoming king after Cassander.
• Absolute authority on Macedonia and Greece.
• Plutarch describes him as an Eastern despot, who did not care for Macedonian traditions.
• It is why Greece and Macedonia failed him when he was attacked by Pyrrhus (Epirus) and Lysimachus (Thrace).
• Later: Celtic Invasion.
• Antigonus, son of Demetrius, vanquish them.
• His prestige brings him the Macedonian throne.
• Beginning of the dynasty of the Antigonids.

Austin # 52: Demetrius’ style as king of the Macedonians

Austin # 42, 43: divine honors for Demetrius.

Austin # 59: about Pyrrhus

Austin # 60: thanksgiving of Cos for the repulse of the Celtic invaders.

The Antigonids (276-168)

• The history of Macedonia under the Antigonids is dominated by the figures of three of its kings:
  • Antigonus Gonatas, the founder of the dynasty,
  • Antigonus Doson
  • and finally Philip V.

A king, disciple of Zeno

• Antigonus Gonatas’ long reign (276-239) enabled him
  • to restore royal autority in Macedonia,
  • to restore the defense of the country
  • and to repair the ruins accumulated by civil wars and foreign invasions.
• Raised in Athens (high philosophical culture, student of Zeno).
• He wanted to be a philosopher king (political power = "noble servitude").
• Re-establishment of royal autority.
• He contributed to give to Macedonian monarchy its original character.

Macedonian monarchy under Antigonus II Gonatas

• Admittedly, he is basileus (king on a purely personal basis).
• He founded three new cities named Antigoneia.
• But he installed his court in Pella, the old capital of Philip II.
• He avoided creating a dynastic ruler-cult (alien to Macedonian traditions).
• He contended himself with a particular devotion particular to Pan (who brought him victory over the Celts).

Administration under Antigonus Gonatas

• No mention of some role played by army’s assembly like under Philip’s and Alexander’s reigns.
• But he tried to avoid looking like an absolute despot (council of "friends").
• The king, in Pella, was surrounded by officers and civil servants.
• Generals (strategos) at the head of the garrisons which ensured the control of Macedonia over Greece.
• The three “shackles of Greece”:
  • Corinth,
  • Démétrias,
  • And Chalcis.
• and also Piraeus after the taming of an Athenian revolt.

Antigonus’ policy

• Cities enjoyed a relative independence: ekklesia (assemblies), boulè (council) and magistrates.
• But there were also royal civil servant.
• Under Antigonus, the army still plays an important role (but not only Macedonians; many mercenaries).
• He also developed the Macedonian navy (Aegean policy).
• Incomes:
  • Tax on land raised on the Macedonian population.
  • Incomes of the royal mansions.
  • Important contributions asked from the Greek cities.
• It explains the importance of the control of Greece.

Apogee

• At first, this policy was crowned with success.
• Antigonus managed to get rid of Pyrrhus.
• Ptolemy II Philadelphus caused many troubles in Greece in helping Athens and Sparta to revolt against Macedonia (the Chremonidean War, 267–261).
• But Antigonus won the war and he strengthened his position in Greece.
• But the second part of his reign obscured by
  • the loss of Corinth
  • and the progress made by the Achaean Confederation in the Peloponnesus.

Austin # 61: alliance between Athens and Sparta.

The threat of the Greek leagues (239-221)

• Antigonus dies in 239: difficult situation in Greece.
• His son Demetrius II faced by Greek coalitions and a Dardanian invasion.
• After his defeat and death, kingdom and monarchy are seriously weakened.
• Demetrius left only one son (Philip, 9 years old).
• His tutor: his cousin Antigonus Doson, who finally became king.

Antigonus Doson (229-221)

• He secured Macedonia against barbarians on its borders.
• Greek affairs: he restored Macedonian authority in the Peloponnesus and he reconstituted a military alliance with the main Greek States.
• Restoration of royal Macedonian power.
• But moderate ruler, not an absolute king.
• He left to its young pupil (Philip V) a kingdom more powerful than ever. 

Originality of the Macedonian kingdom

• Tradition: Macedonian kings must respect some ancestral rights of the people.
• Military assembly, constituted by the local aristocracy.
• The soldiers lost much of their influence, but the ruling Macedonian class continued to exist during the Antigonids' dynasty.
• Different from the Seleucidan or Ptolemaic kingdom, where the king selected his own friends from all over the Hellenistic world (personal ties).
• Familiarity between the Macedonian king and the nobles.
• The kings were never worshipped as gods.