Seizing the throne from his under age nephew, this young prince converted his kingdom into a military state with his innovations in warfare and consistent war efforts, setting its stage for global domination.
Philip was born in 382 BC to King Amyntas and his wife Eurydice. Amyntas ruled a northern Greek state, away from the powers of Athens, Sparta and Thebes that dominated Greece. It was briefly a vassal of Achaemenid Persia at the height of their powers as well. 1/10
For most of its history, Philip's people were largely left to the footnotes of ancient Greek history. Everything changed with the accession of Philip to the throne. It all started during the rule of Philip's eldest brother, when Philip was sent as a hostage to Thebes. 2/10
It was a time when Thebes dominated the affairs in Greece, led by Pelopidas and Epaminondas. Philip would learn a lot about military during his time as a hostage in Thebes. When he returned in 364, another brother was on the throne, but he would soon die in battle. 3/10
In 359, Philip would seize the throne from his infant nephew. By buying off the forces invading his nation with tributes, he would take time to reform his military. One of the major innovations would be the introduction of the sarissa, a long pike for use by the phalanx. 4/10
Philip would spend the initial years fighting the weaker nations in his periphery. It was during this time he would lose an eye in battle. But Philip would lead his armies victoriously, setting stage for a larger battle for control over Greece. 5/10
The Theban hegemony had been weakened by continuous wars. Philip would displace them as leaders in the battle to recover Delphi. There would be intermittent battles with Athens, but they would eventually sue for peace; terms Philip would accept because he had bigger plans. 6/10
After the Battle of Platea in 479, the Achaemenids had largely retreated from Europe. But in 343 led by Artaxerxes III, they had reconquered Egypt. They were still very much a power to be reckoned with. In 338, Artaxerxes III had been assassinated, leading to instability. 7/10
In 338, Philip would defeat an Athens led Greek alliance and establish his hegemony over Greece. Only Sparta remained out of it. In 337, Philip would be ready with his war veterans to take on Persia, leading all his Greek allies. 8/10
All set for battle, Philip would be killed by a bodyguard. The news of the king's death would result in the defeat of the initial army. But his son, Alexander, tutored by Aristotle and experience in warfare after ruling in his father's stead since 340, was ready for battle. 9/10
From 334 to 330, Alexander would make quick work of the the Achaemenids already divided after the death of Artaxerxes III. @smithsonian had this on Philip of Macedon smithsonianmag.com/history/philip… 10/10
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Tancred de Hauteville was a Norman noble who lived in Normandy in early 1000s. But this thread isn't about him, but his sons who went to Italy. Italy at the time was a divided peninsula, with Frankish, Lombard, Byzantine and Muslim rulers. 1/10
In 1017, invited by a rebellious Lombard noble in Byzantine Italy, the first set of Normans would clash with Basil Boioannes, Catepan of Byzantine Italy. Though the Byzantines woud win the Battle of Cannae, it would be the start of a period of Norman adventurism in Italy. 2/10
A young nation in the making, deposing its leader and electing a foreign prince. The foreign prince would bring independence to his adopted nation and his long rule would secure its survival despite its diverse origins.
Prince Karl Eitel Friedrich von Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen was born in 1839 to Prince Karl Anton and his wife Josephine von Baden. His father was the last prince of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen before it was annexed by Prussia. 1/10
Alexandru Ioan Cuza was a Moldavian noble who had become the Prince of the Ottoman Danubian principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia in 1859. By 1862, the two principalities has been combined to form Romania with Alexandru as the ruling Domnitor. 2/10
A noble lady whose life changed after her brother got an unexpected inheritance. Married by senatorial decree to her brother's rival and abandoned by him, but guardian to her step children, this matriarch played a crucial role in her brother's empire.
Octavia (Minor) was born around 69 BC to Gaius Octavius, a Roman quaestor and his wife Atia Balba Caesonia. Her mother was the niece of another Roman quaestor of 69 BC, Gaius Julius Caesar, and her father's political career seems to have benefitted from the relation. 1/10
In 54 BC, Octavia married Gaius Claudius Marcellus. Marcellus was one of the two Roman Consuls for 50 BC. Initially opposed to his wife's grand uncle, Marcellus switched sides as Caesar invaded Italy and was subsequently pardoned. 2/10
A freedom fighter, exiled after defeat and killed in sleep by a rival; his actions would be the stepping stone for his people's independence and a dynasty that would one day rule them.
(Kara) Ðorđe Petrović was born in 1762 in Ottoman Serbia. Son of a peasant, Ðorđe spend his early life as a shepherd till 1787 when he moved to Habsburg domains. He would soon sign up for the Serbian Free Corps fighting against the Ottomans for the Habsburgs. 1/10
Though the war was inconclusive, the military experience he gained would be useful for Ðorđe. When rebellious janissaries seized Belgrade and murdered the Ottoman governor and many Serbian nobles, it was to Ðorđe the Serbians looked for leadership. 2/10
A Viking lady, married to kings and mother of two. Briefly a refugee, playing a crucial role during the rule of her sons. After her sons' death, her brother's grandson would seize the throne and his descendants still rule the country.
Emma de Normandie was born around 985 as the daughter of Richard, Marquis of Normandy and his wife Gunnora. Richard's grandfather, Rollo, was the Viking leader who settled in Rouen in 911, after paying homage to Charles the Simple, King of West Francia. 1/10
In 1002, she married Æthelred, King of England. The marriage was part of an alliance to prevent either side from sheltering Viking raiders. But after the St. Brice's Day Massacre on 1002, the Danish contingent led by King Svend would intensify their assaults. 2/10
Louise de Savoie was born in 1476 to Philippe de Savoie and his wife Marguerite de Bourbon. Her father was a younger son of the Duke of Savoy and would eventually succeed in Savoy after the death of his grand nephew in 1496. 1/10
In 1488, Louise married Charles d'Orléans, Count of Angoulême, a distant relative of the French King. His death in 1496 the same year her father became Duke, would leave Louise a widow with two young children, Marguerite and Francois. 2/10