Alexander IV of Macedon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Alexander IV |
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|---|---|
| Megas Basileus | |
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| King of Macedonia | |
| Reign | 323/322–309 BC |
| Predecessor | Philip III |
| Successor | Cassander |
| Pharaoh of Egypt | |
| Reign | 323/322–309 BC |
| Predecessor | Philip III |
| Successor | Ptolemy I |
| King of Persia | |
| Reign | 323/322–309 BC |
| Predecessor | Philip III |
| Successor | Seleucus I |
| Born | 323 or 322 BC Babylon |
| Died | Late summer 309 BC (aged 13 or 14) Macedon |
| Dynasty | Argead |
| Father | Alexander III of Macedon |
| Mother | Roxana of Bactria |
| Religion | Ancient Greek religion |
Alexander IV (born 323 or 322 BC) was the son of Alexander the Great, a famous king and conqueror. His mother was Princess Roxana from Bactria. He was born after his father's death. This made his birth very important for the future of the large empire Alexander the Great had built.
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The Birth of a Young King
Alexander IV was born to Alexander the Great and his wife Roxana. His grandfather was Philip II of Macedon. When Alexander the Great died in 323 BC, Roxana was pregnant. No one knew if the baby would be a boy or a girl. This caused a big disagreement in the Macedonian army. They needed to decide who would rule next.
Some soldiers supported Alexander the Great's half-brother, Philip III. Philip III had some health issues. But a commander named Perdiccas convinced them to wait. He hoped Roxana's child would be a boy. The army finally agreed on a plan. Perdiccas would rule the empire as a regent. A regent is someone who rules for a king who is too young or unable to rule. Philip III would be king, but only as a figurehead. This meant he had the title but no real power. If Roxana's child was a boy, he would become the true king. Alexander IV was born later that year or early the next.
Who Ruled for Him?
After Alexander IV was born, Perdiccas ruled as his regent. But Perdiccas faced many challenges. He had military problems in Egypt. There was also a mutiny, which means the army rebelled. Because of these issues, Perdiccas was killed by his own officers. This happened in 321 or 320 BC.
After Perdiccas died, Antipater became the new regent. He took Roxana and the two kings, Alexander IV and Philip III, to Macedon. Antipater decided to stop trying to rule Alexander's entire empire. He left faraway provinces like Egypt and Asia to local governors called satraps. When Antipater died in 319 BC, he chose Polyperchon to be the next regent. Polyperchon was a Macedonian general. He had served under both Philip II and Alexander the Great. Antipater chose Polyperchon over his own son, Cassander.
Wars for Control
Cassander was not happy with this decision. He teamed up with other powerful generals like Ptolemy Soter and Antigonus. Cassander also allied with Eurydice, who was the ambitious wife of King Philip III. They declared war against Polyperchon. Polyperchon, in turn, allied with Eumenes and Olympias. Olympias was Alexander the Great's mother and Alexander IV's grandmother.
At first, Polyperchon was successful. He gained control of many Greek cities. However, his fleet of ships was destroyed by Antigonus in 318 BC. After this defeat, Cassander took full control of Macedon. Polyperchon, Roxana, and young Alexander IV had to escape to Epirus. A few months later, Olympias convinced her relative, Aeacides of Epirus, to invade Macedon with Polyperchon. When Olympias appeared, Eurydice's army refused to fight against Alexander's mother. They switched sides to Olympias. Polyperchon and Aeacides then took back Macedon. Philip III and Eurydice were captured and killed in December 317 BC. This left Alexander IV as the only king. Olympias was now in charge as his regent.
But Cassander returned the next year, in 316 BC. He conquered Macedon again. Olympias was immediately killed. Alexander IV and his mother, Roxana, were taken prisoner. They were held in the fortress of Amphipolis. They were watched by a man named Glaucias. In 311 BC, the major generals, known as the Diadochi, made a peace treaty. This treaty officially recognized Alexander IV's right to rule. It stated that he would become the ruler when he was old enough.
The End of a Young Life
After the peace treaty, many people who supported the Argead dynasty (Alexander's family) said that Alexander IV should now rule on his own. He was almost 14 years old. This was an important age in Macedon. At 14, a young noble could become a court page.
However, Cassander had other plans. To keep his own power, he ordered Glaucias to secretly kill Alexander IV and his mother. This happened in 309 BC. Alexander IV was about 13 or 14 years old when he and his mother were poisoned. Historians have debated the exact year of his death. But many experts believe he died in the late summer of 309 BC.
One of the royal tombs found by archaeologist Manolis Andronikos in Vergina is thought to belong to Alexander IV.
See Also
Images for kids
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A portrait of Alexander IV.
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Tomb III in Vergina, believed to be Alexander IV's burial place.
