List of kings of Macedonia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids King of Macedonia
The Vergina Sun, a symbol of ancient Macedonia
Alexander the Great, a very famous Macedonian king
Details
Style	King of the Macedonians, Basileus
First monarch	Perdiccas I
Last monarch	Perseus
Formation	c. 650 BC
Abolition	168 BC
Residence	Aegae, Pella, and Demetrias

Macedonia, also known as Macedon, was an ancient kingdom. It was ruled by kings from around 650 BC until 168 BC. That's when the Roman Republic took control. The kingship in Macedonia was passed down through families. Only men could become king. This led to a lot of family politics.

The first ruling family was the Argead dynasty. We don't have much information about how they started. The Argeads said they came from the royal family of Argos. But many historians think this story was made up later. It might have been to show they were Greek. It's more likely the Argeads started as a tribe near Mount Bermion. They may have taken over nearby lands under Perdiccas.

During their rule, Macedonia became very powerful. It took over Greece. Then, under Alexander the Great, it conquered the huge Persian Empire. This made Macedonia one of the strongest states in the ancient world. But Alexander died unexpectedly in 323 BC. This led to many civil wars. These wars were fought by his generals, called the Diadochi. They wanted to control the kingdom. This eventually ended the Argead family's rule.

After Alexander's death, Cassander took over Macedonia. He started the Antipatrid dynasty. But his family's rule was short. When Cassander died in 297 BC, his sons fought each other. This made the kingdom unstable. The next few decades were very chaotic. Many different generals tried to become king. This fighting continued until Pyrrhus of Epirus died in 272 BC. Then, the Antigonid dynasty took power under Antigonus II Gonatas.

The Antigonids brought some stability back to Macedonia. But their rule ended when Rome defeated them. This happened after Perseus lost the battle of Pydna in 168 BC.

The First Kings: Argead Dynasty (Around 650 BC – 310 BC)

Early Kings and Legends

There are two main stories about how Macedonia and the Argead dynasty began. The older stories, from the 400s BC, say Perdiccas was the first king. Later stories, from the early 300s BC, claimed Caranus was the founder. Some writers even added kings like Coenus and Tyrimmas.

However, modern historians believe these later stories were made up. They were likely propaganda to support certain rulers. For example, they might have tried to make the name 'Perdiccas' less important.

Historical Argead Rulers

Historian Herodotus named five kings before Amyntas I. But he didn't give much more information. So, we can only guess when these early kings ruled. Historian Nicholas Hammond estimated the dynasty began around 650 BC. He did this by counting back 30 years per generation.

Amyntas I and his son Alexander I are the first kings we know more about. We know about their dealings with Persia and the Greeks.

The Antipatrid Dynasty (310–294 BC)

After the Argead family ended, the Antipatrid dynasty took over. This family was founded by Cassander, a general of Alexander the Great.

Time of Conflicts (294–272 BC)

After the Antipatrids, Macedonia went through a period of great instability. Many different generals and rulers fought for control.

The Antigonid Dynasty (272–168 BC)

The Antigonid dynasty brought a period of renewed strength to Macedonia. However, their rule eventually ended with the rise of Rome.

Rebel Kings After Roman Conquest (150–93 BC)

After Macedonia was conquered by Rome, some people tried to claim the throne. They were not part of the main royal families.

Family Tree

See also

• List of ancient Macedonians