Perdiccas III of Macedon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Perdiccas III |
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stater of Perdikkas III
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| King of Macedonia | |
| Reign | 365–360 BC |
| Predecessor | Alexander II |
| Successor | Amyntas IV |
| Died | 360 BC |
| Issue | Amyntas IV |
| Dynasty | Argead dynasty |
| Father | Amyntas III |
| Mother | Eurydice |
| Religion | Ancient Greek religion |
Perdiccas III was a king of the ancient Greek kingdom of Macedonia. He ruled for about five years, from 365 BC to 360 BC. He became king after his older brother, Alexander II. Perdiccas was part of the Argead dynasty, a famous family of kings in Macedonia.
Early Life and Becoming King
Perdiccas III was the son of King Amyntas III and Queen Eurydice. When he was a child, in 369 BC, his brother Alexander II was killed. After Alexander's death, their brother-in-law, Ptolemy of Aloros, became a regent. A regent is someone who rules a country when the king is too young or unable to rule.
In 365 BC, Perdiccas grew up and took action. He killed Ptolemy and took control of the government himself. This is how he became the new king of Macedonia.
Ruling Macedonia
Historians do not have a lot of information about Perdiccas III's time as king. We know that he had some conflicts with Athens, a powerful Greek city-state, over a place called Amphipolis.
Perdiccas was also known for supporting smart people. He liked to have writers, thinkers, and scientists around him. One famous person he favored was Euphraeus of Oreus. Euphraeus was a student of the famous Greek philosopher Plato. Euphraeus became very important to Perdiccas. He even helped the young king choose who he spent time with, often preferring other philosophers and mathematicians.
Perdiccas also served as a theorodokos. This was a special role where he officially welcomed visitors to the Panhellenic Games. These were major athletic and religious festivals in ancient Greece. He did this for the games held in Epidaurus around 360 or 359 BC.
A Difficult End
In 360 BC, King Perdiccas III tried to take back control of upper Macedonia. This area was being held by the Illyrian leader Bardylis. Perdiccas led his army on this mission, but it ended very badly.
During the battle, Perdiccas III was killed. The historian Diodorus Siculus wrote that about four thousand Macedonian soldiers died in this fight. The remaining soldiers were very scared of the Illyrian army. They lost all hope of continuing the war.
What Happened Next?
After Perdiccas III died, his very young son, Amyntas IV, became king. However, Amyntas IV was just a baby. Soon after, Perdiccas's younger brother, Philip II, took the throne for himself. Philip II would later become a very famous and powerful king.
See also
In Spanish: Pérdicas III de Macedonia para niños
