Philocrates facts for kids

Philocrates was an important politician from ancient Athens, a powerful city in Greece a long, long time ago. He lived in the 300s BC. He is most famous for helping to create a peace agreement called the Peace of Philocrates. This agreement was made with Philip II, the king of a powerful kingdom called Macedon.

Philocrates: An Athenian Leader

Philocrates was a key figure in Athens during a time when the city faced big challenges. Athens was a democracy, meaning its citizens had a say in how it was run. Politicians like Philocrates played a major role in making decisions for the city.

The Rise of Philip II and Athens

In the 340s BC, a powerful new leader named Philip II was expanding his kingdom of Macedon. He was a very skilled military leader. Philip's growing power worried many Greek cities, including Athens. In 348 BC, Philip attacked and destroyed the city of Olynthos, which was an ally of Athens. This event made it clear that Philip was a serious threat.

Negotiating for Peace

After the fall of Olynthos, Athens decided it needed to make peace with Philip II. Philocrates was chosen as one of the Athenian representatives to talk with Philip. These talks led to a treaty known as the Peace of Philocrates. This agreement was meant to stop the fighting between Athens and Macedon. It was a big deal because it brought a temporary end to a difficult conflict.

Why the Peace Became Unpopular

Even though the peace treaty was signed, it quickly became very unpopular in Athens. Many Athenians felt that Philip II had gained too much from the agreement. They believed Athens had given up too much and that Philip had not kept all his promises. People started to blame Philocrates for the treaty's terms.

Accusations Against Philocrates

Because the treaty was so disliked, Philocrates faced serious accusations. In 343 BC, another Athenian politician named Hyperides accused Philocrates of accepting gifts and favors from Philip II. These were seen as unfair dealings, making people believe Philocrates had not acted in Athens' best interest.

Philocrates' Exile

Facing these accusations, Philocrates decided to leave Athens. He went into exile, meaning he left his home city and could not return. During his absence, the Athenian people held a trial and found him guilty. He was then sentenced to death, even though he was not there. This meant he could never come back to Athens safely.