Editing Demosthenes (section)

====Confrontation with Alexander====
[[File:Napoli BW 2013-05-16 16-24-01.jpg|thumb|left|[[Alexander Mosaic]] from [[Pompeii]], from a 3rd-century&nbsp;BC original Greek painting, now lost. In 336–335&nbsp;BC, the king of Macedon killed any attempt of the Greek cities at resistance and shattered Demosthenes's hopes for Athenian independence.]]
After Chaeronea, Philip inflicted a harsh punishment upon Thebes, but made peace with Athens on very lenient terms. Demosthenes encouraged the fortification of Athens and was chosen by the ekklesia to deliver the [[Demosthenes' Funeral Oration|Funeral Oration]].<ref name="On the Crown299">Demosthenes, ''On the Crown'', [[s:The Public Orations of Demosthenes/On the Crown#18:285|285]], [[s:The Public Orations of Demosthenes/On the Crown#18:299|299.]]</ref> In 337&nbsp;BC, Philip created the [[League of Corinth]], a confederation of Greek states under his leadership, and returned to Pella.<ref>L.A. Tritle, ''The Greek World in the Fourth Century'', 123.</ref> In 336&nbsp;BC, Philip was assassinated at the wedding of his daughter, [[Cleopatra of Macedon]], to King [[Alexander I of Epirus|Alexander of Epirus]]. The Macedonian citizens swiftly proclaimed [[Alexander the Great|Alexander III of Macedon]], then twenty years old, as the new King of Macedon. Greek cities like Athens and Thebes saw in this change of leadership an opportunity to regain their full independence. Demosthenes celebrated Philip's assassination and played a leading part in his city's uprising. According to Aeschines, "it was but the seventh day after the death of his daughter, and though the ceremonies of mourning were not yet completed, he put a garland on his head and white raiment on his body, and there he stood making thank-offerings, violating all decency."<ref name="Ctesiphon77" /> Demosthenes also sent envoys to [[Attalus (general)|Attalus]], whom he considered to be an internal opponent of Alexander.<ref>P. Green, ''Alexander of Macedon'', 119.</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Thirlwall|first=Connop|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=945b5VCgEFEC&q=%22Attalus%22+macedonia&pg=PA107|title=A History of Greece by the Rev. Connop Thirlwall|publisher=Longman, Rees, Orme, Green & Longman, Paternoster-Row and John Taylor|year=1839|volume=6|language=en}}</ref> Nonetheless, Alexander moved swiftly to Thebes, which submitted shortly after his appearance at its gates. When the Athenians learned that Alexander had moved quickly to Boeotia, they panicked and begged the new King of Macedon for mercy. Alexander admonished them but imposed no punishment.

In 335&nbsp;BC Alexander felt free to engage the [[Thracians]] and the [[Illyrians]], but, while he was campaigning in the north, Demosthenes spread a rumour—even producing a bloodstained messenger—that Alexander and all of his expeditionary force had been slaughtered by the [[Triballi]]ans.<ref>Demades, ''On the Twelve Years'', [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0066%3Aspeech%3D1%3Asection%3D17 17] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120520155129/http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0066%3Aspeech%3D1%3Asection%3D17 |date=20 May 2012 }}<br />* J. R. Hamilton, ''Alexander the Great'', 48.</ref> The Thebans and the Athenians rebelled once again, financed by [[Darius III of Persia]], and Demosthenes is said to have received about 300&nbsp;talents on behalf of Athens and to have faced accusations of embezzlement.{{Ref label|J|j|none}} Alexander reacted immediately and razed Thebes to the ground. He did not attack Athens, but demanded the exile of all anti-Macedonian politicians, Demosthenes first of all. According to [[Plutarch]], a special Athenian embassy led by [[Phocion]], an opponent of the anti-Macedonian faction, was able to persuade Alexander to relent.<ref name="Phocion">Plutarch, ''Phocion'', [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A2008.01.0057%3Achapter%3D17%3Asection%3D1 17.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120520155010/http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A2008.01.0057%3Achapter%3D17%3Asection%3D1 |date=20 May 2012 }}</ref>

According to ancient writers, Demosthenes called Alexander "Margites" ({{langx|grc|Μαργίτης}})<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0026.tlg003.perseus-grc1:160| title = Aeschines, Against Ctesiphon, §160}}</ref><ref name = "Harpokration">{{cite web| url = https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A2013.01.0002%3Aletter%3Dm%3Aentry%3Dmargites| title = Harpokration, Lexicon of the Ten Orators, § m6}}</ref><ref name = "Plutach_Demosthenes">{{cite web| url = https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0007.tlg054.perseus-grc1:23| title = Plutarch, Life of Demosthenes, §23}}</ref> and a boy.<ref name = "Plutach_Demosthenes"/> Greeks used the word Margites to describe foolish and useless people, on account of the [[Margites]].<ref name = "Harpokration"/><ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=urn:cts:greekLit:tlg2040.tlg002.perseus-grc1:8.#note1| title = Advice to Young Men on Greek Literature, Basil of Caesarea, § 8}}</ref>