Editing Amyntas III of Macedon (section)

== Lineage and accession ==
Amyntas became king at a troubled time for Macedonia and the Argead dynasty. The unexpected death of his great-grandfather King [[Alexander I of Macedon|Alexander I]] in 454 BC triggered a dynastic crisis between his five sons: [[Perdiccas II of Macedon|Perdiccas II]], Menelaus, Philip, [[Alcetas (brother of Perdiccas II)|Alcetas]], and Amyntas' grandfather, Amyntas.<ref>Hammond 1979, p. 115.</ref><ref name=":3">Roisman 2010, p. 157-158.</ref> Perdiccas would eventually emerge victorious, extinguishing the line of Philip. The elder Amyntas evidently retired to his lands at some point in the conflict and no part in the exercise of power.<ref>Errington, R. Malcolm (1990). ''A History of Macedonia''. University of California Press. p. 15.</ref> [[Archelaus I of Macedon|Archelaus]], Perdiccas' son, ascended to the throne around 413 BC and allegedly murdered Alcetas and his son, thus eliminating that family branch as well.<ref>Roisman, Joseph (2010). "Classical Macedonia to Perdiccas III". In Roisman, Joseph; Worthington, Ian (eds.). ''A Companion to Ancient Macedonia''. Blackwell. p. 154.</ref> However, Archelaus would himself be killed, possibly murdered, in 400 or 399 BC by his lover [[Crateuas of Macedon|Craterus]].<ref name=":3" /> His death prompted another succession crisis, resulting in five kings ruling in less than seven years, with nearly all ending violently.<ref>Borza, Eugene (1990). ''In the Shadow of Olympus: The Emergence of Macedon''. Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press. p. 177-178. {{isbn|0-691-05549-1}}</ref> As Diodorus tells us, the younger Amyntas seized the throne at this point in 393/2 BC after assassinating the previous king [[Pausanias of Macedon|Pausanias]].<ref>Diodorus, "[http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0084%3Abook%3D9%3Achapter%3D1%3Asection%3D1 Library]", [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0084%3Abook%3D14%3Achapter%3D89%3Asection%3D2 14.89.2].</ref> Following his accession, Macedonia experienced no major internal political problems for the entirety of Amyntas' reign.<ref>Errington 1990, p. 29.</ref>