Editing Macedonia (ancient kingdom) (section)

===Hellenistic era===
{{further|Antipatrid dynasty|Antigonid dynasty|Hellenistic period|Pyrrhic War|Chremonidean War|Cleomenean War}}
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|image1=Pyrrhus MAN Napoli Inv6150 n03.jpg|width1=100
|image2=Demetrios Poliorketes MAN Napoli Inv6149.jpg|width2=100|
|image3=Seleuco I 2.JPG|width3=100|
|image4=Lisimaco (c.d.), copia augustea (23 ac-14 dc) da orig. del II sec ac. 6141.JPG|width4=76|
|footer=The portrait busts of [[Pyrrhus of Epirus]] (top left), [[Demetrius I of Macedon]] (top right), [[Seleucus I Nicator]] (bottom left), and [[Lysimachus]] (bottom right), [[Roman portraiture|Roman-era copies]] of [[Hellenistic sculpture|Hellenistic Greek originals]] from the [[Villa of the Papyri]] at [[Herculaneum]], [[Naples National Archaeological Museum]]}}

The beginning of [[Hellenistic Greece]] was defined by the struggle between the [[Antipatrid dynasty]], led first by [[Cassander]] ({{reign|305|297|era=BC}}), son of Antipater, and the [[Antigonid dynasty]], led by the Macedonian general [[Antigonus I Monophthalmus]] ({{reign|306|301|era=BC}}) and his son, the future king [[Demetrius I of Macedon|Demetrius{{nbsp}}I]] ({{reign|294|288|era=BC}}). Cassander besieged Athens in 303{{nbsp}}BC, but was forced to retreat to Macedonia when Demetrius invaded [[Boeotia]] to his rear, attempting to sever his path of retreat.<ref>{{harvnb|Adams|2010|p=217}}; {{harvnb|Errington|1990|p=145}}.</ref> While Antigonus and Demetrius attempted to recreate Philip{{nbsp}}II's [[League of Corinth|Hellenic league]] with themselves as dual hegemons, a revived coalition of Cassander, [[Ptolemy I Soter]] ({{reign|305|283|era=BC}}) of Egypt's [[Ptolemaic dynasty]], [[Seleucus I Nicator]] ({{reign|305|281|era=BC}}) of the [[Seleucid Empire]], and Lysimachus ({{reign|306|281|era=BC}}), [[List of rulers of Thrace and Dacia|King of Thrace]], defeated the Antigonids at the [[Battle of Ipsus]] in 301{{nbsp}}BC, killing Antigonus and forcing Demetrius into flight.<ref>{{harvnb|Adams|2010|p=217}}; {{harvnb|Errington|1990|pp=145–147}}; {{harvnb|Bringmann|2007|p=61}}.</ref>

Cassander died in 297 BC, and his sickly son [[Philip IV of Macedon|Philip{{nbsp}}IV]] died the same year, succeeded by Cassander's other sons [[Alexander V of Macedon]] ({{reign|297|294|era=BC}}) and [[Antipater II of Macedon]] ({{reign|297|294|era=BC}}), with their mother [[Thessalonike of Macedon]] acting as regent.<ref name="adams 2010 218"/> While Demetrius fought against the Antipatrid forces in Greece, Antipater{{nbsp}}II killed his own mother to obtain power.<ref name="adams 2010 218"/> His desperate brother Alexander{{nbsp}}V then requested aid from [[Pyrrhus of Epirus]] ({{reign|297|272|era=BC}}),<ref name="adams 2010 218"/> who had fought alongside Demetrius at the Battle of Ipsus, but was sent to Egypt as a hostage as part of an agreement between Demetrius and Ptolemy{{nbsp}}I.<ref name="bringmann 2007 61">{{harvnb|Bringmann|2007|p=61}}.</ref> In exchange for defeating the forces of Antipater{{nbsp}}II and forcing him to flee to the court of Lysimachus in Thrace, Pyrrhus was awarded the westernmost portions of the Macedonian kingdom.<ref>{{harvnb|Adams|2010|p=218}}; {{harvnb|Errington|1990|p=153}}.</ref> Demetrius had his nephew Alexander{{nbsp}}V assassinated and was then proclaimed king of Macedonia, but his subjects protested against his aloof, Eastern-style [[autocracy]].<ref name="adams 2010 218">{{harvnb|Adams|2010|p=218}}.</ref>

War broke out between Pyrrhus and Demetrius in 290{{nbsp}}BC when [[Lanassa (wife of Pyrrhus)|Lanassa, wife of Pyrrhus]], daughter of [[Agathocles of Syracuse]], left him for Demetrius and offered him her [[dowry]] of [[Corcyra]].<ref name="adams 218–219 bringmann 61" /> The war dragged on until 288{{nbsp}}BC, when Demetrius lost the support of [[Ancient Macedonians|the Macedonians]] and fled the country. Macedonia was then divided between Pyrrhus and Lysimachus, the former taking [[western Macedonia]] and the latter eastern Macedonia.<ref name="adams 218–219 bringmann 61">{{harvnb|Adams|2010|pp=218–219}}; {{harvnb|Bringmann|2007|p=61}}.</ref> By 286{{nbsp}}BC, Lysimachus had expelled Pyrrhus and his forces from Macedonia.<ref group="note">{{harvnb|Adams|2010|p=219}}; {{harvnb|Bringmann|2007|p=61}}; {{harvnb|Errington|1990|p=155}}. <br />Conversely, Errington dates [[Lysimachus]]' reunification of Macedonia by expelling [[Pyrrhus of Epirus]] as occurring in 284{{nbsp}}BC, not 286{{nbsp}}BC.</ref> In 282{{nbsp}}BC, a new war erupted between Seleucus{{nbsp}}I and Lysimachus; the latter was killed in the [[Battle of Corupedion]], allowing Seleucus{{nbsp}}I to take control of Thrace and Macedonia.<ref name="adams 219 bringmann 61">{{harvnb|Adams|2010|p=219}}; {{harvnb|Bringmann|2007|p=61}}; {{harvnb|Errington|1990|pp=156–157}}.</ref> In two dramatic reversals of fortune, Seleucus{{nbsp}}I was assassinated in 281{{nbsp}}BC by his officer [[Ptolemy Keraunos]], son of Ptolemy{{nbsp}}I and grandson of Antipater, who was then proclaimed king of Macedonia before being killed in battle in 279{{nbsp}}BC by [[Galatians (people)|Celtic invaders]] in the [[Gallic invasion of Greece]].<ref>{{harvnb|Adams|2010|p=219}}; {{harvnb|Bringmann|2007|pp=61–63}}; {{harvnb|Errington|1990|pp=159–160}}.</ref> The Macedonian army proclaimed the general [[Sosthenes of Macedon]] as king, although he apparently refused the title.<ref>{{harvnb|Errington|1990|p=160}}.</ref> After defeating the [[Gauls|Gallic]] ruler [[Bolgios]] and driving out the raiding party of [[Brennus (3rd century BC)|Brennus]], Sosthenes died and left a chaotic situation in Macedonia.<ref>{{harvnb|Errington|1990|pp=160–161}}.</ref> The Gallic invaders ravaged Macedonia until [[Antigonus Gonatas]], son of Demetrius, defeated them in Thrace at the 277{{nbsp}}BC [[Battle of Lysimachia]] and was then proclaimed king [[Antigonus II of Macedon]] ({{reign|1=277|2=274|3=272|4=239|era=BC}}).<ref>{{harvnb|Adams|2010|p=219}}; {{harvnb|Bringmann|2007|p=63}}; {{harvnb|Errington|1990|pp=162–163}}.</ref>

In 280 BC, Pyrrhus embarked on a campaign in [[Magna Graecia]] (i.e. [[southern Italy]]) against the [[Roman Republic]] known as the [[Pyrrhic War]], followed by his [[Siege of Syracuse (278 BC)|invasion of Sicily]].<ref name="adams 219–220 bringmann 2007 63">{{harvnb|Adams|2010|pp=219–220}}; {{harvnb|Bringmann|2007|p=63}}.</ref> Ptolemy Keraunos secured his position on the Macedonian throne by giving Pyrrhus five thousand soldiers and twenty [[war elephant]]s for this endeavor.<ref name="bringmann 2007 61"/> Pyrrhus returned to Epirus in 275{{nbsp}}BC after the ultimate failure of both campaigns, which contributed to the [[rise of Rome]] because [[Colonies in antiquity|Greek cities in southern Italy]] such as [[Taranto|Tarentum]] now became Roman allies.<ref name="adams 219–220 bringmann 2007 63"/> Pyrrhus invaded Macedonia in 274{{nbsp}}BC, defeating the largely mercenary army of Antigonus{{nbsp}}II at the 274{{nbsp}}BC [[Battle of the Aous (274 BC)|Battle of Aous]] and driving him out of Macedonia, forcing him to seek refuge with his naval fleet in the Aegean.<ref>{{harvnb|Adams|2010|pp=219–220}}; {{harvnb|Bringmann|2007|p=63}}; {{harvnb|Errington|1990|p=164}}.</ref>

[[File:Ancient Mieza, Macedonian tombs of Lefkadia, Tomb of Lyson and Kallikles a72b9b998c2e98a1390dbae9e032ea1c.jpg|thumb|Paintings of [[Hellenistic]]-era military arms and armor from a tomb in ancient [[Mieza, Macedonia|Mieza]] (modern-day Lefkadia), [[Imathia]], [[Central Macedonia]], [[Greece]], 2nd century{{nbsp}}BC]]
Pyrrhus lost much of his support among the Macedonians in 273{{nbsp}}BC when his unruly Gallic mercenaries plundered the royal cemetery of Aigai.<ref>{{harvnb|Adams|2010|p=220}}; {{harvnb|Errington|1990|pp=164–165}}.</ref> Pyrrhus pursued Antigonus{{nbsp}}II in the Peloponnese, yet Antigonus{{nbsp}}II was ultimately able to recapture Macedonia.<ref name="adams 2010 220">{{harvnb|Adams|2010|p=220}}.</ref> Pyrrhus was killed while besieging [[Argos, Peloponnese|Argos]] in 272{{nbsp}}BC, allowing Antigonus{{nbsp}}II to reclaim the rest of Greece.<ref>{{harvnb|Adams|2010|p=220}}; {{harvnb|Bringmann|2007|p=63}}; {{harvnb|Errington|1990|p=167}}.</ref> He then restored the Argead dynastic graves at Aigai and annexed the [[Paeonia (kingdom)|Kingdom of Paeonia]].<ref>{{harvnb|Adams|2010|p=220}}; {{harvnb|Errington|1990|pp=165–166}}.</ref>

The [[Aetolian League]] hampered Antigonus{{nbsp}}II's control over [[Central Greece (geographic region)|central Greece]], and the formation of the [[Achaean League]] in 251{{nbsp}}BC pushed Macedonian forces out of much of the Peloponnese and at times incorporated Athens and Sparta.<ref>{{harvnb|Adams|2010|p=221}}; see also {{harvnb|Errington|1990|pp=167–168}} about the resurgence of [[Sparta]] under [[Areus I]].</ref> While the Seleucid Empire aligned with Antigonid Macedonia against Ptolemaic Egypt during the [[Syrian Wars]], the Ptolemaic navy heavily disrupted Antigonus{{nbsp}}II's efforts to control mainland Greece.<ref>{{harvnb|Adams|2010|p=221}}; {{harvnb|Errington|1990|p=168}}.</ref> With the aid of the Ptolemaic navy, the Athenian statesman [[Chremonides]] led a revolt against Macedonian authority known as the [[Chremonidean War]] (267–261{{nbsp}}BC).<ref>{{harvnb|Adams|2010|p=221}}; {{harvnb|Errington|1990|pp=168–169}}.</ref> By 265{{nbsp}}BC, Athens was surrounded and besieged by Antigonus{{nbsp}}II's forces, and a Ptolemaic fleet was defeated in the [[Battle of Cos]]. Athens finally surrendered in 261{{nbsp}}BC.<ref>{{harvnb|Adams|2010|p=221}}; {{harvnb|Errington|1990|pp=169–171}}.</ref> After Macedonia formed an alliance with the Seleucid ruler [[Antiochus II]], a peace settlement between Antigonus{{nbsp}}II and [[Ptolemy II Philadelphus]] of Egypt was finally struck in 255{{nbsp}}BC.<ref name="adams 2010 221">{{harvnb|Adams|2010|p=221}}.</ref>

[[File:Apollon Tempel im antiken Korinth.jpg|thumb|left|The [[Ancient Greek temple|Temple]] of [[Apollo]] at [[Corinth]], built c.{{nbsp}}540{{nbsp}}BC, with the [[Acrocorinth]] (i.e. the [[acropolis]] of Corinth that once held a [[Antigonid Macedonian army|Macedonian garrison]])<ref name="adams 2010 222"/> seen in the background]]
In 251 BC, [[Aratus of Sicyon]] led a rebellion against Antigonus{{nbsp}}II, and in 250{{nbsp}}BC, Ptolemy{{nbsp}}II declared his support for the self-proclaimed King [[Alexander of Corinth]].<ref>{{harvnb|Adams|2010|pp=221–222}}; {{harvnb|Errington|1990|p=172}}.</ref> Although Alexander died in 246{{nbsp}}BC and Antigonus was able to score a naval victory against the Ptolemies [[Battle of Andros (246 BC)|at Andros]], the Macedonians lost the [[Acrocorinth]] to the forces of Aratus in 243{{nbsp}}BC, followed by the induction of Corinth into the Achaean League.<ref>{{harvnb|Adams|2010|p=222}}; {{harvnb|Errington|1990|pp=172–173}}.</ref> Antigonus{{nbsp}}II made peace with the Achaean League in 240{{nbsp}}BC, ceding the territories that he had lost in Greece.<ref>{{harvnb|Adams|2010|p=222}}; {{harvnb|Errington|1990|p=173}}.</ref> Antigonus{{nbsp}}II died in 239{{nbsp}}BC and was succeeded by his son [[Demetrius II of Macedon]] ({{reign|239|229|era=BC}}). Seeking an alliance with Macedonia to defend against the Aetolians, the [[queen mother]] and regent of Epirus, [[Olympias II of Epirus|Olympias II]], offered her daughter [[Phthia of Macedon]] to Demetrius{{nbsp}}II in marriage. Demetrius II accepted her proposal, but he damaged relations with the Seleucids by divorcing [[Stratonice of Macedon]].<ref>{{harvnb|Adams|2010|p=222}}; {{harvnb|Errington|1990|p=174}}.</ref> Although the Aetolians formed an alliance with the Achaean League as a result, Demetrius{{nbsp}}II was able to invade Boeotia and capture it from the Aetolians by 236{{nbsp}}BC.<ref name="adams 2010 222">{{harvnb|Adams|2010|p=222}}.</ref>

The Achaean League managed to capture [[Megalopolis, Greece|Megalopolis]] in 235{{nbsp}}BC, and by the end of Demetrius{{nbsp}}II's reign most of the Peloponnese except Argos was taken from the Macedonians.<ref>{{harvnb|Adams|2010|p=223}}; {{harvnb|Errington|1990|pp=173–174}}.</ref> Demetrius{{nbsp}}II also lost an ally [[Epirus (ancient state)|in Epirus]] when the [[Deidamia II of Epirus|monarchy was toppled]] in a [[Epirote League|republican revolution]].<ref name="adams 223 errington 174">{{harvnb|Adams|2010|p=223}}; {{harvnb|Errington|1990|p=174}}.</ref> Demetrius{{nbsp}}II enlisted the aid of the [[Illyria]]n king [[Agron of Illyria|Agron]] to defend [[Acarnania]] against Aetolia, and in 229{{nbsp}}BC, they managed to defeat the combined navies of the Aetolian and Achaean Leagues at the [[Battle of Paxos]].<ref name="adams 223 errington 174"/> Another Illyrian ruler, [[Longarus]] of the [[Dardanian Kingdom]], invaded Macedonia and defeated an army of Demetrius{{nbsp}}II shortly before his death in 229{{nbsp}}BC.<ref>{{harvnb|Adams|2010|p=223}}; {{harvnb|Errington|1990|pp=174–175}}.</ref> Although his young son [[Philip V of Macedon|Philip]] immediately inherited the throne, his regent [[Antigonus III Doson]] ({{reign|229|221|era=BC}}), nephew of Antigonus{{nbsp}}II, was proclaimed king by the army, with Philip as his heir, following a string of military victories against the Illyrians in the north and the Aetolians in Thessaly.<ref>{{harvnb|Adams|2010|p=223}}; {{harvnb|Errington|1990|pp=175–176}}.</ref>

[[File:Tetradrachm, 229-221, Antigonos Doson.jpg|thumb|A ''[[tetradrachm]]'' minted during the reign of [[Antigonus III Doson]] ({{reign|229|221|era=BC}}), possibly at [[Amphipolis]], bearing the portrait image of [[Poseidon]] on the [[obverse]] and on the reverse a scene depicting [[Apollo]] sitting on the [[Hellenistic-era warships|prow of a ship]]]]
Aratus sent an embassy to Antigonus III in 226{{nbsp}}BC seeking an unexpected alliance now that the reformist king [[Cleomenes III]] of Sparta was threatening the rest of Greece in the [[Cleomenean War]] (229–222{{nbsp}}BC).<ref>{{harvnb|Adams|2010|pp=223–224}}; {{harvnb|Eckstein|2013|p=314}}; see also {{harvnb|Errington|1990|pp=179–180}} for further details.</ref> In exchange for military aid, Antigonus{{nbsp}}III demanded the return of Corinth to Macedonian control, which Aratus finally agreed to in 225{{nbsp}}BC.<ref>{{harvnb|Adams|2010|pp=223–224}}; {{harvnb|Eckstein|2013|p=314}}; {{harvnb|Errington|1990|pp=180–181}}.</ref> In 224{{nbsp}}BC, Antigonus{{nbsp}}III's forces took [[Arcadia (ancient region)|Arcadia]] from Sparta. After forming a Hellenic league in the same vein as Philip{{nbsp}}II's League of Corinth, he managed to defeat Sparta at the [[Battle of Sellasia]] in 222{{nbsp}}BC.<ref>{{harvnb|Adams|2010|p=224}}; {{harvnb|Eckstein|2013|p=314}}; {{harvnb|Errington|1990|pp=181–183}}.</ref> Sparta was occupied by a foreign power for the first time in its history, restoring Macedonia's position as the leading power in Greece.<ref>{{harvnb|Adams|2010|p=224}}; see also {{harvnb|Errington|1990|p=182}} about the Macedonian military's occupation of Sparta following the [[Battle of Sellasia]].</ref> Antigonus died a year later, perhaps from [[tuberculosis]], leaving behind a strong [[Hellenistic period|Hellenistic kingdom]] for his successor Philip{{nbsp}}V.<ref>{{harvnb|Adams|2010|p=224}}; {{harvnb|Errington|1990|pp=183–184}}.</ref>

[[Philip V of Macedon]] ({{reign|221|179|era=BC}}) faced immediate challenges to his authority by the Illyrian [[Dardani]] and Aetolian League.<ref>{{harvnb|Eckstein|2010|p=229}}; {{harvnb|Errington|1990|pp=184–185}}.</ref> Philip{{nbsp}}V and his allies were successful against the Aetolians and their allies in the [[Social War (220–217 BC)]], yet he made peace with the Aetolians once he heard of incursions by the Dardani in the north and the [[History of Carthage|Carthaginian]] victory over [[History of the Roman Republic|the Romans]] at the [[Battle of Lake Trasimene]] in 217{{nbsp}}BC.<ref>{{harvnb|Eckstein|2010|p=229}}; {{harvnb|Errington|1990|pp=185–186, 189}}.</ref> [[Demetrius of Pharos]] is alleged to have convinced Philip{{nbsp}}V to first [[Illyrian Wars|secure Illyria]] in advance of an invasion of the [[Italian peninsula]].<ref group="note">{{harvnb|Eckstein|2010|pp=229–230}}; see also {{harvnb|Errington|1990|pp=186–189}} for further details. <br />Errington is skeptical that Philip&nbsp;V at this point had any intentions of invading southern Italy via Illyria once the latter was secured, deeming his plans to be "more modest", {{harvnb|Errington|1990|p=189}}.</ref> In 216{{nbsp}}BC, Philip{{nbsp}}V sent a hundred [[Hellenistic-era warships|light warships]] into the [[Adriatic Sea]] to attack Illyria, a move that prompted [[Scerdilaidas]] of the [[Ardiaean Kingdom]] to appeal to the Romans for aid.<ref>{{harvnb|Eckstein|2010|p=230}}; {{harvnb|Errington|1990|pp=189–190}}.</ref> Rome responded by sending ten heavy [[quinquereme]]s from [[Roman Sicily]] to patrol the Illyrian coasts, causing Philip{{nbsp}}V to reverse course and order his fleet to retreat, averting open conflict for the time being.<ref>{{harvnb|Eckstein|2010|pp=230–231}}; {{harvnb|Errington|1990|pp=190–191}}.</ref>