Editing Amyntas III of Macedon

{{Short description|King of Macedonia from 393/2 to 370 BC}}
{{Infobox royalty
| name         = Amyntas III
| image        = Coin of Amyntas III-161113.jpg
| caption      = silver'' [[stater]]'' of Amyntas III
| father       = Arrhidaeus, son of [[Amyntas (son of Alexander I)|Amyntas]]
| mother       = unknown
| religion     = [[Ancient Greek religion]]
| birth_date   = ?
| death_date   = 370 BC
| spouse       = 
| spouse 1     = [[Eurydice I of Macedon|Eurydice I]]
| spouse 2     = Gygaea
| issue        = [[Alexander II of Macedon|Alexander II]]<br/>[[Perdiccas III of Macedon|Perdiccas III]]<br/>[[Philip II of Macedon|Philip II]]<br>{{nowrap|Eurynoe (wife of [[Ptolemy of Aloros]])}}<br>[[Archelaus (son of Amyntas III)|Archelaus]]<br>Arrhidaeus<br>[[Menelaus (son of Amyntas III)|Menelaus]]<br>[[Iphicrates]] (adopted)
| succession   = [[King of Macedonia]]
| reign1       = 393/2 – 388/7<ref>March, Duane (1995). "The Kings of Makedon: 399-369 B.C". Historia: Zeitschrift für Alte Geschichte: 280.</ref>
| reign-type1  = First reign
| predecessor1 = [[Pausanias of Macedon|Pausanias]]
| successor1   = [[Argaeus II of Macedon|Argaeus II]]
| reign-type2  = Second reign
| reign2       = 387/6 – 370
| predecessor2 = Argaeus II
| successor2   = [[Alexander II of Macedon|Alexander II]]
}}

'''Amyntas III''' ({{langx|grc|Ἀμύντας}}) was king of the [[ancient Greece|ancient Greek]] kingdom of [[Macedonia (ancient kingdom)|Macedonia]] from 393/2 to 388/7 BC and again from 387/6 to 370 BC. He was a member of the [[Argead dynasty]] through his father Arrhidaeus, a son of Amyntas, one of the sons of [[Alexander I of Macedon|Alexander I]]. His most famous son is [[Philip II of Macedon|Philip II]], father of [[Alexander the Great]].

== Family ==
Polygamy was used by Macedonian kings both before and after Amyntas to secure marriage alliances and produce enough heirs to offset losses from intra-dynastic conflict.<ref name=":1">Carney, Elizabeth (2000). ''Women and Monarchy in Macedonia''. University of Oklahoma Press, p.19. {{isbn|0-8061-3212-4}}.</ref> Consequently, Amyntas took two wives: [[Eurydice I of Macedon|Eurydice]] and [[Gygaea of Macedon|Gygaea]]. He first married Eurydice, daughter of [[Sirras]] and maternal granddaughter of the [[Lynkestis|Lynkestian]] king [[Arrhabaeus]], probably in a Macedonian effort to strengthen the alliance with both the [[Illyrians]] and Lynkestians or to detach the Lynkestians from their historical alliance with the Illyrians, after the Macedonian defeat by Illyrians or an Illyrian-Lynkestian invasion in 393 BC.<ref>{{harvnb|Carney|2019|pp=27–28}}; {{harvnb|Heckel|Heinrichs|Müller|2020|pp=87, 273}}; {{harvnb|King|2017|pp=57, 64}}; {{harvnb|Carney|Müller|2020|p=391}}; {{harvnb|Müller|2021|p=36}}.</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Roisman |first1=Joseph |last2=Worthington |first2=Ian |title=A Companion to Ancient Macedonia |date=7 July 2011 |publisher=John Wiley & Sons |isbn=978-1-4443-5163-7 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QsJ183uUDkMC |pages=74, 152}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Worthington |first=Ian |title=Philip II of Macedonia|publisher=Yale University Press|year=2008|isbn=978-0-300-12079-0|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CZsTAQAAIAAJ |page=15}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Psoma|first=S.|chapter=The Kingdom of Macedonia and the Chalcidic League|title=Brill's Companion to Ancient Macedon: Studies in the Archaeology and History of Macedon, 650 BC – 300 AD |location=Leiden |publisher=Brill |year=2011 |isbn=978-90-04-20650-2|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kjLPBsB2dIkC|editor-last1=Lane Fox|editor-first=R.|page=117}}</ref> Through Eurydice, Amyntas had three sons, all of whom became kings of Macedonia one after the other, and a daughter: [[Alexander II of Macedon|Alexander II]], [[Perdiccas III of Macedon|Perdiccas III]], [[Philip II of Macedon|Philip II]], and Eurynoe.

The Roman historian [[Justin (historian)|Justin]] relates several, possibly apocryphal, stories about Eurydice and Eurynoe. He claims that Eurynoe prevented her mother and her lover (unnamed, but likely [[Ptolemy of Aloros]]) from assassinating Amyntas late in his reign by revealing the plan to her father.<ref>Justin. "[http://www.attalus.org/info/justinus.html Epitome of Pompeius Trogus' ''Philippic Histories'']". Translated by Watson, John Selby (1853), [http://www.attalus.org/translate/justin10.html#7.1 7.4.7].</ref> However, Eurynoe is not referred to by name in any other source and, moreover, is unlikely to have known the details of this supposedly secret plot.<ref name=":1" /><ref>Hammond, N.G.L. (1979). ''A History of Macedonia Volume II: 550-336 B.C''. Oxford: Clarendon Press. p. 183.</ref> According to Justin, Amyntas spared Eurydice because they shared children, but that she would later help murder Alexander and Perdiccas in order to place Ptolemy on the throne.<ref>Justin [https://www.attalus.org/translate/justin10.html#7.5 7.5.4-6]</ref> Alexander was in fact killed by friends of Ptolemy at a festival in 368 BC, but the extent to which Eurydice knew of or participated in this plot is opaque.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Greenwalt |first=William |title=Ancient Historiography on War and Empire |publisher=Oxbow Books |year=2016 |editor-last=Howe |editor-first=Timothy |pages=87–89 |chapter=Alexander II of Macedon |editor-last2=Müller |editor-first2=Sabine |editor-last3=Stoneman |editor-first3=Richard}}</ref> Perdiccas, on the other hand, assassinated Ptolemy in 365 BC only to be killed in battle by the [[Illyrians]] in 359 BC.<ref>Hammond 1979, p. 185-188.</ref>

Amyntas most likely married Gygaea soon after marrying Eurydice, because Gygaea's children made no attempt to claim the throne before the 350s BC, implying that they were younger than Eurydice's children.<ref>Carney 2000, p. 47.</ref> Additionally, both [[Diodorus Siculus|Diodorus]] and Justin call Alexander II the eldest son of Amyntas.<ref>Diodorus Siculus. "[http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0084%3Abook%3D9%3Achapter%3D1%3Asection%3D1 Library]". ''Diodorus of Sicily in Twelve Volumes''. Vol. 4–8. Translated by Oldfather, C.H. Harvard University Press, [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0084%3Abook%3D16%3Achapter%3D2%3Asection%3D4 16.2.4].</ref><ref>Justin [https://www.attalus.org/translate/justin10.html#7.4 7.4.9]</ref> Through Gygaea, Amyntas had three more sons: [[Archelaus (son of Amyntas III)|Archelaus]], Arrhidaeus, and [[Menelaus (son of Amyntas III)|Menelaus]]. Unlike Eurydice's children, none of Gygaea's sons ascended to the throne and were all killed by their half-brother Philip II.<ref name=":2">Carney 2000, p. 39-42.</ref>

Amyntas also adopted the Athenian general [[Iphicrates]] around 386 BC in recognition of his military services and marital ties with the Thracian king, [[Cotys I (Odrysian)|Cotys I]].<ref>Borza 1990, p. 183.</ref>

== 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>

== King of Macedon ==
Shortly after he became king in 393 or 392, he was driven out by the [[Illyria]]ns, but in the following year, with the aid of the [[Thessalia]]ns, he recovered his kingdom. Medius, head of the house of the [[Aleuadae]] of [[Larissa]], is believed to have provided aid to Amyntas in recovering his throne. The mutual relationship between the [[Argead dynasty|Argeadae]] and the Aleuadae dates to the time of Archelaus.

To shore up his country against the threat of the Illyrians, Amyntas established an alliance with the [[Chalcidian League]] led by [[Olynthus]].  In exchange for this support, Amyntas granted them rights to Macedonian timber, which was sent back to Athens to help fortify their fleet.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|title=Antigonus the One-Eyed|last=Champion, Jeff|isbn=978-1-4738-4036-2|location=Barnsley|pages=Chapter I|oclc=894227661}}</ref> With [[money]] flowing into Olynthus from these exports, their power grew. In response, Amyntas sought additional allies. He established connections with [[Cotys I (Odrysian)|Kotys]], chief of the [[Odrysians]]. Kotys had already married his daughter to the Athenian general [[Iphicrates]].  Prevented from marrying into Kotys' family, Amyntas soon adopted Iphicrates as his son.

After the [[Peace of Antalcidas|King's Peace]] of 387 BC, [[History of Sparta|Sparta]] was anxious to re-establish its presence in northern Greece. In 385 BC, [[Bardylis]] and his [[Illyrians]] attacked [[Epirus]] instigated and aided by [[Dionysius I of Syracuse]],<ref>''A History of Greece to 322 B.C.'' by N. G. L. Hammond. {{ISBN|0-19-873095-0}}, 1986, page 479, "Molossi, Alcetas, who was a refugee at his court, Dionysius sent a supply of arms and 2,000 troops to the Illyrians, who burst into Epirus and slaughtered 15,000 Molossians. Sparta intervened as soon as they had learned of the events and expelled the Illyrians, but Alcetas had regained his..."</ref> in an attempt to restore the [[Molossian]] king [[Alcetas I of Epirus]] to the throne. When Amyntas sought Spartan aid against the growing threat of Olynthus, the Spartans eagerly responded.  That Olynthus was backed by Athens and Thebes, rivals to Sparta for the control of Greece, provided them with an additional incentive to break up this growing power in the north. Amyntas thus concluded a treaty with the Spartans, who assisted him in a war against [[Olynthus]].  First Spartan-Macedonian forces suffered two defeats but in 379 BC they managed to destroy Olynthus.<ref name=":0" /> He also entered into a league with [[Jason of Pherae]], and assiduously cultivated the friendship of [[Athens]].<ref name="EB1911">{{EB1911|wstitle=Amyntas II|inline=y|volume=1|pages=900-901}}</ref> In 371 BC at a Panhellenic congress of the [[Lacedaemonian]] allies, he voted in support of the [[Athenians]]' claim and joined other Greeks in voting to help Athens to recover possession of [[Amphipolis]].<ref>[[Aeschines]] - On the Embassy [http://www.fordham.edu/Halsall/ancient/aeschines-embassy.html 2.32]</ref><ref>''[https://archive.org/details/historygreeceil03grotgoog/page/n568 <!-- pg=336 quote=371 BC Amyntas Amphipolis. --> A history of Greece]'' by George Grote</ref>

With Olynthus defeated, Amyntas was now able to conclude a treaty with Athens and keep the timber revenues for himself. Amyntas shipped the timber to the house of the Athenian [[Timotheus (general)|Timotheus]], in [[Piraeus]].

Amyntas died aged 50, leaving his throne to his eldest son, Alexander II.

==See also==
* [[Treaties between Amyntas III and the Chalcidians]]
* [[Amyntaio]]

== Citations ==
{{reflist}}

== Bibliography ==
*{{cite book|last=Carney|first=Elizabeth D.|title=Eurydice and the Birth of Macedonian Power|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PiCWDwAAQBAJ|year=2019|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-028054-3}}
*{{Cite book|last1=Carney|first1=Elizabeth D.|last2=Müller|first2=Sabine|title=The Routledge Companion to Women and Monarchy in the Ancient Mediterranean World|publisher=Routledge|year=2020|isbn=9780429783982|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZJb-DwAAQBAJ}}
*{{cite book |editor1-last=Heckel |editor1-first=Waldemar |editor2-last=Heinrichs |editor2-first=Johannes |editor3-last=Müller |editor3-first=Sabine |title=Lexicon of Argead Makedonia |date=2020 |publisher=Frank & Timme GmbH |isbn=978-3732904051 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CDnpDwAAQBAJ}}
*{{cite book|last=King|first=Carol J.|date=2017|title=Ancient Macedonia|publisher=Routledge|isbn=9780415827287|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lJ0uDwAAQBAJ}}
*{{cite book|last=Müller|first=Sabine|title=Marriage Discourses: Historical and Literary Perspectives on Gender Inequality and Patriarchic Exploitation|chapter=Political Marriage in Antiquity|editor-first1=Jowan A.|editor-last1=Mohammed|editor-first2=Frank|editor-last2=Jacob|publisher=Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG|year=2021|isbn=9783110751451|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tldYEAAAQBAJ|pages=25–50}}

==External links==
* ''[http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/greece/macedonia/kings/amyntas_III/i.html Coins of Amyntas III]''
* [http://www.csad.ox.ac.uk/CSAD/Images/200/Image266.html Atheno-Macedonian Alliance]-''[https://web.archive.org/web/20071014232706/http://www.lysimachos.com/index.php/Archaeology/Athenian-alliance-with-Amyntas-III-of-Macedon-375/3-BC.html Translation of Epigraphy]''

{{s-start}}
{{s-hou|[[Argead dynasty]]||?||370 BC}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Pausanias of Macedon|Pausanias]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[List of kings of Macedon|King of Macedon]]|years=393/2–388/7 BC}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Argaeus II of Macedon|Argaeus II]]}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Argaeus II of Macedon|Argaeus II]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[List of kings of Macedon|King of Macedon]]|years=387/6–370 BC}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Alexander II of Macedon|Alexander II]]}}
{{s-end}}
{{MacedonKings}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:370 BC deaths]]
[[Category:4th-century BC Macedonian monarchs]]
[[Category:Argead kings of Macedonia]]
[[Category:Old Macedonian kingdom]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing]]