Discourses on Livy · Character

Philip of Macedon

King of Macedon and father of Alexander, used as an example of cunning.

minor

Also known as Philip

First appearance: I

Philip of Macedon's tie to Pausanias is one of the pressures that moves Discourses on Livy—worth meeting in the text, not only on a cast list.

Cited as an example of a valiant prince whose reign, followed by his son Alexander, sufficed to conquer the world.

In the storyThat the consecutive reigns of two valiant princes produce great results: and that well-ordered commonwealths are assured of a succession of valiant rulers by whom their power and growth are rapidly extended.Open this moment free

Philip of Macedon first appears in 0004 i.

With Pausanias (rivalry): Pausanias, a Macedonian bodyguard, assassinated Philip of Macedon, driven by personal grievance and political intrigue. With Alexander the Great (family): Alexander the Great was the son of Philip of Macedon, inheriting his father's kingdom and military ambitions.

See Philip of Macedon in That the consecutive reigns of two valiant princes produce great results: and that well-ordered commonwealths are assured of a succession of valiant rulers by whom their power and growth are rapidly extended.Book page

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Character Web

15 connections

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Relationship types

Rivalry
Family
Other

Character groups

Founders and Tyrants
Historical and Political Examples

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

The emotional and psychological peak occurs when the Claudian censor, driven by the family’s ingrained haughti…

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Relationships

Pausanias
rivalry · negative
Pausanias, a Macedonian bodyguard, assassinated Philip of Macedon, driven by personal… How this plays out →
Alexander the Great
family · ambivalent

Relationship notes

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See Philip of Macedon in I

In the story

Philip of Macedon appears across 10 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

That the consecutive reigns of two valiant princes produce great results: and that well-ordered commonwealths are assured of a succession of valiant rulers by whom their power and growth are rapidly extended.
Cited as an example of a valiant prince whose reign, followed by his son Alexander, sufficed to conquer the world.
Chapter XXVI
Cited as an example of a prince who, through radical reforms and population transfers, rose from a petty prince to monarch of all Greece.
XXXI
Mentioned as an enemy against whom Roman armies were sent.
LIX
Contrasted with the Athenians as a prince who would have acted dishonorably for advantage.
I
Mentioned as one of the powers that misjudged Rome's rise, believing another would prevail.
Chapter IV
Taunted an Etolian captain during negotiations with Titus Quintius Flamininus, accusing the Etolians of greed and bad faith.
XIII
Cited as an example of rising from low beginnings to sovereignty through fraud.
XXVIII
Father of Alexander; failed to avenge Pausanias's dishonor, leading to his assassination.
That a captain cannot escape battle when his enemy forces it on him at all risks
Attempted to avoid battle by intrenching on a hill, but was driven off by the Romans and forced to flee; later compelled to fight due to the suffering of his subjects.
XXXVII
Example of a captain who wisely abandoned territory he could not defend to preserve his reputation.

Chapter companion notes

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See Philip of Macedon in I