# Philip of Macedon — Discourses on Livy character guide

> Philip of Macedon in Discourses on Livy by Niccolò Machiavelli.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** Philip

**First appearance:** 0004-i

## Who they are

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

## Relationships

### [Pausanias](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/discourses_on_livy_se/characters/pausanias)

_rivalry_

Pausanias, a Macedonian bodyguard, assassinated Philip of Macedon, driven by personal grievance and political intrigue.

### [Alexander the Great](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/discourses_on_livy_se/characters/alexander_the_great)

_family_

Alexander the Great was the son of Philip of Macedon, inheriting his father's kingdom and military ambitions.

## In the story

### [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.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/discourses_on_livy_se/chapters/xx)

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

### [Chapter XXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/discourses_on_livy_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/discourses_on_livy_se/chapters/xxxi)

Mentioned as an enemy against whom Roman armies were sent.

### [LIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/discourses_on_livy_se/chapters/lix)

Contrasted with the Athenians as a prince who would have acted dishonorably for advantage.

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/discourses_on_livy_se/chapters/i)

Mentioned as one of the powers that misjudged Rome's rise, believing another would prevail.

### [Chapter IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/discourses_on_livy_se/chapters/iv)

Taunted an Etolian captain during negotiations with Titus Quintius Flamininus, accusing the Etolians of greed and bad faith.

### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/discourses_on_livy_se/chapters/xiii)

Cited as an example of rising from low beginnings to sovereignty through fraud.

### [XXVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/discourses_on_livy_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/discourses_on_livy_se/chapters/x)

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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/discourses_on_livy_se/chapters/xxxvii)

Example of a captain who wisely abandoned territory he could not defend to preserve his reputation.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/discourses_on_livy_se/characters/philip_of_macedon
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/discourses_on_livy_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/discourses_on_livy_se/characters