This next part of the series will focus on the causes for the renewed war between the Empire's of Persia and Macedon in 337 BC.
The most important factor would probably be the death of the Persian King, Artaxerxes III, in 338 BC. According to Grainger’s theory, Hellenistic peace treaties were formed between Kings, not between states, and this is likely to have been the case in the reign of Philip II. Similarly, in Persian political society, the King effectively was the state implying a similar state of affairs. Although the two parties likely viewed the treaty in different ways: for the Persians it was likely along similar lines to the previous "Kings peace" seeing Macedon effectively as a vassal, whereas Philip likely saw it as an agreement more like a non-aggression pact. The Kings death nevertheless had the effect of breaking the peace.
Another factor was the final defeat and conquest of Southern Greece by Philip at Chaeronea, resulting in the release of a large military force in need of both payment and employment as well as a considerable restive subject population, who were likely to revolt once the Macedonians were out of their territory. Therefore, a war against Persia would alleviate both issues, providing booty for the soldiers and the prospect of a Panhellenic war for the Greeks with the honourable intentions of "liberating" their kin in Anatolia.
Finally, the political situation in Persia, following Artaxerxes’ III death, is worth examining. His successor, Artaxerxes IV Arses, was immediately faced with civil war as his cousin Artashata asserted his claim to the throne based on his victories under Artaxerxes III. This was followed by opportunistic revolts in Babylonia and again in Egypt.
This is the political context in which Philip built the Corinthian league and launched the initial invasion, which despite initial success was ultimately defeated due to the assassination of Philip II and the resulting bloody purges of the Macedonian nobility instigated by Alexander. By the time Alexander had ensured his succession, Artashata had driven Artaxerxes IV from Persepolis, who was later assassinated by his Chiliarch, and acceded under the throne name Darius III, following which he defeated the rebels in Babylon and Memphis and drove Parmenion out of Asia (bar Abydos).
Join us next time for a look into the conflicts between Darius and Alexander, and the conquest of the Achaemenid Empire.
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