Philip III Arrhidaeus of Macedon (359 BC-25 December 317 BC) was King of Macedon from 323 to 317 BC, succeeding Alexander the Great and preceding Alexander IV of Macedon.
Biography[]
Arrhidaeus was born in 359 BC, the son of Philip II of Macedon and Philinna of Larissa. He was the older half-brother of Alexander the Great, but he had mild learning difficulties, which some ascribed to Olympias' attempts to poison him (in order to secure Alexander's succession to the throne). Alexander was fond of Arrhidaeus and took him on his campaigns, hoping to protect his life and prevent him from being used as a political pawn. After Alexander's death in 323 BC, the Macedonian army proclaimed Philip King, but he served as a figurehead and pawn of a succession of generals. In 317 BC, Olympias invaded Macedonia with the goal of wresting the regency from Cassander; she captured Philip and had him executed at Amphipolis to prevent her enemies from using him against her.