Amyntas I of Macedon
Amyntas I (Greek: Ἀμύντας Aʹ; c. 540 – 498 BC) was king of the ancient kingdom of Macedon (540 – 512 / 511 BC) and then a vassal of Darius I from 512/511 to his death 498 BC, at the time of Achaemenid Macedonia. He was a son of Alcetas I of Macedon. He married Eurydice and they had a son Alexander.
Amyntas I | |
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Vassal of Achaemenid Empire[2] | |
Coinage towards the end of the reign of Amyntas I, under the Achaemenids, Aegae, circa 510-480 BC. Goat kneeling right, head reverted; pellet above and before / Quadripartite incuse square. | |
King of Macedon | |
Reign | traditional: 547–498 BC |
Predecessor | Alcetas I |
Successor | |
Spouse | Queen Eurydice |
Issue | Alexander I Gygaea |
House | Macedon (Ancient Macedonian ) |
Dynasty | Argead |
Father | Alcetas I |
Mother | unknown |
Religion | Ancient Macedonian Polytheism |
Amyntas was a vassal of Darius I, king of the Persian Achaemenid Empire, since 512/511 BC.[3] Amyntas gave the present of "Earth and Water" to Megabazus, which symbolized submission to the Achaemenid Emperor.[4][5] One of the daughters of Amyntas, named Gygaea, was married to the Persian General, called Bubares, possibly as a way of reinforcing the alliance.[4][6]
The history of Macedonia may be said to begin with Amyntas' reign. He was the first of its rulers to have diplomatic relations with other states.[7] In particular, he entered into an alliance with Hippias of Athens, and when Hippias was driven out of Athens he offered him the territory of Anthemus on the Thermaic Gulf with the object of taking advantage of the feuds between the Greeks.[7] Hippias refused the offer and also rejected the offer of Iolcos, as Amyntas probably did not control Anthemous at that time, but was merely suggesting a plan of joint occupation to Hippias.[8]
References
- Joseph Roisman,Ian Worthington. "A companion to Ancient Macedonia" John Wiley & Sons, 2011. ISBN 144435163X pp 343-345
- Joseph Roisman,Ian Worthington. "A companion to Ancient Macedonia" John Wiley & Sons, 2011. ISBN 144435163X pp 343-345
- Joseph Roisman,Ian Worthington. "A companion to Ancient Macedonia" John Wiley & Sons, 2011. ISBN 144435163X pp 343-345
- Waters, Matt (2014). Ancient Persia: A Concise History of the Achaemenid Empire, 550–330 BCE. Cambridge University Press. p. 83. ISBN 9781107009608.
- Herodotus, The Histories, Book 5, chapter 17. pp. 5.17–18.
- Herodotus. Herodotus, The Histories, Book 5, chapter 21, section 2.
- Chisholm 1911.
- Miltiades V. Chatzopoulos Macedonian Institutions Under the Kings: A historical and epigraphic study, p. 174, ISBN 960-7094-89-1.
- Attribution
- This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Amyntas I". Encyclopædia Britannica. 1 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 900.
Sources
- Herodotus v. 17, 94
- Justin vii. 2
- Thucydides ii. 100
- Pausanias ix. 40
Preceded by Alcetas I |
King of Macedon 547–498 BC |
Succeeded by Alexander I |