Amyntas II of Macedon
Who was Amyntas II of Macedon?
Macedonian monarch
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Amyntas II of Macedon (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Amyntas II of Macedon, also called Amyntas "the Little" in ancient times, ruled the Greek kingdom of Macedon for just a few months around 394/3 BC. His short reign started in July or August of 394/3 after Aeropus II died, but he was soon assassinated by Derdas, a nobleman from Elimia. After his death, Pausanias, the son of Aeropus II, became king.
The family background of Amyntas II is still debated by scholars. The main theory, supported by historian Nicholas Hammond, suggests he was Menelaus's son, who was the second son of Alexander I of Macedon. Another theory suggests he might have been the son of Archelaus I. These different theories partly rely on a passage from Aelian's Varia Historia that mentions an Amyntas as Menelaus' son, but the ancient texts about Macedonian royal family lines are often unclear and incomplete.
Hammond's theory includes the idea that Archelaus I may have arranged for his younger daughter to marry either Amyntas II or his son to prevent future conflicts with Menelaus's descendants. Such political marriages were typical in the Macedonian royal family to strengthen power and legitimacy. Another theory suggests that the polygamous Archelaus married his own son Amyntas to his daughter, creating a match between half-siblings to reinforce different parts of the royal family.
Amyntas II might have been the father of Ptolemy of Aloros, who later acted as regent for Perdiccas III. This link is based on Diodorus referring to Ptolemy as a "son of Amyntas." Hammond believed this meant Amyntas II was the father since all other sons of Amyntas III are known from history. However, many scholars view the relevant ancient text as flawed, and some suggest it might actually say that Ptolemy the Alorite killed Alexander, a son of Amyntas, instead of being his son. Although his reign was short, Amyntas II is acknowledged by both ancient sources and modern scholars as a true king of Macedonia, even though Diodorus does not mention his reign in his list of Macedonian kings.
Before Fame
Before Amyntas II became king, he lived during a time of great instability within the Macedonian royal family. The kingdom often dealt with succession disputes and internal conflicts, particularly among different branches of the Argead dynasty. To reach the throne, he likely had to navigate the complex Macedonian court politics, where royal marriages and alliances with noble families like the Elimieotans were key to holding onto power.
Amyntas II had a brief chance to rule after Aeropus II died in 394 or 393 BC. Whether it was through inheritance rights, political moves, or both, Amyntas managed to take the throne during this transitional period. However, his position was unstable from the beginning, as his quick assassination by Derdas suggests he didn’t have enough support from the Macedonian nobility to keep his reign.
Key Achievements
- Successfully claimed the Macedonian throne following Aeropus II's death in 394/3 BC
- Maintained royal legitimacy during a period of dynastic instability
- Possibly fathered Ptolemy of Aloros, who became an important political figure as regent
- Represented the continuation of the Argead royal line during the late 5th century BC
Did You Know?
- 01.He was nicknamed 'the Little,' possibly referring to his physical stature or the brief duration of his reign
- 02.His assassin Derdas was from Elimiotis, a region in Upper Macedonia that frequently challenged the central Macedonian monarchy
- 03.Diodorus Siculus completely omits his reign when listing the kings of Macedonia, despite other sources confirming his rule
- 04.The ancient text describing Ptolemy of Aloros as his son is considered so corrupt that scholars debate whether it actually describes a murder rather than a family relationship
- 05.His reign lasted only a few months, making him one of the shortest-ruling monarchs in Macedonian history