Pausanias of Macedon
Who was Pausanias of Macedon?
King of Macedonia from 394/3 to 393/2 BC
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Pausanias of Macedon (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Pausanias of Macedon was the king of Macedonia for about one year, from 394/3 to 393/2 BC, during a time of significant political instability and dynastic upheaval. He was the son of Aeropus II and an unknown mother. He didn’t immediately take over after his father Aeropus died in July or August 394/3 BC because Amyntas II briefly took the throne. Amyntas II ruled for a few months before being assassinated in August or September 394/3 by Derdas, a leader from Elimiotis.
After Amyntas II's assassination, Pausanias became king. His short reign happened during a chaotic time in Macedonian history with frequent leadership changes and internal conflicts that weakened the kingdom. The political scene was further complicated by other regional powers and noble families eager to influence or control the Macedonian throne.
Pausanias’s reign ended suddenly in 393/2 BC when he was assassinated by Amyntas III, who then took the throne. This assassination was part of the ongoing violence that troubled the Macedonian royal family at the time. The short duration of Pausanias’s rule and how it ended highlight the dangerous and unstable nature of Macedonian politics in the late 5th and early 4th centuries BC.
There is still debate among scholars about Pausanias's royal lineage and legitimacy. Most historians believe he was part of the Argead dynasty through his father Aeropus II, seen as a son of Perdiccas II. However, some suggest Aeropus II was actually a Lyncestian prince who married into the dynasty. If true, this would mean Pausanias wasn’t technically an Argead but gained royal status through his father's marriage. Regardless of these genealogical questions, his short reign marked an important transition in Macedonian royal history before more stable rulers came into power.
Before Fame
Before becoming king, Pausanias was a prince during his father Aeropus II's reign, a time marked by political turmoil in Macedonia. This era was filled with frequent succession disputes, with powerful regional nobles often having a say in who became king. The Macedonian monarchy in the late 5th century BC was especially prone to internal conflicts and assassination, making it risky for royal princes.
Pausanias's rise to the throne was not straightforward. His predecessor, Amyntas II, was violently killed, and he did not inherit the throne directly from his father, Aeropus II. During this unstable time, Macedonia faced internal family disputes and external pressures from nearby Greek states and tribal groups. The kingdom's political setup allowed influential nobles like Derdas the Elimieotan to play key roles in royal succession, letting princes like Pausanias gain power through political maneuvering instead of direct inheritance.
Key Achievements
- Successfully claimed the Macedonian throne during a period of extreme political instability in 394/3 BC
- Maintained royal authority for approximately one year despite ongoing dynastic conflicts
- Ruled during a crucial transitional period in Macedonian history between multiple competing claimants
- Represented continuity of leadership following the assassination of his predecessor Amyntas II
Did You Know?
- 01.His reign lasted only about one year, making him one of the shortest-ruling Macedonian kings in the dynasty's history
- 02.He did not directly succeed his father Aeropus II but came to power after the assassination of the intervening king Amyntas II
- 03.Derdas the Elimieotan, who assassinated his predecessor Amyntas II, was from Elimiotis, a region in upper Macedonia
- 04.Some historians believe his father Aeropus II may have been Lyncestian rather than Argead by birth, which would make Pausanias's royal claim dependent on marriage alliances
- 05.The historian Diodorus, who recorded his assassination, completely omitted the reign of Amyntas II in his historical account