Reign 368–359 BC Father Amyntas III Parents Amyntas III of Macedon Issue Amyntas IV Died 359 BC, Macedonia, Greece Siblings Philip II of Macedon | Successor Amyntas IV Name Perdiccas of Children Amyntas IV of Macedon Predecessor Alexander II Mother Eurydice House Argead dynasty | |
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Similar People Philip II of Macedon, Amyntas III of Macedon, Philip III of Macedon, Olympias, Cleopatra of Macedon | ||
Grandchildren Eurydice II of Macedon | ||
Perdiccas III of Macedon
Perdiccas III (Greek: Περδίκκας Γ΄) was king of the ancient kingdom of Macedonia from 368 BC to 359 BC, succeeding his brother Alexander II.
Son of Amyntas III and Eurydice, he was a child when Alexander II was killed by Ptolemy of Aloros, who then ruled as regent. In 365 BC, Perdiccas killed Ptolemy and assumed government.
There is very little information about the reign of Perdiccas III. He was at one time engaged in hostilities with Athens over Amphipolis, and he was distinguished for his patronage of men of letters. Among these we are told that Euphraeus of Oreus, a disciple of Plato, rose so high in Perdiccas's favour as to completely govern the young king and to exclude from his society all but philosophers and geometers.
He also served as Theorodokos in the Epidaurian Panhellenic games that took place around 365 BC.
He tried to reconquer upper Macedonia from the Illyrian Bardylis, but the expedition ended in disaster, with Perdiccas being killed.
Perdiccas was succeeded by his infant son, Amyntas IV. The throne was soon usurped by Perdiccas' younger brother Philip II.