Historical Figures

Olympias, ambitious queen

Living in the 4th century BC, Olympias is the daughter of Neoptolemus, king of Epirus of the Molossian tribe. Wife of Philip II of Macedon, she is the mother of Alexander the Great and Cleopatra of Macedon.

Alexander on the Macedonian throne

A royal family, Olympias was born around 375 BC. On the death of his father Neoptolemus, in -360, his uncle Arymbas came to power. Arymbas forges an alliance with Philip II, king of Macedonia, and consolidates this link by giving Olympias in marriage to his new ally in -357. Quickly, Olympias gave birth to a son, Alexander, then to a daughter, Cleopatra. But between the infidelities of Philippe and the character of Olympias, the marriage quickly becomes stormy.

In -337, Philip II married a Macedonian noble, Cleopatra, and Olympias retired to his brother Alexander I of Epirus. In -336, Philip offers the hand of their daughter Cleopatra to Alexander I, thereby isolating Olympias from his brother. While attending the wedding, Philip II is assassinated, and Olympias is suspected of having taken part in this murder which effectively places her son Alexander on the throne of Macedonia.

Alliances and defeats

Later, Olympias has Philip's wife, Cleopatra, and their son murdered, which secures her own son's position. During the war campaigns of Alexander the Great, a regent, Antiper, takes care of the kingdom but Olympias has enough influence to cause him problems.

In -330, his brother having died during a campaign, Olympias returns to Epirus to ensure the regency for a cousin. On the death of Antipater in -319, she allied herself with the new regent of Macedonia, Polyperchon, who needed her authority to defeat Cassander, the son of Antipater. A proficient soldier, Cassander besieges Olympias in the city of Pydna. Surrendering against the promise of a safe life, Olympias is delivered by Cassandra to the parents of her victims. Without a trial, she is executed by stoning.