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IOANNIS XYDOPOULOS

Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

Amyntas is the first historically attested king of MACEDONIA (Borza 1990, 98–103), though his role in the Histories is secondary compared with that of his son, ALEXANDER I. Amyntas became a Persian vassal as early as 513/12 BCE, giving EARTH AND WATER to Persian envoys (5.18.1; Hornblower 2013, 109–11). Herodotus has Alexander, in a short speech to those envoys, describe Amyntas as DARIUS I’s hyparchos (a man ruling over the Macedonians, 5.20.4; cf. Tripodi 2007), an indication perhaps of a more intense Persian military presence in Macedonia, implied by Herodotus elsewhere (6.44; 7.108.1). As a client king of PERSIA, Amyntas must have taken advantage of the weakening of the PAEONIANS by Megabazus’ Persian army to expand Macedonian power along his eastern border. His offer of ANTHEMUS to HIPPIAS, who had been driven out of ATHENS in 510, is evidence of this, though it may also indicate that Amyntas was not able to control the area fully (5.94.1; Xydopoulos 2012, with further bibliography). Amyntas’ offer to Hippias illuminates perhaps his policy of creating interpersonal relationships with the PEISISTRATIDAE as well as with the Persians. Amyntas was in this way clearly showing his loyalty to PERSIA—confirmed also by the fact that he gave his daughter, GYGAEA, in marriage to the Persian BUBARES (5.21; 8.136.1)—hoping to get the maximum benefit for his kingdom, a policy followed successfully by his son and successor.

SEE ALSO: Alcetas; Amyntas son of Bubares; Megabazus the Persian; Satrapies