Cynnane/Cleopatra - Who got the better deal?

[smittysmitty]

just had a thought,I wonder what happened to Mrs. Perdiccas, Perdiccas III's wife mother of Amyntas. She can't have been much older than Philip II himself, odd that during this period when female Argeads start to get mentions, she does not. She was after all the Queen mother for a time, if that counts for anything.I wonder if Phils older brother Alexander was married?hmmm, interesting - shame we don't have information on such matters.

[agesilaos]

The real threat from the Epirotes was that the Macedonian army was going to be away campaigning in Asia. Olympias did invade from Epeiros in 318BC and received the support of the Macedonian Army sent against her led by Eurydice.Assuming that the marriage of Kynnane was a counter to Alexander's disaffection could put it as late as 337 when the real break took place possibly contempory with the exile of his friends. It was then that Philip was stuck for a successor and may have sought to bring Amyntas into the equation. That he chose Kynnnane rather than Cleopatra indicates that the move was not a serious attempt to establish a rival to Alexander as heir more of a reminder that he had other options. As a semi-Illyrian Kynnane would have ranked lower than Cleopatra who was not only Philip's daughter but also his heir's sister. A corrollary being that Amyntas' children would now be part Illyrian too, maybe down grading their status. Philip was a subtle so-and-so.Alexander would take it as a slight and acted accordingly upon his accession.

[smittysmitty]

Hi Karl,Re: The real threat from the Epirotes was that the Macedonian army was going to be away in Asia.It should be recalled, that by hook or crook, Antipater was able to deal with the home security satisfactorily. Having been depleted of troops, he still managed to put down a rebellion in Thrace, as well as defeat a Spartan lead coalition of hard core Hellenic troops, numbering around 20,000 strong(Hoplites) and some 2,000 cavalry. Hardly something the Epirotes could muster together at this stage in time I would imagine.Re: Olympias did invade Macedon and received the support of the Macedonian Army.True, very true, but totaly different set of variables at play here. With the support of Polyperchon and her nephew Aecides (apparantly a reluctant participant which nearly cost him his crown back in Epirus, but fortunately forgiven,) was lucky enough that the Macedonian army led by Eurydike changed sides, but remember Olympias (it is argued) held no official capacity in Macedon and the shift in favour of her was based on her relationship to ATG., she was riding high on her sons name, and quite possibly his heirs which Polyperchon wanted her to take responsibility of. So the meeting between Macedonian army and the half Macedonian/Epirote army joined together in a bloodless union. Olympias' decission to eliminate Arrhidaeus and Eurydike cost her heaps in the popularity stakes, and gave Cassander a good excuse to eliminate her in turn. Given that such occurence could have occured in Philips time is impossible.Re...that the move was not a serious attempt to establish a rival to Alexander as heir more a reminder that he had options.Perhaps so! (I doubt it though). Could he not have reminded ATG by marrying Cleopatra to Amyntas? As regards Cynnane being semi-Illyrian therefore ranking below Cleopatra, I think this reflects modern day belief more-so than reality. Reality is, we don't know how they stood, however it has been suggested Audattas Illyrian origins may have some association with the Lynkestians. Philip himself was half Lynkestian, albeit a canton of Makedon, it did share a considerable amount of history with its neghbouring Illyrian tribes.For that matter,Epirot or Illyrian, I don't see that their is a great deal of differnce between the two, but that makes for another discussion LoL.just my thoughts!
cheers.

[xxx]

One would have to think like Philip to really answer this, but my opinion is thus:Cynnane may well have been more favored than Cleopatra by Philip - she would have been trained as a warrior like her mother. Unlike others on this thread, I believe she was older than Alexander. What did Philip accomplish by marrying her to Amyntas? A number of things. He drew Amyntas to him tighter under the guise of honor - in fact had a family spy right in his household. I would hesitate to call him the rightful heir, however, Amyntas would no doubt agree with you on that point. Also, by doing so he preserved his daughter's life. Philip knew it would be between Amyntas and Alexander when he died. Alexander would never kill a sister, and if she was married to Amyntas, she would not be killed by her husband. There's also a lot of blood/honor issues all mixed up in this, but that's for another post at another time.Why did he marry Cleopatra to Alexander of Epirus? A number of good reasons. He was eliminating the last remaining member of Alexander's family at court to someone Alexander did not get along with. Alexander did not gain anything by the marriage, but Philip did. People tend to forget, but Alexander was also heir to the throne of Epirus - by placing Alexander's sister as Queen, he eliminated any moves Alexander or Olympias could make. It was a brilliant piece of political strategy.

[marcus]

Hi Smitty,I agree that Philip would probably have been able to beat the Epirotes if they chose to fight him. However, it is more the fact that *any* war with the Epirotes, whether he won or lost, would weaken the Macedonian army and delay the invasion of Asia. Far better for Philip to *ensure* a peaceful and secure border without having the risk of war, so he could concentrate on looking east.All the bestMArcus