Who do you think was behind Philip's assassination???

[PhiliptheUniterchaeronea]

Thanks Effie.

[terastios]

Originally Posted by Spartan

I would disagree. I believe they would have done it in public just to cover their own hides. If they would have poisoned him in private and the other royal families found out then they could be removed from a position of authority and even executed. Public worked the best, this way all the people who attended the ceremonies could actually see the killer and make the connection from him to his clan. I don't believe Alexander was complacent in the murder. I believe that it was Olympias who planned it in fear that Alexander would not succeed his father due to Philips latest marriage and a new son from a 'Legitimate" Macedonian royal family.

Olympias just used Philips enemies in order to gain what she wanted, Alexander to become King!

I must admit it's a clever way of thinking.

[Ptolemy]

There are ancient sources mentioning involvement of Olympias.

Plutarch mentions "It was Olympias who was chiefly blamed for the assassination because she was believed to have encouraged the young man and incited him to take his revenge" (10.6) while Justin declares that "It is even believed that he [Pausanias] was instigated to the act by Olympias....Olympias it is cetain, had horses prepared for the escape of the assassin" (9.7.1-9)

If Olympias was the master-mind behind the assasination, Alexander wouldnt have been ignorant about it (Justin in 9.7.1 actually states Alexander was aware his father was going to die) but he didnt play an active role in the assasination.

There is an interesting alternative theory having to do with the sons of Aeropos. Both of them were executed as collaborators of Pausanias and they didnt lack motive. Philip had insulted highly their family by exiling their father Aeropos which for a noble Macedonian family could be taken as a very good reason for getting revenge.

[Ehetlaios]

I say Darius.

[PhiliptheUniterchaeronea]

I doubt Darius. There are folk tales the Alexander had syphulus or something like that.

[Truth Bearer]

Darius no way.....

[Ehetlaios]

Why not Darius?

[Lyssius]

1), if you're talking about Alexander, Darius was -dead- at that time, and if
2) Phillip, Pausanias seems incredibly unlikely to want to betray macedonia, even if he hated phillip's guts.

Oh, and to effie, two things; Alexander drank incredibly heavily, as any macedonian would. Arrian and curtius both point out his drunkenness at a), Kleitus' death, B) his outburst at Attalus, There's even an entire book written on his drinking, "The Enemy Within".
And to what happened to the corpse, it was robbed and stolen when Alexandria was burned.
To Voulgaroktonos, his religiousness wouldn't detract him one whit from patricide in any form. Considering every god who killed their father wins the throne, (Chronos kills oneros, and Zeus kills Chronos), that would make him -more- likely to kill Phil'.

[Andrew]

....Lou Giaffo !!!!!

[pankration]

How did I miss this forum? For those interested in conspiracy theories on Philip's assassination YOU HAVE TO BUY MY BOOK because most of the book is based on the events leading up to and including the assassination. Keep in mind that it's a theory being used in a fictional story but I can assure you mine makes as much sense as any historian's (which I am by the way).
In a nutshell, here it is:
Pausanius was a pawn. He had a personal grievance against Philip which was fully exploited by Olympias. She manipulated him and led him to believe he was being a patriot. This would account for the plot that included the Lyncestians who were rivals for the throne. Pausanius himself did not commit the murder out of impulsive rage. He had an escape planned and believed he would be successful.
What of Olympias? It is well documented that Olympias hated Philip's last wife (and child). This was proven by her executing them after Philip's death. She is said to have formally mourned Pausanius (after Alexander left) and she purged the Macedonian court of Philip's supporters. Her ambition but especially her ambition for Alexander is almost unparalleled in history.
By deduction, she is the center of the plot. But read my book and find out for sure.

Links are below and thanks for the opportunity to push it again. It's been awhile.