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The Rise of Alexander: 337 BC

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The Rise of Alexander: 337 BC Specialized Agencies The Rise of Alexander: 337 BC The Rise of Alexander: 337 BC Dear Delegates, Welcome to the Rise of Alexander committee! We are honoured to have you join us on this Specialized Agency and take part in round #29 of the North American Model United Nations, hosted on the beautiful campus of Victoria College. Tina will be your Chair for the committee. She is currently a second year student, double majoring in Genome Biology and Economics. She has been involved in Model UN for two years now. She is also a photographer for the University’s student newspaper. Mariyan is your moderator. He is a History and Political Science Double Major in his third academic year. The Vice Director is Liam, who has also been previously engaged in Model UN and is an experienced member of NAMUN. Finally, the Crisis Manager is Stephanie Lim. For this committee, we will time travel back to Greece, 337 BC to revive and rewrite history. The first topic will challenge the strength of the League of Corinth in its infancy. Under Philip II’s leadership, the League will create military strategies against Persia, whose threat is ever more imminent as it makes its own military movements. The second topic tests the League’s unity in the possible event of a loss of leadership. The League will discuss how to continue its military course with or without a new leader. Thirdly, the League will take advantage of its bond and explore opportunities for collaborative economic development. The committee will begin in the winter of 337 BC. Time will progress quickly during each committee session so please be prepared for any unexpected turn of events. The background guide that follows will hopefully provide you with some necessary basic knowledge of the historical background and time frame for this committee, but it is only meant to act as a starting point for your research. During your research process, please keep in mind that history does not necessarily need to repeat itself ----or echo, for that matter. There will be promises and betrayals. There will be fruitful collaborations and fierce conflicts. There will be ingenious planning and tragic failures - anything but boredom. Let your creativity, skills, passions, and ambitions decide the fate of one of the most successful generals in military history. Yes, military costumes are highly recommended. If you have any questions, please email me at [email protected]. The NAMUN website, www.namun.org, will also be an excellent source of information for conference logistics. Good luck on your preparations. Looking forward to meeting you all in February! Best Wishes, Tina Zhou Mariyan Petrov Chair, Rise of Alexander: 337 BC Moderator, Rise of Alexander: 337BC Liam Malcomson Stephanie Lim Vice Director, Specialized Agencies Crisis Manager, Specialized Agencies 1 The Rise of Alexander: 337 BC HISTORY OF THE COMMITTEE After the Battle of Chaeronea in August 338 BC, during which the Macedonian army defeated the Greek coalition led by Athens and Thebes, Philip II, King of Macedonia, set up the League of Corinth in 337 BC to enforce common peace among the Greeks. More importantly, as his kingdom expanded, Philip II began to plan his campaign on his still powerful neighbour in Asia Minor, Persia, for which he would need the Greeks’ support. As a result, the main purpose of the League was to collaborate on the Persian campaign under the leadership of Philip II, while resolving the remaining internal struggles among member states.1 THE GREEK COALITION AND BATTLE OF CHAERONEA The rapid expansion of Macedonian borders since the accession of Philip II raised serious concerns from Athens, who had long been alarmed by Philip II’s military campaigns. In 340 BC, after two months of unsuccessful siege at Perinthus, Philip started his siege of Byzantium. This move initiated a response from Athens, as the fall of Byzantium could interrupt Athens’ grain supplies. This concern was justified when Philip seized Athens’ corn fleet in 340 BC, leading to Athens’ declaration of war on Macedonia.2 Athens quickly formed an alliance with Byzantium to secure access to sea and interfered with Philip’s campaign.3 In 339 BC, Philip turned away from his prolonged siege of Byzantium and journeyed home.4 Using the Fourth Sacred War as pretext, he entered central Greece, captured Elatea and invaded Boeotia. This alarmed both Athens and Thebes, who subsequently joined forces to fight for the liberty of Greece.5 To prevent Philip from entering Boeotia, the Thebans, Athenians, and other Greek allies positioned themselves in Chaeronea, the terrain of which was especially suitable for defense. 6 However, despite the Greeks’ strong position, they still suffered a tremendous defeat and heavy losses, with half of the 6,000 Athenians who had taken part dead or made prisoners. Philip’s son, Alexander III shredded the Sacred Band of the Thebes.7,8 1 Roisman, Joseph, and Ian Worthington. A companion to ancient Macedonia. Malden, MA: Wiley-Blackwell, 2010,177-178. 2 Roisman, A companion to ancient Macedonia, 176. 3 Cawkwell, George. Philip of Macedon. London: Faber & Faber, 1978, 136. 4 Roisman, A companion to ancient Macedonia, 176. 5 Cawkwell, Philip of Macedon, 144. 6 Cawkwell, Philip of Macedon, 146. 7 Cawkwell, Philip of Macedon, 146-148. 2 The Rise of Alexander: 337 BC ESTABLISHMENT OF THE LEAGUE OF CORINTH After the disaster at Chaeronea, Philip halted his campaign against Greece. Different members of the allies received different degrees of punishment. Macedonian garrisons were installed in Chalcis, Thebes, Ambracia, and Corinth. 9 The political landscape in many Greek cities was re-shaped to Philip’s favour. However, he did treat Athens generously, as he returned the Athenian captives without ransom. 10 Thus, although the Second Athenian Confederacy was dissolved, democracy was maintained.11 After these issues were settled, Philip invited representatives from all Greek states to Corinth to set up the synedrion (congress) in the winter of 338 BC. During the first meeting, member-states agreed upon their rights and obligations. All Greek cities attended and joined the League with the exception of Sparta. During the second meeting in spring 337 BC, Philip II revealed his military plan for Persia. He was then elected Hegemon of the Greek states and leader of the campaign, and was promised loyalty from the member states.12 Although the League was mainly Philip’s instrument against Persia, it was also designed as an end to conflicts among Greek states so that Philip could rely on their combined forces. Each member state enjoyed a certain degree of freedom, including freedom of navigation and freedom from revolutionary changes of constitution. However, although member states were also guaranteed freedom from interventions in internal affairs, Macedon had garrisons in Corinth, Chalcis, and Thebes. 13 Although peace was guaranteed under the League’s constitution, it was only maintained under the fear of military action.14 Philip II Philip II became the King of Macedon in 359 BC. The Macedonian Kingdom he took over was plagued by both internal and external problems. His claim on the throne was contested and Macedon faced threats from the Illyrians and the Paeonians. Through diplomatic finesse, Philip was able to acquire temporary peace for his kingdom. This allowed him to focus on improving the crippled Macedonian army, 8 Roisman, A companion to ancient Macedonia, 177. 9 Roisman, A companion to ancient Macedonia, 178. 10 Cawkwell, Philip of Macedon, 167. 11 Roisman, A companion to ancient Macedonia, 177. 12 Roisman, A companion to ancient Macedonia, 177-178. 13 Cawkwell, Philip of Macedon, 171. 14 Worthington, Ian. Alexander the Great: a reader. London: Routledge, 2003, 37. 3 The Rise of Alexander: 337 BC which Philip then trained, equipped, and reorganized. The significantly enhanced force would later accompany him in many victorious battles.15 In 358 BC, Philip stabilized his western border by defeating the Paeonians and brought the Upper Macedonia under the Argead control. He then secured an alliance with Larissa in Thessaly and Arybbas in Epirus, through political marriage. The latter marriage with Olympias produced a son for the Macedonian king: Alexander III. In 348 BC, Philip conquered Olynthus and ended the Chalcidian League, thereby removing his last barrier to complete control of the Macedonian coast. However, many of his successes came at Athens’ expense. In 339 BC, Philip started his campaign in Central Greece and defeated the Greek coalition led by Athens and Thebes. The League of Corinth was established subsequently with Philip as the hegemon. 16 Philip II inherited a crippled kingdom. However, through extensive military reorganization, clever strategic moves, and diplomacy, by 337 BC, he had become the head of an extensive kingdom of his own – the de facto leader of Greece and ruler of Europe.17 Figure 1 King Philip Ii of Macedon (Wikipedia) Figure 2 Map of Macedonia by 342 BC (from usu.edu) 15 Roisman, A companion to ancient Macedonia, 166-68. 16 Roisman, A companion to ancient Macedonia, 169-177. 17 Roisman, A companion to ancient Macedonia, 177 4 The Rise of Alexander: 337 BC Alexander III The son of Philip II and Philip II’s fourth wife Olympias, Alexander was born in 356 BC as a future successor to his father.18 Olympias, as a princess from Epirus, had high dynastic prestige, which secured her high ranking in Philip’s court. In 342 BC, the fourteen-year-old Alexander became a student of Aristotle, and was the most distinguished pupil of Plato’s Academy in Athens. Aristotle taught his student philosophy, zoology, geometry, and rhetoric. Alexander found himself most interested in Greek literature, especially Homer.19 He also loved hunting games.
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