Alcetas II of Macedon

Alcetes ( II ) (Greek Ἀλκέτας; 5th century BC) was one of five sons of King Alexander I of Macedon, a member of the Argeadendynastie.

In the older historical research ( Droysen, Abel ) was assumed that Alcetes II was the eldest son of Alexander I, and this was followed by 450 BC as king of Macedon. Plato finally reported how Alcetes was soon replaced by his brother Perdiccas II of the rule.

Recent research ( Geyer ) has returned this assumption, however. In Athens, it was discovered stone fragments with a contract, the wood supply from Macedonia to Athens regulated and probably around 440 BC. Among the contractors is cited as the first Perdiccas and only in second place Alcetes. It is therefore assumed that Perdiccas II was the eldest of the brothers, who succeeded his father in the kingship. Alcetes merely as his third brother Philippos been assigned a part Principality ( arche ), which should keep it as a vassal of Perdiccas II. From Perdiccas II is known that he has Philippos sold relatively soon after the death of her father from his principality, and subjected to his direct rule. The same should also be Alcetes befall, to which the story of Plato have ultimately based. While Philip did not accept this loss and sat against Perdiccas II forcibly resisted, to Alcetes had apparently joined quietly to his fate; He lived during the reign of his nephew Archelaus I ( see Plato ). For this fact is supported by the failure to mention the Alcetes ( II ) in the list of kings of Diodorus, who had listed the Macedonian kings including their regnal years of Perdiccas I to Philip II.

According to Plato Alcetes ( II ) had a son named Alexandros and continue to have been his nephew Archelaus I. the son of one of his slaves Simiche and Perdiccas, why this actually had to serve the legal norms of the time by his uncle. Archelaus I. recognized the potential threat to his power that emanated from his uncle and his son, and called them one day to a feast to him. There he made her drunk, let them carry away and kill at an unknown location.