Eurydice I of Macedon
Eurydice (c. 410 BC; † 365-359 BC) was of about 390-370 BC as the wife of Amyntas III. a queen of Macedon. She was the mother of three Macedonian kings, including Philip II, father of Alexander the Great.
Life
Born around 410 BC Eurydice came as a granddaughter of the Arrhabaios I of Lynkestis and daughter of the royal house of Sirras Lynkestis. She married around 390 BC threatened by the Macedonian king Amyntas III Illyrians. , Probably wanted to secure the Northwest frontier of his kingdom by this marriage alliance. Amyntas III. was already married to a relative named Gygaia, but soon lost its position as the chief consort of Eurydice. The three sons of Gygaia were passed over in the succession.
Eurydice bore her husband except one daughter Eurynoë (or Euryone ) and three sons, who should ascend the Macedonian throne succession also: Alexander II, Perdiccas III. and Philip II Eurynoë your daughter was given the Macedonian nobles of Ptolemy Aloros to wife.
From Eurydice the very negative image of a domineering and ruthless woman is drawn in the ancient sources. So Justin provides an implausible account of her alleged atrocities, after which Eurydice was not only eliminate their two older sons, but also wanted to murder her husband. Ptolemy of Aloros was namely become her lover, to whom she had promised her hand and the government, if he would kill her husband. But have Eurynoë reveal this conspiracy intentions, Amyntas III. but Eurydice after the discovery of their conspiracy spared out of respect for their common children.
When Amyntas III. 370 BC died, his son Alexander II became his successor. But Ptolemy of Aloros rose against the new rulers, with Eurydice was him supposedly help. The mediator for certain Theban commander Pelopidas reached that Alexander II retained the rule. Ptolemy of Aloros was Alexander II, however, soon eliminate ( 369 BC). Eurydice is said to have instigated the murder of her son. Anyway, they went after a marriage with Ptolemy of Aloros.
Pausanias, a page relative of the royal house of Argeaden, appeared as a claimant against the allegedly dominated by Eurydice, Ptolemy of Aloros and fell on top of a Greek mercenary army in Macedonia, where he was brisk. Furthermore, at that time focused also Pelopidas with mercenaries. Then Eurydice asked for the support of the Athenian strategists Iphicrates who drove Pausanias and Ptolemy of Aloros gave the regency as guardian of the minor or Perdiccas ( III.). With Pelopidas Ptolemy joined by Aloros a comparison. It was three years later (365 BC) at the instigation of Perdiccas III. killed.
According to Plutarch Eurydice when she was already at an advanced age, have tried to learn to read. Under the reign of Perdiccas III. they should have died. Later, Philip II had a statue of his mother in the sanctuary of Zeus at Olympia up.