Mace, a crown, globe, and cross, and is now the chief insignia Macedon. of authority throughout Great Britain. Similar to the ancient maces, were those staves at the end of which iron or leaden balls armed with spikes were suspended by chains they were formerly carried by the pioneers of the trained bands or militia of London.

I

country.

MACE, in the Materia Medica, the second coat or covering of the kernel of the nutmeg, is a thin, membranaceous substance, of a yellowish colour; being met with in flakes of an inch or more in length, which are divided into a multitude of ramifications. It is of an extremely fragrant, aromatic, and agreeable flavour; and of a pleasant, but acrid oleaginous taste. See MATERIA MEDICA Index.

MACEDON, or MACEDONIA, a most celebrated kingdom of antiquity, was bounded on the east by the gean sea; on the south by Thessaly and Epirus; on the west by the Ionian sea or Adriatic; on the north, at first by the river Strymon and the Scardian mountains, but afterwards by the river Nessus or NesSituation, tus. In a direct line the whole country extended &c. of the only 150 miles in length; but the windings of the coast lengthened it out to three times that extent; in which almost every convenient situation was occupied by a Grecian sea-port. The country was naturally divided, by the Thermaic and Strymonic gulfs, into the provinces of Pieria, Chalcis, and Pangaus. The middle region, which took its name from a city of Euboea from whence it was originally peopled, was very fertile and pleasant; the inland country, being diversified by lakes, rivers, and arms of the sea, was extremely convenient for inland navigation, while the towns of Amphipolis, Potidæa, Acanthus, and many others, afforded marts for the commerce of the republics of Greece, as well as of Thrace and Macedon. On one side of this district were the mountains of Pangaus, and on the other the plains of Pieria. The Pangean mountains, which extended 90 miles towards the east and the river Nessus, though proper neither for corn nor pasture, produced plenty of timber for ship-building; while the southern branches of the mountains contained rich veins of gold and silver; but these, though wrought successively by the Thasians and the Athenians, were only brought to perfection by Philip of Macedon, who extracted from them gold and silver to the value of 200,000l. sterling annually. Pieria extended 50 miles along the Thermaic gulf, to the confines of Thessaly and Mount Pindus. The inland part of the country was beautifully diversified with shady hills and fountains; and so admirably calculated for solitary walks and retirement, that the ancients looked upon it to be the favourite haunts of the Muses, and accordingly bestowed upon them the title of Pierides.

2

Different names.

Kingdom

In the most early times this country was called Emathia, from Amathus one of its princes. The name of Macedon is said to have been derived from Macedo a descendant of Deucalion; though others suppose it to have been only a corruption of Mygdonia a district of the country. In those remote ages of antiquity, Macedon, like most other countries of Europe, was divided into a great number of petty principalities, of which scarce even the names are known at this.

founded by time. All authors agree, however, that Curanus was the first who established any permanent sovereignty

Caranus.

in Macedon. He was an Argive, a descendant of Macedon. Hercules, and about 800 years B. C. conducted a small colony of his countrymen into the inland district of Macedon, at that time distinguished by the name of Emathia as already mentioned. This territory was about 300 miles in circumference. On the south it was separated from the sea by a number of Greek republics, of which the most considerable were those of Olynthus and Amphipolis; and on the north, east, and west, was surrounded by the barbarous kingdoms of Thrace, Poonia, and Illyricum. According to the traditions of those times, Caranus, having consulted the oracle on the success of his intended expedition, was commanded to be directed by the goats in the establishment of his empire. For some time he proceeded at random, without knowing what to make of the oracle's answer; but happening to enter the small kingdom of mathia, at that time governed by King Midas, he observed a herd of goats running towards Edessa the capital. Recollecting then the answer of the oracle, he attacked and took the city by surprise, soon after making himself master of the whole kingdom. In memory of this remarkable event he called the city Egea, and the people Egiates, from the goats who conducted him, and made use of the figure of a goat in his standard. From this fable also we see why the figure of a goat is so frequently seen on the coins of Philip and his

successors.

4

The little colony of Argives led into Emathia by Policy of Caranus would soon have been overwhelmed by the this prince. barbarous nations who surrounded it, had not this prince and his subjects taken care to ingratiate themselves with their neighbours, rather than to attempt to subdue them by force of arms. They instructed them in the Grecian religion and government, and in the knowledge of many useful arts; adopting themselves, in some degree, the language and manners of the barbarians; imparting to them in return some part of the Grecian civiliza, tion and polite behaviour. Thus they gradually asso ciated with the fierce and warlike tribes in their neighbourhood; and this prudent conduct, being followed by succeeding generations, may be looked upon as one of the causes of the Macedonian greatness.

monarch.

Caranus, dying after a reign of three years, left the kingdom to his son Coenus; who having considerably enlarged his dominions, was succeeded by Thurymas, and he by Perdiccas I. This last prince is by Thucy- Perdiccas I. dides and Herodotus accounted the founder of the celebrated Macedonian monarchy; though this history is so obscured by fable, that nothing certain can now be known concerning it. In process of time, however, the good understanding which had subsisted between the Macedonians and their barbarous neighbours began to suffer an interruption; and in 691 B. C. the kingdom Invasion by was for the first time invaded by the Illyrians. At the Illyfirst they did considerable damage by their ravages; but the Macedonian monarch, Argæus, having decoyed: them into an ambush, cut off great numbers, and obliged the remainder to leave the kingdom. In the reign of his successors, however, they returned, and occasionally. proved very troublesome enemies till the reigns of Philip and Alexander.

rians.

6

7

Interference of the ·

In the mean time the kingdom of Macedon began to Persians be affected by those great events which took place and Mace-in other parts of the world. Cyrus having overthrown donians.

places, in hopes of establishing that of the Macedo- Macedon nians in its stead. But this design failed of success; the Olynthian confederacy was broken, and the members of it became subject to Sparta, until at last, by the misfortunes of that republic, they became sufficiently powerful not to resist the encroachments of the Macedonians, but to make considerable conquests in their country.

Macedon. the Babylonian empire, and conquered all the western part of Asia, established a mighty monarchy, which threatened all the eastern parts of Europe with subjugation. The Greeks, however, having now emerged from their barbarism, and acquired great knowledge in the art of war, were able to resist effectually this very formidable power; but the kingdom of Macedon, obscure and unconnected, was obliged to yield, and though not formally made a province of the Persian empire, was nevertheless accounted in some sort as under the vassalage and protection of the Persians. Alcetas, who ascended the Macedonian throne about the time that the Persian monarchy was founded, had the dexterity to preserve his dominions from the encroachments of the Greeks on the one hand, and of the Persians on the other; but in the reign of his successor Amyntas, a formal demand was made of submission to the great king Darius, by sending him a present of earth and water. Seven ambassadors were sent on this errand by Megabizus, one of the officers of Darius. They were sumptuously entertained by Amyntas; but having attempted to take some indecent liberties with the Macedonian women, Alexander the king's son caused them all to be murdered. This rash action had almost proved the ruin of the kingdom; but Alexander found means to pacify Bubaris the general sent against him by Megabizus, by showing him his sister Gygæa, a very beautiful woman, with whom the Persian fell in love at first sight, and afterwards married her.

8

Advan

rages accruing to Macedon

from this

interfer

ence.

9

• Reign of

From this time the Macedonians were accounted the faithful allies of the Persians; and, through the interest of his son-in-law, Amyntas obtained the country in the neighbourhood of Mount Hamus and Olympus, at the same time that the city of Alabanda in Phrygia was given to Amyntas the nephew of Alexander. The Macedonians distinguished themselves in the time of the Persian invasion of Greece, by furnishing their allies with 200,000 recruits; though some cities, particularly Potidea, Olynthus, and Pallene, adhered to the Grecian interest. The two last were taken and rased, and the inhabitants massacred by the Persians; but Potidea escaped by reason of the sea breaking into the Persian camp, where it did great damage. Alexander, however, afterwards thought proper to court the favour of the Greeks by giving them intelligence of the time when Mardonius designed to attack them. The remaining transactions of this reign are entirely unknown, farther than that he enlarged his dominions to the river Nessus on the east and the Axius on the west.

Alexander I. was succeeded by his son Perdiccas II. Perdiccas who, according to Dr Gillies, "inherited his father's abilities, though not his integrity." But from his duplicity above mentioned both to Greeks and Persians, it does not appear that he had much to boast of as to the latter quality. In the Peloponnesian war he espoused the cause of the Spartans against the Athenians, from whom he was in danger by reason of their numerous settlements on the Macedonian coast, and their great power by sea. For some time, however, he amused the Athenians with a show of friendship; but at last, under pretence of enabling Olynthus and some other cities to recover their liberties, be assisted in destroying the influence of the Athenians in those 4

Perdiccas II. was succeeded about 416 B. C. by Of ArcheArchelaus I. He enlarged his dominions by the con-laus I. quest of Pydna, and other places in Pieria, though his ambition seems rather to have been to improve his dominions than greatly to extend them. He facilitated the communication between the principal towns of Macedon, by cutting straight roads through most part of the country; he built walls and fortresses in such places as afforded a favourable situation; encouraged agriculture and the arts, particularly those subservient to war; formed magazines of arms; raised and disciplined a considerable body of cavalry; and in a word, says Dr Gillies," added more to the solid grandeur of Macedon than had been done by all his predecessors put together. Nor was he regardless of the arts of peace. His palace was adorned by the works of Grecian painters. Euripides was long entertained at his court; Socrates was earnestly solicited to live there, after the example of this philosophic poet, formed by his precepts and cherished by his friendship: men of merit and genius in the various walks of literature and science were invited

to reside in Macedon, and treated with distinguished regard by a monarch duly attentive to promote his own glory and the happiness of his subjects."

comes a

prey to ci

This great monarch died after a reign of six years, The kinga space by far too short to accomplish the magnificent dom beprojects he had formed. After his death the kingdom fell under the power of usurpers or weak and vil dissenwicked monarchs. A number of competitors con- sions. stantly appeared for the throne; and these by turns called in to their assistance the Thracians, Illyrians, Thessalians, the Olynthian confederacy, Athens, Sparta, and Thebes. Bardyllis, an active and daring chief, who, from being head of a gang of robbers, had become sovereign of the Illyrians, entered Macedon at the head of a numerous army, deposed Amyntas II. the father of Philip, and set up in his place one Argæus, who consented to become tributary to the Illyrians, Another candidate for the throne, named Pausanias, was supported by the Thracians; but by the assistance of the Thessalians and Olynthians, Amyntas was ena> bled to resume the government. After his restoration, however, the Olynthians refused to deliver up several places of importance belonging to Macedon which Amyntas had either intrusted to their care, or which they had taken from his antagonist. Amyntas complained War with to Sparta; and that republic, which had already form- the Olyned schemes of very extensive ambition, so readily complied with the request, that it was generally supposed to have proceeded from Spartan emissaries sent into Macedonia. They pretended indeed to hesitate a little, and to take time to deliberate on the army which ought to be raised for the purpose; but Cleigenes, the principal ambassador, represented the urgency of the case in such a manner, that the troops which happened at that time to be ready were ordered to take the field without delay. Two thousand Spartans, under the

command

12

thians.

Macedon. command of Eudamidas, were ordered into Macedon, while a powerful reinforcement under the command of Phoebidas, brother to the general, was ordered to follow him as soon as possible. By accident, Phoebidas and his auxiliaries were detained till the season for action was passed; but Eudamidas with his small army performed very essential service. The appearance of a Spartan army at once encouraged the subjects and allies of the Olynthians to revolt; and the city of Potidæa, a place of great importance in the isthmus of Pallene, surrendered soon after his arrival in the country. Being too much elated with his success, however, Eudamidas approached so near the city of Olynthus, that he was unexpectedly attacked, defeated, and killed, in a sally of the citizens. He was succeeded by Teleutias the brother of Agesilaus, who had under his command a body of 10,000 men, and was farther assisted by Amyntas king of Macedon, and Derdas his brother, the governor or sovereign of the most westerly province of Macedon, which abounded in cavalry. By these formidable enemies the Olynthians were defeated in a number of battles, obliged to shut themselves up in their city, and prevented from cultivating their territory; on which Teleutias advanced with his whole forces to invest the city itself. His excessive eagerness to destroy his enemies proved his ruin. A body of Olynthian horse had the boldness to pass the river Amnias in sight of the allied army, though so much superior in number. Teleutias ordered his targeteers to attack them, the Olynthians, having retreated across the river, were closely pursued by the Lacedæmonians, great part of whom also passed the river; but the Olynthians suddenly turned upon them, killed upwards of 100, with Tlemonidas their leader. Teleutias, exasperated at this disaster, ordered the remainder of the targeteers and cavalry to pursue; while he himself advanced at the head of the heavy-armed foot with such celerity that they began to fall into disorder. The Olynthians allowed them to proceed, and the Lacedaemonians very imprudently advanced just under the towers and battlements of the city. The townsmen then mounted the walls, and discharged upon them a shower of darts, arrows, and other missile weapons, while the flower of the Olynthian troops, who had been purposely posted behind the gates, sallied forth and attacked them with great violence. Teleutias, attempting to rally his men, was slain in the first onset; the Spartans who attended him were defeated, and the whole army at last dispersed with great slaughter, and obliged to shelter themselves in the towns of Acanthus, Apollonia, Spartolus, and Potidea. The Spartans, undismayed by this terrible disaster, next sent their king Agesipolis with a powerful reinforcement into Macedon. His presence greatly raised the spirits of the Lacedæmonian allies, and his rapid success seemed to promise a speedy termination to the war, when he himself died of a calenture. He was succeeded in the throne by his brother Cleombrotus, and in the command of the army by Polybiades an experienced general, who likewise brought along with him a powerful reinforcement. Olynthus was now completely blocked up by land, while a squadron of Lacedæmonian galleys blocked up the neighbouring harbour of Myceberna, The Olynthians, however, held out for nine or ten months, but at last were obliged to subVOL. XII. Part I.

+

13 The Olyn

Pella made

mit on very humiliating conditions. They formally re- Macedon. nounced all claim to the dominion of Chalcis; they ceded the Macedonian cities to their ancient governor ; and in consequence of this Amyntas left the city of Æ- thians obligea or Edessa, where till now he had held his royal ged to subresidence, and fixed it at Pella, a city of great strength mit. and beauty, situated on an eminence, which, together. 14 with a plain of considerable extent, was defended by the capital impassable morasses, and by the rivers Axius and Ly-of MaceIt was distant about 15 miles from the Ægean don. sea, with which it communicated by means of the abovementioned rivers. It was originally founded by the Greeks, who had lately conquered and peopled it; but in consequence of the misfortunes of Olynthus, it now became the capital of Macedon, and continued ever after to be so.

dias.

15.

16

Amyntas, thus fully established in his dominions, continued to enjoy tranquillity during the remaining part of his life. The reign of his son Alexander was short, and disturbed by invasions of the Illyrians; from whom he was obliged to purchase a peace. He left behind him two brothers, Perdiccas and Philip, both very young; so that Pausanias again found means Pausanias to usurp the throne, being supported not only by the usurps the Thracians, but a considerable number of Greek mer-throne. cenaries, as well as a powerful party in Macedon itself. In this critical juncture, however, Iphicrates the Athenian happening to be on an expedition to Amphipolis, was addressed by Eurydice the widow of Amyntas, so warmly in behalf of her two sons, whom she presented to him, that he interested himself in their behalf, and got Perdiccas the eldest established on the throne. He was induced also to this piece of generosity by the kindness which Eurydice and her husband had formerly shown to himself; and he likewise saw the advantages which must ensue to his country from a connexion with Macedon. During the Ptolemy minority of the young prince, however, his brother aspires to Ptolemy, who was his guardian, openly aspired to the the throne. throne; but he was deposed by the Theban general Pelopidas, who reinstated Perdiccas in his dominions; and in order to secure, in the most effectual manner, the dependence of Macedon upon Thebes, carried along with him thirty Macedonian youths as hostages; and among them Philip, the younger brother of the king. Perdiccas now, elated by the protection of such powerful allies, forgot Iphicrates and the Athenians, and even disputed with them the right to the city of Amphipolis, which had been decreed to them by the general council of Greece, but which his opposition rendered impossible for them to recover. In consequence of the trust he put in these new allies, also, it is probable that he refused to Bardyllis the Illyrian the tribute which the Macedonians had been obliged to pay him; which occasioned a war with that nation. In this contest the The MaceMacedonians were defeated with the loss of 4000 men, donians dePerdiccas himself being taken prisoner, and dying soon feated, and after of his wounds. their king killed by

ans.

17

The kingdom was now left in the most deplorable the Illyristate. Amyntas, the proper heir to the throne, was an infant; the Thebans, in whom Perdiccas had placed so much confidence, were deprived of the sovereignty of Greece; the Athenians, justly provoked at the ungrateful behaviour of the late monarch, showed a hos

Pp

tile

powerful an enemy, surrendered at last at discretion in Macedon the year 357 B. C.

Macedon. to the confederacy; and trusting to the strength of their new allies, behaved in such an insolent manner to Philip, that he was not long of finding a specious pretext for hostility; at which the Olynthians, greatly alarmed, sent ambassadors to Athens, requesting their assistance against such a powerful enemy. Philip, however, justly alarmed at such a formidable conspiracy, sent agents to Athens, with such expedition that they arrived there before any thing could be concluded with the Olynthian deputies. Having gained over the popular leaders and orators, he deceived and flattered the magistrates and senate in such an artful manner, that a negociation was instantly set on foot, by which Philip engaged to conquer Amphipolis for the Athenians, upon condition that they surrendered to him the strong fortress of Pydna, a place which he represented as of much less importance to them; promising also to confer upon them many other advantages, which, however, he did not specify at that time. Thus the Athenians, deceived by the perfidy of their own magistrates, elated with the hopes of recovering Amphipolis, and outwitted by the superior policy of Philip, rejected with disdain the proffers of the Olyn

31

Engages to conquer it for the Athenians.

thians.

The ambassadors of Olynthus returned home highly disgusted with the reception they had met with; but had scarce time to communicate the news to their countrymen, when the ambassadors of Philip arrived at Olynthus. He pretended to condole with them on the affront they had received at Athens; but testified his surprise that they should court the assistance of that distant and haughty republic, when they could avail themselves of the powerful kingdom of Macedon, which wished for nothing more than to enter into equal and lasting engagements with their confederacy. As a proof of his moderation and sincerity, he offered to put them in possession of Anthemus, an important town in the neighbourhood, of which the Macedonians had long claimed the jurisdiction, making many other fair promises; and among the rest, that he would reduce for them the cities of Pydna and Potidæa, which he chose rather to see in dependence on Olynthus than Athens. Thus he prevailed upon the Olynthians not only to abandon Amphipolis, but to assist him with all their power in the execution of his designs.

Philip now lost no time in executing his purposes on Amphipolis; and pressed the city so closely, that the people were glad to apply to the Athenians for relief. Accordingly they despatched two of their most eminent citizens, Hierax and Stratocles, to represent the danger of an alliance betwixt Philip and the Olynthians, and to profess their sorrow for having so deeply offended the parent state. This representation had such an effect, that though the Athenians were then deeply engaged in the Social war, they would probably have paid some attention to the Amphipolitans, had not Philip taken care to send them a letter with fresh assurances of friendship, acknowledging their right to Amphipolis, and which he hoped shortly to put in their hands in terms of his recent agreement. By these specious pretences the Athenians were persuaded to pay as little regard to the deputies of the Amphipolitans as Amphipolis they had already done to those of the Olynthians; surrenders. so that the city, unable to defend itself alone against so

32

33

Philip still proceeded in the same cautious and politic manner in which he had begun. Though the obstinate defence of the Amphipolitans might have furnished a pretence for severity, he contented himself with banishing a few of the popular leaders from whom he had most cause to dread opposition, treating the rest of the inhabitants with all manner of clemency; but took care to add Amphipolis to his own dominions, from which he was determined that it never should be separated, notwithstanding the promises he had made to the Athenians. Finding that it was not his interest at this time to fall out with the Olynthians, he cultivated the friendship of that republic with great assiduity; took the cities of Pydna and Potidæa, which he readily yielded to the Olynthians, though they had given him but little assistance in the reduction of these places. Potidea had been garrisoned by the Athenians; and them the artful king sent back without ransom, lamenting the necessity of his affairs which obliged him contrary to his inclination, to oppose their republic. Though this was rather too gross, the Athenians at present were so much engaged with the Social war, that they had not leisure to attend to the affairs of other nations. Philip made the best use of his time, and next projected the conquest of the gold mines of Thrace. That rich and fertile country was now Makes hin held by one Cotys, a prince of such weak intellectual self master faculties, that the superstition of the Greeks, into of the gold which he was newly initiated, had almost entirely sub-mines of verted his reason; and he wandered about in quest of the goddess Minerva, with whom he fancied himself in love. The invasion of the Macedonians, however, awaked him from his reverie; and Cotys, finding himself destitute of other means of opposition, attempted to stop the progress of the enemy by a letter. To this Philip paid no regard: the Thracians were instantly expelled from their possessions at Crenida, where there were very valuable gold mines. These had formerly been worked by colonies from Thasos and Athens; the colonists had long since been expelled by the barbarous Thracians, who knew not how to make use of the treasure they were in possession of. Philip took the trouble to descend into the mines himself, in order to inspect the works; and having caused them to be repaired, planted a Macedonian colony at Crenida, bestowed upon it the name of Philippi, and drew annually from the gold mines to the value of near 1000 talents, 200,000l. sterling; an immense sum in those days. The coins struck here were likewise called Phi lippi.

but

Thrace.

34

Philip having obtained this valuable acquisition, Settles the next took upon him to settle the affairs of Thessaly, affairs of where every thing was in confusion. This country Thessaly had been formerly oppressed by Alexander tyrant of his advangreatly to Phere; after whose death three others appeared, viz. tage. Tissiphornus, Pitholaus, and Lycophron, the brothersin-law of Alexander, who had likewise murdered him. By the united efforts of the Thessalians and Macedonians, however, these usurpers were easily overthrown, and effectually prevented from making any disturbances. for the future; and the Thessalians, out of a mistaken gratitude, surrendered to Philip all the revenues arising

from