Alexander : a history of the origin and growth of the art of war from ...

ALEXANDER SEIZES THE THRONE. 131hiscelebrated generals, had either been before or were nowbanished. But a reconciliation was finally brought about betweenfather and son through Deniaratus of Corinth, who wasbold enough to tax Philip with desiring peace in Hellas andmaking war in his own family. To conciliate Alexander, thebrother of Olympias, Philip gave him his daughter Cleopatra,Alexander's sister, to wife. At this marriage-feast Philipwas treacherously murdered (b. c. 336) by Pausanias, in revenge,it is said, for a grievous personal injury at the handsof Attains, which Philip had refused to redress ; but the actwas no doubt secretly instigated by Olympias. Though oftensuggested in the modern crusade against Alexander, the crimeis in no wise traceable to this prince.Of the known accomplices, the Lyncestian Alexander wasthe first to salute Alexander, son of Philip, as king. Thispromptness secured him his pardon ; for by such timely aidour Alexander was enabled to forestall the arts of the partisansof the young prince who had been born to Philip andCleopatra, and to take possession of the throne.At the moment of Philip's murder, Olympias, as if in anticipationof the event, was near at hand. The sympathizersof Philip against Alexander naturally held him too to havebeen cognizant of the conspiracy. Some believed that hecould not have been legitimate ;that this alone could accountfor his father's hate and new marriage.Others were of opinionthat Philip's young son by Cleopatra should be king.Others again held that Amyntas, son ofPerdiccas III., wasthe rightful heir. But while all these factions argued, Alexanderacted. The partisans of Cleopatra's son were distantand not alert ; Amyntas was a quiet, unknown lad. Alexanderhad already stamped himself upon the pride of thenation. The people sympathized with his persecution ; thearmy, proud of the youthful hero, was his to a man. Facts