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10 - Kingship

from Part II - Contexts

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 January 2024

Daniel Ogden
Affiliation:
University of Exeter
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Summary

The Argead Kingdom in Macedonia knew only primitive political institutions until the middle of the fourth century. Its Kings came from a family that had been divinely chosen and was differentiated from the rest of the population by a collective charisma. It was kept in power through its association with a Hetairoi (Companion) class, with which it socialized in symposia, which it fought with as cavalry in war, with which it hunted, sometimes for reasons of state. The royal hunt was sometimes more than a leisure activity, more than a bonding experience, and more than a preparation for war: it was one of a series of orchestrated showcases which validated and legitimized a King’s rule. In special hunts the King acted out the role of a hero, whose responsibility it was to protect all of his subjects from the forces of chaos both physical and metaphysical. As observers of the King’s prowess, the Hetairoi testified, where appropriate, to the King’s right to rule. Things began to evolve in Macedon at the end of the Peloponnesian War, but only picked up steam after the accession of Philip II. However, even as late as Alexander III, Macedonian expectations remained conservative and tradition-bound.

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Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2024

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  • Kingship
  • Edited by Daniel Ogden, University of Exeter
  • Book: The Cambridge Companion to Alexander the Great
  • Online publication: 04 January 2024
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108888349.011
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  • Kingship
  • Edited by Daniel Ogden, University of Exeter
  • Book: The Cambridge Companion to Alexander the Great
  • Online publication: 04 January 2024
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108888349.011
Available formats
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Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Kingship
  • Edited by Daniel Ogden, University of Exeter
  • Book: The Cambridge Companion to Alexander the Great
  • Online publication: 04 January 2024
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108888349.011
Available formats
×