Amyntas I of Macedon

Amyntas I
King of Macedon Vassal of Achaemenid Persia
Reign	traditional: 547–498 BC
Predecessor	Alcetas I
Successor	Alexander I
Spouse	Queen Eurydice
Issue	Alexander I Gygaea
House	(Ancient) Macedon
Dynasty	Argead
Father	Alcetas I
Mother	unknown
Religion	Ancient Greek religion

Amyntas I (Greek: Ἀμύντας Aʹ; c. 540 – 498 BC) was a king of Macedon. He was a son of Alcetas I of Macedon. He married Eurydice and they had a son Alexander.

Amyntas was a vassal of Darius I, king of the Persian Achaemenid Empire, since 512/511 BC. The history of Macedon may be said to begin with Amyntas' reign. He was the first of its rulers to have diplomatic relations with other states. In particular, he entered into an alliance with Hippias of Athens, and when Hippias was driven out of Athens he offered him the territory of Anthemus on the Thermaic Gulf with the object of taking advantage of the feuds between the Greeks. Hippias refused the offer and also rejected the offer of Iolcos, as Amyntas probably did not control Anthemous at that time, but was merely suggesting a plan of joint occupation to Hippias.

References

Attribution

• This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Amyntas I". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 1 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.

Sources

• Herodotus v. 17, 94
• Justin vii. 2
• Thucydides ii. 100
• Pausanias ix. 40