336 BC — Assassination of Philip II and Accession of Alexander

Year when Philip II of Macedon was assassinated, Alexander III (the Great) became king, and Macedonian power entered a new phase that led to the conquests of Persia.

336 BC marks a pivotal turning point in ancient Mediterranean history. In Macedon the reign of Philip II ended abruptly with his assassination, and his son Alexander succeeded him. The year set in motion political purges, rapid consolidations of power, and plans that would soon transform Greek and Near Eastern politics. In Roman terms it is recorded on the pre-Julian calendar (see calendar note).

Key events

Assassination of Philip II at the royal palace in Aegae.
Pausanias of Orestis identified as the killer and killed in the immediate aftermath.
Accession of Alexander III of Macedon (Alexander the Great) and swift actions to secure his throne.
Political eliminations and exiles among those who might challenge the new king.

Philip II had transformed Macedon into the dominant power in mainland Greece through military reforms and diplomacy, and he had prepared a federation of Greek states to undertake a planned invasion of the Persian Empire. His marriage alliances and the promotion of a new heir late in life created rivals at court and heightened succession tensions.

The assassination occurred during public festivities in the old Macedonian capital. Ancient sources name Pausanias as the assassin; he was killed shortly afterward. Contemporary accounts describe an atmosphere of shock and swift, often violent, competition for influence around the throne. Alexander moved quickly to assert authority, presenting himself as Philip's legitimate successor and eliminating or neutralizing several potential opponents.

Immediate consequences of 336 BC included a rapid consolidation of Macedonian control over its territories and a reassertion of leadership over the Greek states. The year's events made possible the large-scale expedition against Persia that Alexander would begin within a few years. Culturally and politically, the transition signaled the end of the dominant phase of Classical Greek autonomy and the start of Macedonian-led Hellenistic expansion.

Notable deaths recorded in this year include Philip II of Macedon and Pausanias, his assassin. The fates of members of Philip's later household — including his last wife and her family — became matters of controversy in subsequent accounts and were part of the violent settling of succession that followed.