Ptolemy of Aloros (Greek: Πτολεμαῖος), was sent by King Amyntas III of Macedon as an envoy to Athens c. 375–373 BC. After Amyntas' death, he began a liaison with his widow, Eurydice.[1] In 368 BC, he assassinated her son, Alexander II, in order to gain control of the throne.[2][3] His actions were not well-regarded by the leading families of Macedon, who called in the Theban general, Pelopidas, to re-establish peace. As part of the peace settlement, Philip, Alexander II's younger brother, was taken as a hostage back to Thebes. As Alexander II's younger brother, Perdiccas III, was under-age when Alexander II was killed, Ptolemy of Aloros ruled as regent.
Ptolemy ruled as a regent for Perdiccas III until Perdiccas killed him in 365 BC.
It is suggested that Ptolemy was descended from Amyntas II's brother, Menelaus, son of Alexander I.
References
[edit]- ^ Fox, R. Lane (2011-01-01). Chapter 13. The 360's. Brill. pp. 257–269. doi:10.1163/9789004209237_015. ISBN 978-90-04-20923-7.
- ^ Psōmá, Selī́nī (2015). "Naming the Argeads". Ktèma. 40 (1): 15–26.
- ^ Buraselis, Kostas (2017), 'Royal 'epitropeia'. Remarks on Kingship and Guardianship in Macedonia and the Hellenistic Kingdoms, EUT Edizioni Università di Trieste, ISBN 978-88-8303-814-3, retrieved 2022-09-15