Macedonia in the early antiquity

The second half of the second millenium B.C. after the end of the so-called Aegeon migrations the historical scene appeared the Paeonians, Illyrians, Thracians, Brygi and Macedonians.

Paeonians

The Paeonians were an ancient paleo-Balkan people who settled along the valleys of the three great rivers Struma, Vardar and Bistrica in the period between 3,500 - 4,000 B.C. In the Illyiad Homer described them as " Pyraechemes did the Paeons rule, that crooked bows do bend; Out of Amydon, from wide-breast Axius whose most beauteous stream still overflows the land…" (fought on the side of the Trojans). In the course of the V century some tribes (the Laeaei, Derrones and Sirisopaiones) manifested their cultural integrity by producing silver coins which resulted in the genesis of princedom, which would develop into a kingdom to thus be a dynasty. One of the early Paeonian soveriegns was Teutaos. One of his early silver coins (diabol) was discovered at the Paeonian palace Markova Kula near Demir Kapija between 450 -425 B.C. We also know of two princes of the Paeonian Agrinians in the course of the 4th century; Langarus and Dyplaios. Other renowned princes are: Nicharchos, Symon and Bastareios also 4th century. A historically documented dynasty was represented by Agis (until 359), Lycaeios (359 - 340 B.C.), Patraios (340 - 315 B.C.), Audoleon (315 - 286 B.C.). Ariston (286 B.C.), Leon (278 - 250 B.C.) and Dropion (250 - 230 B.C.). During the 5th and 6th century they formed their independent kingdom - Paeonia in the central region of the River Vardar. They were in an odd relationship of hostility and tolerance with their southern neighbour - Macedonia. In the year 297 B.C. the warriors of the Gallic queen Iomara will conquer Paeonia and Macedonia and reach the sanctuary of Delphi. Paeonia consolidated but in 217 B.C. the Maceodnian king Philip V conquered them.

The religious life of the Paeonians

They worshipped the sun throughout the Archaic Period and in classical times they prayed to certain deities resembling their Hellenic counterparts. Pean is the god of medicine; Kanadalos the god of war; Dyalos was similar to Dionysus; Bendida to Artemis; Apollo was known as Etheudanos. The Paeonians did not have sanctuaries- they had cave temples. Their princes were buried in tombs originating from the Near East but after the year 500 B.C. they were cremated believing that the soul was released by the performance of funerary ritual and the smoke which elevated to the eternal heavenly gods. The deceased would first be cremated and then many gifts would be presented such as gold, silver, copper, ivory and amber. Most impressive were the gold masks used to cover the face of the deceased prior to the act of cremation. Four such golden masks have been found in Trebeniste. In addition to these masks many other gold objects were discovered in the tombs of Trebeniste such as the gold foil of sandals; tiles; earrings and various amulets. After additional research of the Paeonic tomb in Tetovo plundered in the 4th centruty B.C. the discovered statuette of Maenad dating from the 6th century B.C. was of particular interest.

This was the Doric-Epiruvian ethnic substratum of a nation that settled along the River Bistrica and the lower sections of the River Vardar and the River Struma. Being more belligerent and orderly they established their first realms on the territory conquered during the war with the tribes of Paeonia. Six rulers (Perdiccas I, Argaeus I, Philip I, Aeropus I, Alchetas and Amyntas I) are believed to have reigned in the period between the middle of 7th century and the end of the 6th century. At the beginning of the 5th century B.C. came Aleksandar and another 36 Maceodnian kings right up to Perseus, the last of them and the two pretenders who followed. Among them is the great Philip II (359 - 336 B.C.) who united Upper and Lower Macedonia and Aleksander III (343 - 323 B.C.) who conquered the entire civilised world at that time.

Philip II (359 - 336 B.C.)

Macedonia was a robovladetelska country compliant to Greek policies. Philip II introduced financial and military reform. The military reform brought about the reorganization of the army with its main characteristic of being a heavily armed infantry - falanga. The financial reform consisted of the introduction of the Macedonian gold coin (stater) minted in huge quantities thus weakening the ecoomic power of Persia because thein the eastern part of the Mediteranean circulated the Persian gold coin (darejk). After the battle of Heronea (338 B.C.) the Hellenistic army was defeated and Macedonia estabished hegemony in Greece. War was declared against Persia at the all Helenistic congress in Corint. However, in 336 B.C. Philip was killed.

The Downfall of Alexander of Macedon's Empire

The first 20 years the "dijdoses" (his succeecors - collaborators and military leaders) spent their time fighting amongst themselves in order to maintain the unity of Aleksander's Empire. The most significant of them were Perdiccas, Evmen and "one-eyed" Antigonus. After the battle at Ips (301 B.C.) the strongest dijados Antigonus was defeated and Alexander's Empire was divide into four coutries: 1. Egypt, the kingdom of Ptolomej; 2. The kingdom of Selevk (Asia to the river Ind in Palestine); 3. Macedonia, kingdom of Cassander and 4. Kingdom of Lysimachus (Thrace and the northern part of Asia Minor). At the battle of Kiropedion Selevk occupied Lysimachus's territory thus leaving three leading countries. In the period between 280 and 279 B.C. the Gallic queen Iomara heavily assaulted Macedonia reaching the sanctuary Delphi. Antigonus Gonatas (277 - 239) conquered the Galls and established the dynasty Antigonidi in Macedonia who ruled right up to the moment of the downfall of Macedonia under Roman rule.

1. The territory of Strimon (Struma) and Nest (Mesta) with its capitol city Amphipol. 2. The territory between Strimon and Axsij and part of Paeonia with its capitol city Thessaloniki. 3. The countries between Axsej and Penej, par of Paeonia with its capitol city Pella. 4. Upper Macedonia where the Eordians, Lyncaestians and Pelagonians lived including the Illyrian districts Atintania, Timphia, Parphavea and part of Paeonia and Devriol. The capitol city was Pelagonia. The four meridis were republics and the all had their own coins minted. Andriscus, impersonating Philip, son of Perseus (who actually dies at the age of 18) made his own army and took matters into his own hands - his own authority. He was given the support of the Thrace. The Roman legions succeeded in conquering him because of the betrayal of his commander cavalery who changed sides. In 148 B.C. the kingdom was proclaimed a Roman province lead by the appointed governor . The period that followed resulted in numerous geographic and ethnic changes due to the frequent changes of its administrative borders. Ciceron used to say that Macedonia's borders are were the Roman armed forces are. Other territories were added to the province of Macedonia such as Illyria, Thessaly, as well as Epirus. During these expeditions Kras agaginst the northern barbaric tirbes the Dardarians, the Scordisci, the Maedi and others the northern border of Macedonia reached the Danube. In the year 27 B.C. Augustus divides the provinces into senates and czars. Macedonia was a senate province - Ahaya and Thessaly. In 6th century B.C. Moesia was also separated from Macedonia and in the year 15 Ahaya united with...was under the government of the military leadership of Moesia. The province Illyrik was separated from the czarist province. In 44 it was separated from Thrace and in the middle of the IV century Thessaly was again reunited with Macedonia. After the reforms introduced by Deocletian Macedonia enters the diecesis of Moesia and in the soveriegn of /under the rule of Constantin under the prefecture of Illyrik. Towards the end of the IV century it was divided into two provinces: Macedonia Prima with its capitol Thessalonica and Macedonia Salutaris. In the V and VI century Macedonia Secunda is mentioned with its capital Stobi. In Macedonia there were three types of towns: sovereign, colonial and municipal. The soveriegn towns enjoyed the most privileges. There were almost 90 Macedonian towns. Some of them mananged to maintain themselves from the early period of Macedonian history (Ayga, Pella, Beroya), some from the time of Philip and Antagonidi (Philipi, Heraclea, Thessalonica). Even in the most forlorn parts of Upper Macedonia there were towns which were significant cultural centers such as Styberra (near the village of Cepigovo). Larger centers were Heraclea Lyncaestis (near Bitola) and Stobi (near Gradsko), towns located on roads of great significance. Stobi was located on the crossroad of the traffic artery Thessalonica - Naissus (Nis) - Syrmium (Sremska Mitrovica) and on the road which lead to Sedica (Sofia) towards Heraclea along Via Egnatia. The Egnatia connected Italy to the Balkan and Pont leading up to Apolonia and Dirahij (Drac), Thessalonica via Thraccia all the way up to the Bosphor. The civil wars lead in the 1st century B.C. contributed to the deterioration of the economic condition of Macedonia because the major events of this period were conducted on its territory (the war between Caezar and Pompey, the war between Brutus and Casius). The crisis of the Roman Empire in the 3rd and 4th century reflected in Macedonia with the expansion of colonisers of varying origin - Spain, Syria, North Africa, Dalmatia and Italy, Christianity as well as the infiltration of barbaric tribes (Kostoboci, Vizigoths, Huns).