* Born in 215 BCE in Pella, the capital of the Kingdom of Macedonia.
* Son of King Philip V of Macedonia and Queen Polyxena of Crete.
* Received a classical Greek education, including instruction in philosophy, literature, and military strategy.
* Tutored by the historian Polybius, who later wrote a detailed account of Philip's life and reign.
Ascension to the Throne
* Succeeded his father as King of Macedonia in 179 BCE at the age of 36.
* Faced with a difficult political situation, with Macedonia under threat from the Roman Republic and several neighboring states.
* Philip initially pursued a policy of appeasement towards Rome, while also strengthening Macedonia's military forces and alliances.
Wars with Rome
* The Third Macedonian War (171-168 BCE) broke out between Macedonia and Rome, with the Romans accusing Philip of aggression against their allies in Greece.
* Philip initially scored some successes, but the Romans eventually gained the upper hand.
* The war ended with Philip's defeat at the Battle of Cynoscephalae in 168 BCE.
Treaty of Amphipolis
* Under the Treaty of Amphipolis, Macedonia was forced to cede territory to Rome and its allies, pay a heavy tribute, and give up most of its navy and war elephants.
* The treaty effectively ended Macedonia's status as a major power in the region.
Death and Legacy
* Philip continued to rule Macedonia as a Roman client kingdom until his death in 159 BCE.
* He was succeeded by his son, Perseus, who unsuccessfully rebelled against Rome, leading to the Fourth Macedonian War and the complete Roman conquest of Macedonia.
* Philip is generally regarded as a capable military leader and a skilled diplomat, despite his ultimate failure to resist Roman domination.
* He was also a patron of the arts and literature, and his reign saw a flowering of cultural activity in Macedonia.