To the north of Greece was a country called Macedon. Its ruler, King Philip II was a hostage of the Greeks at Thebes, between 368 and 365 BC. But while in captivity there, he observed the military techniques of the Greeks. After returning to Macedonia, he waited until the Greeks had become weak after the Peloponnesian war. While the Greek cities quarrelled among themselves, he seized them. Finally he won a brilliant victory over the Greeks with the help of an innovative new weapon -18 foot long pikes.
Apart from reforming the military, Philip had several political inventions that helped turn Macedonia into a power. His primary method of creating alliances and strengthening loyalties was through marriages, and it is said that he was prouder of his diplomatic manoeuvers than of his military victories. So you see, Philip of Macedonia was not just a brilliant military strategist, but also a tough and cunning politician, and a gifted tactician as well.
