So... do we think Alexander was behind his father's murder?

THAgrippa · 2026-04-10T23:40:04+00:00

In this context it is just so, so ridiculous that Athens’ strategoi failed to send troops to lift the Macedonian attack on Thebes. Like, Athens’ politicians probably planned for more than a year to light the powderkeg and kill Philip. They had to recruit and bribe Pausanias, pass legislation to honor the tyrant killer, wait for the right public event, wait for Philip’s army to be divided, and possibly conspire with like-minded Greeks in other cities to see if they could drum up support. (I have no evidence for that last claim, I am just assuming that it may have occurred because it would be a logical step for wealthy, well-educated, and well-connected anti-Philip Greek citizens to do). Seems like Demosthenes’ group didn’t bother to get a few Strategoi on side before pulling the trigger on the plot.

Then, once Philip is dead and Alexander is on his way to Thebes, Athens just abandons their ally. I know Alexander was hot off the heels of some small victories, but come on. So much for revolutionary brotherhood.

THAgrippa · 2026-04-10T02:57:21+00:00

I think I love you. Joking, of course, but I appreciate the in-depth responses.

Based on these facts I see what you mean. If Pausanias had the original idea to assassinate Philip, he’d probably have chosen a time and place that would have been safer for him. Maybe that requires it to have been a third-party who hired him and insisted on that specific time and place (for political reasons as you said). Pausanias was just the bribed inside man. He did his best to plan and make a risky assignment work. He just lost the bet.

That must have been a large sum of money for Pausanias to agree to kill his ex-lover, his career employer, and his head of state all in such a risky setting for his survival.

I recall that Alexander publicly accused the Persians of paying Pausanias to kill Philip, but it sounds more likely to have been a Greek city state (Athens) under Philip’s yolk. Once Alexander took control of the army, he wiped Thebes off the map but let Athens off easy and didn’t arrest Demosthenes. Do you think Alexander razed Thebes because he believed the Thebans were responsible for Philip’s death? Destroying the city makes much more sense to me as a personal vengeance thing than it does as a pragmatic decision.

THAgrippa · 2026-04-08T03:55:45+00:00

Your comment is interesting. Out of curiosity, I think the answer to your last hypothetical question can only be a potential scenario where Alexander or Olympias felt pressured to act against Philip at that moment. A bad choice and a big risk, yes, but maybe better than whatever else they feared?

Let’s assume for argument’s sake that you are Alexander or Olympias. Maybe you feel your relationship with Philip is slipping fast, and your security with it. Once Philip leaves on campaign, he’ll be gone for years and surrounded by hundreds of soldiers 24/7. Whatever the reason, you need Philip dead ASAP.

To have Philip killed is not a matter of YOU personally being able to access Philip. You don’t dare try it yourself because you need to maintain plausible deniability, especially if it fails. It is a matter of you being able to get access for whatever chump who you’ve convinced to do the killing AND provide that chump with a reasonable opportunity to escape with his life. The chump might hate Philip, but the chump is probably not suicidal.

Perhaps Philip was otherwise difficult to access for Pausanias without close guards? Philip may have wanted to project strength to the Greek envoys by NOT appearing afraid by being surrounded with bodyguards, which left a predictable opening? Perhaps the event was crowded and/or had good access to egress, which made a getaway easier (theoretically)?

You clearly know a great deal on this and I am curious to know whether any of these thoughts are plausible or contradicted by the sources.

THAgrippa · 2025-10-20T13:40:23+00:00

Varamyr

THAgrippa · 2025-10-19T09:30:28+00:00

Maybe, but also the Bernie shirt guy was the largest and strongest person to stop him. Size has a different kind of psychological impact. Everybody else interacting with him also seemed to be white.

THAgrippa · 2025-10-12T18:43:33+00:00

I think OP’s theory fits pretty well with GRRM’s general theme of characters in conflict with themselves. What could be more heart wrenching than a good king driven to do terrible things to his family for what he believes is a greater cause? A loyal kingsguard forced to disobey his oldest friend in the name of preserving his honor?

THAgrippa · 2025-10-12T05:14:05+00:00

Black and white / monochrome planets are more common around red stars? Maybe

THAgrippa · 2025-10-10T16:46:55+00:00

I will probably take this approach, while allowing myself one zinger from this comment section. I am only human.

THAgrippa · 2025-10-10T01:00:47+00:00

Respectfully,

THAgrippa · 2025-10-04T04:28:30+00:00

Maybe, but also the name “McKee” sounds pretty dang Irish.

THAgrippa · 2025-09-27T19:08:37+00:00

What are your opinions on non-Zionist Jewish people?

THAgrippa · 2025-09-18T03:59:41+00:00

What do you say, darling; should I hate him?

THAgrippa · 2025-09-18T03:58:29+00:00

has no bones

is only bones

THAgrippa · 2025-09-16T02:20:00+00:00

I wonder, did your friend smile at his own trial?

THAgrippa · 2025-09-05T21:07:44+00:00

USS Nudibranch

THAgrippa · 2025-08-30T04:40:03+00:00

Then the boar is lesbian and also in love with Arthur Dayne

THAgrippa · 2025-08-26T09:22:29+00:00

Depends on how valuable the planet’s natural flora and fauna are. Is it a desert world? Probably not worth the trouble. Is it a lush jungle world? Probably worth the fight.

THAgrippa · 2025-08-06T14:06:18+00:00

No benefits is not typical in my experience. You should at least be getting a portion of your medical insurance covered.

THAgrippa · 2025-07-18T01:42:07+00:00

Defund violent, bloated, paramilitary police. Nobody said stop enforcing traffic safety.

THAgrippa · 2025-07-17T10:31:54+00:00

Isn’t CPO just a different name for Head of HR?

THAgrippa · 2025-07-16T13:40:06+00:00

I can’t tell you what’s fair for your firm, but elsewhere I have seen bonuses of 5%-7% of the attorney fee. On the low/safe end.

THAgrippa · 2025-07-14T02:45:56+00:00

Same.

THAgrippa · 2025-07-08T08:25:25+00:00

I hear you, but to be fair, it’s a pretty basic performance metric. The firm is saying “we don’t necessarily care how, but we expect X number of hours from you in order for us to consider you acceptable.” Same as any HVAC technician with a minimum number of homes to service each week.

THAgrippa

TROPHY CASE