Philip II and the Battle of Chaeronea

What happened

King Philip II of Macedon, who had forged a formidable army built around the long pike (sarissa) and the reformed phalanx, defeated the combined forces of Athens and Thebes at Chaeronea in 338 BCE. His eighteen-year-old son Alexander led the cavalry charge.

Why it matters

The victory brought the Greek city-states under Macedonian control through the League of Corinth, ending their independence and setting the stage for Alexander's conquests.

Sources

• World History Encyclopedia. Battle of Chaeronea · Reputable source