Philip V Eurgetes
| Philip V Eurgetes | |
|---|---|
| Basileus of the Farsian Empire | |
| Reign | 284 – 251 BC |
| Coronation | 283 BC |
| Predecessor | Artabanus IV |
| Successor | Philip VI |
| Born | 311 BC Crysopolis |
| Died | 251 BC (aged 60) |
| Spouse |
|
| Dynasty | Alcaeid |
| Father | Alexander X |
| Mother | Atossa |
Philip V Eurgetes commonly known by his epithet, Eurgetes meaning "the benefactor" (311- 251 BC) was the Basileus of the Farsian empire (in modern Mesogeia). He deposed his nephew Artabanus IV and was acclaimed Basileus in his place, ruling from 284 BC until his death. Philip was known far and wide for his just rule and it was during his reign that the court at Crysopolis reached the height of its splendour and prestige. During his thirty-three year long reign he secured the empire's borders, brought peace to an empire plagued by dissension.
Reign
With the disposition and eventual execution of his nephew, Philip V ascended to the celestial throne. During the early years of his reign Philip worked to legitimize his rule following the suspicious death of his nephew. Philip orchestrated a grand funeral in honour of his nephew and all the sacred fires in all the major temples were extinguished (an act reserved only for the death of a monarch) when Artabanus' death was announced. Months after his nephew was entombed in the imperial necropolis at Sousa, Philip and his entire court journeyed to Farsargadae were he was crowned Emperor following the traditional coronation rites and traditions.
In 281 BC, he repudiated his first wife Stratonice, banishing her to the palace at Ecbatana and marrying in her place his elder half-sister Ptolemais. Their union produced no offspring, but Ptolemais is said to have wielded such power that she appeared alongside that of her husband on imperial coinage. The legacy and influence of Ptolemais was so great that decades after her death her portraiture continued to appear on the empire's coinage, her name was still referenced in official documents, and oaths of allegiance were made to her.
Court
Philip V Eurgetes and his sister-wife presided over a huge empire, at its centre was a court so splendid and glorious that stories and legends of have been passed down for centuries describing the pomp and splendour displayed at he court in Crysopolis. As a patron of the arts, Philip inaugurated the Imperial library in Crysopolis, laid the foundations for what was to become the modern Moueseion University, and enlarged the Alexandreum.
As a cultural enthusiast Philip V patronized leading philosophers, poets, and scholars of the day allowing them to stay at his court in return for promoting the power and prestige of the Alcaeid dynasty. Leading courtiers such as PLACEHOLDER, PLACEHOLDER, and PLACEHOLDER are all known to have glorified the court and Philip V Eurgetes in particular.
Religiously the Farsian Emperor was regarded as a living god and Philip V was worshiped before his death in some parts of the empire. Philip V allowed himself to be depicted as the God Ombrius, the king of the gods, helping to bolster the image of the emperor.
Family and issue
Philip V married twice, kept several concubines and produced several children. His first wife was an Antigonid Princes name Stratonice whom he married in 291 BC, the couple had several children. In 281 BC, Philip V repudiated his wife Stratonice banishing her to Ecbatana. That same year he married as his second wife his elder half-sister Ptolemais, she was in her late thirties and seven years his senior.
Statonice bore him four surviving children (two sons, and two daughters):
- Atossa (b. 290-241 BC)
- Stateira (b. 287-243 BC; died of an illness)
- Philip the younger, (b. 285-249 BC; reigned as Emperor, assassinated by members of the nobility)
- Tiridates (b. 282- 229 BC; second son)
By his second wife his elder half sister Ptolemais, he had no children.
Later reign
Philip deified hs sister wife upon her death in 266 BC. The loss of his sister-wife Ptolemias was devastating to Philip. He did however continue to rule for an additional fifteen years.
Personality and appearance
Much as been written on the the physical appearance of Philip V Eurgetes. He was said be of the purest blood, with ash blonde hair, with an aquiline nose, a strong form, and eyes as blue as the sea. It was said that he was so fair skinned that he had to be shielded by a great umbrella when touring the hotter regions of his empire. The court chronicler at the time reported that Philip was of a delicate constitution.
Death and succession
Philip V died peacefully in his bed, in 251 BC. Like his predecessors at the moment of his death the sacred fires in the great temples were extinguished for a period of 40 days of public mourning. His body was embalmed in honey (a tradition to preserve the body) and after which time it laid in state for seven days (one for each day of the week). Following this his body was carried to Sousa were it was ritually entombed in the imperial necropolis.
Philip V was succeeded on the Celestial throne by his son Philip the younger, but his reign was short and eventually his grandson Mithridates V ascended to the throne. His grandson was considered to be the greatest of the later Alcaeid monarchs.