Alexander IV of Macedon
| Alexander IV of Macedon | |
|---|---|
| Born | 323 BC Babylon |
| Died | 310/309 BC Amphipolis |
| Father | Alexander the Great |
| Mother | Roxana |
| Siblings | Heracles of Macedon |
| Dynasty | Argead |
| Status | Posthumous heir; co‑king of Macedon |
| Reign | 323–310 BC (nominal) Co‑king with Philip III Arrhidaeus |
| Regents | Perdiccas Antipater Polyperchon Cassander |
| Occupation | Royal heir (never ruled independently) |
| Death | Murdered on orders of Cassander |
Alexander IV of Macedon (Greek: Ἀλέξανδρος Δʹ; 323 BC – 310/309 BC) was the posthumous son of Alexander the Great and Roxana. Although proclaimed king at birth, he never ruled in his own right. His short life was dominated by the Wars of the Diadochi, and he was ultimately murdered on the orders of Cassander, ending the Argead Dynasty.
Early Life
Alexander IV was born shortly after the death of Alexander the Great in Babylon. His mother Roxana, a Bactrian noblewoman, had married Alexander during the eastern campaigns. Because he was the only legitimate male heir, the Macedonian army declared the infant Alexander IV king, with Philip III Arrhidaeus (Alexander’s half‑brother) serving as co‑king under regency.
Regency and Political Turmoil
The regency was initially held by Perdiccas, then passed through several Diadochi as the empire fractured. Alexander IV and Roxana were moved repeatedly for political reasons, often used as symbols of legitimacy by rival generals. Although nominally king, Alexander IV exercised no authority; real power was held by the regents and competing successors.
By 317 BC, Cassander gained control of Macedonia. He confined Alexander IV and Roxana in Amphipolis, preventing any faction from rallying around the young king.
Death
Alexander IV was murdered in 310/309 BC. According to Diodorus Siculus (19.105–110), Cassander ordered the secret execution of both Alexander IV and Roxana to remove the last legitimate Argead claimant. Justin (15.2) and Pausanias (9.7.2) confirm Cassander’s responsibility. His death, followed soon after by the murder of Heracles of Macedon, extinguished the Argead royal line.
Original Sources
Ancient accounts of Alexander IV’s life and death appear in:
Diodorus Siculus, Bibliotheca Historica (Book 19)
Justin, Epitome of Pompeius Trogus (Book 15)
Pausanias, Description of Greece (9.7.2)
Plutarch, contextual references to the Diadochi and Cassander