Argaeus
（
*)Argai=os), king of Macedonia was the son and successor of Perdiccas I., who according to Herodotus and Thucydides, was the founder of the dynasty. Thirty-four years are given as the length of his reign by Dexippus (apud
Syncell. p. 494, Dind.), but apparently without any authority. (
Hdt. 8.139; Justin,
7.2.)
There was a pretender to the Macedonian crown of this name, who, with the assistance of the Illyrians, expelled Amyntas II. from his dominions (B. C. 393), and kept possession of the throne for two years. Amyntas then, with the aid of the Thessalians, succeeded in expelling Argaeus and recovering at least a part of his dominions.
It is probably the same Argaeus who in B. C. 359 again appears as a pretender to the throne.
He had induced the Athenians to support his pretensions, but Philip, who had just succeeded to the regency of the kingdom, by his intrigues and promises induced them to remain inactive. Argaeus upon this collected a body of mercenaries, and being accompanied by some Macedonian exiles and some Athenian troops, who were permitted by their general, Manlias, to join him, he made an attempt upon Aegae, but was repulsed. On his retreat to Methone, he was intercepted by Philip, and defeated. What became of him we are not informed. (
Diod. 14.92,
16.2,
3; Dem.
c. Aristocr. p. 660; Thirlwall, vol. v. pp. 161, 173.)
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C.P.M]
